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📍 New Orleans, Louisiana. Ahh, Mardi Gras. Even if you’ve never stepped foot in Louisiana, you’re probably well aware of this extravagant festival. Every year, an approximate 1.5 million people celebrate Carnival Season in The Big Easy, pumping an already vibrant city with an intense level of vibrancy emanating from excited tourists. If you’re looking for a quick escape from the Mardi Gras chaos, stop by Pêche and go see Chef Nikki. Everyone wants king cake during Mardi Gras, but not all are worth the hype. Dong Phuong makes the best, hands down. - Ashwin Vilkhu Co-Executive Chef, Saffron and Executive Chef, The Kingsway (opening soon!) From neighborhood second lines to the major parade routes, Mardi Gras touches pretty much every part of New Orleans in one way or another during Carnival Season. When it comes to parades, the main route runs down the length of Saint Charles Avenue–parades begin rolling on Napoleon and Tchoupitoulas, before turning down St. Charles towards Here's everything you need to know about Mardi Gras in New Orleans, including the best places to stay, eat and drink. see and do during Mardi Gras. Uptown Costume and Funky Monkey are go Why You Should Visit New Orleans During Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is a fantastic experience. People really get into the spirit, with awesome costumes in the crowd, and a real party atmosphere pervades the city. And that’s not even mentioning the floats, which are truly mobile works of art. You can also still see a lot in New Orleans, as we did. Top Things to do in New Orleans. If you have the time before, during, or after your Mardi Gras visit, or if you are visiting during another time, there are several must-do activities in New Orleans that come highly recommended. New Orleans is a city full of vibrant culture, rich history, and endless opportunities for adventure and exploration. New Orleans is cranking up the volume for Mardi Gras 2025, and there’s excitement in the air for what is often hailed as the greatest free show on earth. This iconic festival, culminating on Tuesday, March 4, is deeply rooted in Christian and Roman Catholic traditions but has evolved into a secular celebration. During Reconstruction, New Orleans leaders used Mardi Gras to uplift spirits and attract visitors. In 1872, train stations nationwide displayed invitations to join the celebration. The call to celebrate worked, and from that moment on, Mardi Gras became more than just a local tradition—it transformed into a world-famous festival that However, you don’t have to visit New Orleans on Shrove Tuesday to get the Mardi Gras experience. Themed attractions such as Mardi Gras World and the Backstreet Cultural Museum provide a solid background on the cultural and processionary traditions of the famed carnival celebrations, no matter when you visit. Celebrate the local communities that are the soul of Mardi Gras. Go see Mardi Gras Indians, who represent a specifically African American take on masking that involves painstaking bead and feather sewing for their costumes, and rhythmic call-and-response and singing with West African roots during parades. A few main concerns of attending Mardi Gras include how big the crowds are for such a town such as New Orleans. If you live in a bigger city such as Seattle, New York City, or Los Angeles, then you’re probably aware of the chaos that goes down at the parades, as well as other similar big events that take place. You can visit New Orleans year round and get a taste of Mardi Gras via the museums and festive atmosphere. You can even buy beads and feel like you just left a parade. (Local’s tips – Don’t buy beads during Mardi Gras season – you’ll get plenty at the parades. If you would like to sell Mardi Gras souvenirs or pre-packaged food you'll need a permit from the city of New Orleans. Prices range from $500 to $2,000 depending on whether you'll be walking or have a fixed location. Mardi Gras in New Orleans is arguably the best party you'll find in the United States. Every year over a million people travel to New Orleans to join in the fun during Carnival season, which begins on January 6, known as Epiphany or Twelfth Night, and lasts until Mardi Gras or "Fat Tuesday." I know I'm going to surprise some of you when I say, Mardi Gras is largely a family event.While it has a reputation for being a weekend of debauchery, most of that's consolidated into the downtown area (read: where the tourists are in the French Quarter). Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana is an iconic celebration that welcomes nearly 1.5 million visitors each year, so it’s no surprise that planning your first visit to this world-famous holiday can be quite the daunting task. We had the joy of visiting our first Mardi Gras in 2023 and came up with a list of the top things that we think every Mardi Gras goer could benefit from knowing before When to Visit for Mardi Gras in New Orleans. You can visit any time during Carnival (between January 6th and March 4th, 2025) to experience parades and festivities. But the most popular time to book a stay includes the final weekend leading up to Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday). This year, those dates will be around February 26th – March 4, 2025. Where to Stay for Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Book your Mardi Gras trip well in advance to make sure you have accommodations. With so much happening, staying near the action can make your Mardi Gras trip much easier. Uptown: Ideal for being close to parade routes while enjoying a quieter neighborhood vibe, great for families. If you would like to sell Mardi Gras souvenirs or pre-packaged food you'll need a permit from the city of New Orleans. Prices range from $500 to $2,000 depending on whether you'll be walking or have a fixed location. If you stay in an outlying hotel, don't depend on them to supply you with transportation to the French Quarter or the parade routes. Although some have shuttles to New Orleans, they are often not in use during Mardi Gras season. Traffic during Carnival is unbelievably congested, and standard routes are often barricaded to redirect the traffic flow.
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Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
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