The largest and most famous Mardi Gras celebration in the USA is in New Orleans, where Fat Tuesday is a legal holiday. NOLA has been celebrating Mardi Gras since the early 18th century and the Mardi Gras Carnival Season is in full swing and Fat Tuesday will soon be here. If you're planning to hit the parades, these are the top 3 in New Orleans. Visit Lake Charles. In Lake Charles, a three-hour drive from New Orleans, Mardi Gras events kick off in early January with the Twelfth Night celebration.Over 50 krewes that call Lake Charles home present their royal courts at this inaugural event, and the following weeks are filled with parades throughout the city leading up to the biggest celebration of all on Fat Tuesday: the Krewe of Krewes Les Gilles de Binche celebrating Mardi Gras in Binche, Belgium. Mark Renders/Stringer/Getty Images 4. Binche, Belgium. Celebrated south of Brussels in Belgium’s Hainaut province from March 2-4, the Carnival of Binche centers on the area’s unique folklore. You may have seen its concluding March of the Gilles, which takes place on Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is a Catholic tradition celebrating the last day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, when Catholics give up vices for 40 days (excluding Sundays). Mardi Gras originated from the French tradition of “Boeuf Gras,” when Catholics feasted before giving up certain foods for Lent. To find out, Lawn Love ranked 2023’s Top Mardi Gras Cities. We compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities by the number of Mardi Gras events, Cajun food vendors, costume stores, and community interest, among eight total metrics. Use our rankings to find the best city to let loose ahead of Fat Tuesday on Feb. 21. In this article. City rankings; The Consequently, New Orleans ranked at the top of best cities to celebrate Mardi Gras in 2023, with an index score of 52.96. Meanwhile, three out of the top ten U.S. cities for Mardi Gras in that 3 of 16 | Mardi Gras revelers greet a float from the Zulu parade at the corner of St. Charles and Canal Streets in New Orleans, La., on Mardi Gras day Tuesday, Feb. 11, 1997. (AP Photo/Andrew J. Cohoon, File) Mardi Gras is a colorful and vibrant celebration that includes delicious and culturally rich foods, street parties and parades, and “krewes” handing out various festive trinkets. Whether you’re visiting the most popular spot or the site of the country’s first celebration, here are the top 5 U.S. cities to celebrate Mardi Gras. New The season, which represents a time of celebration before Christian Lent, lasts until Fat Tuesday. Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras Day, is March 4, 2025. Between January 6 and March 4, enjoy parades, king cake, community celebrations, and more. For a list of future Mardi Gras Day dates, see here. Where in New Orleans can I experience Mardi Gras? Don’t fret if you can’t make it the Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans or Mobile this year. There are tons of great celebrations happening all across Alabama. Find one near you and laissez les bon temps rouler! 2025 Mardi Gras at MidCity — Jan. 31-March 4 in Huntsville; Kick Off To Mardi Gras—Feb. 1 in Gadsden; Mardi Gras 5K—Feb. 8 Mardi Gras Carnival Season is in full swing and Fat Tuesday will soon be here. If you're planning to hit the parades, these are the top 3 in New Orleans. Orpheus (Monday before Mardi Gras): Known for creative floats and sought-after throws like four-foot stuffed dragons and custom-decorated tambourines. Zulu (Mardi Gras Day): Beloved for its unique throws, including the iconic hand-decorated coconuts. Rex (Mardi Gras Day): One of the oldest and most traditional parades, featuring a regal Discover the Mardi Gras Ladies Collection featuring stylish and vibrant clothing for women. Perfect for parades, parties, and celebrations. Mardi Gras Sequin Top Leevuyu Women Mardi Gras 8pcs Costume Outfits Crop Top Skirt Sets with Socks Mask Headband Necklace Accessories $29.99 $ 29 . 99 ( $3.75 $3.75 /Item) FREE delivery Sun, Jan 19 on $35 of items shipped by Amazon Get ready to dance through your day or night with our Festive Fringe Sequin Mardi Gras Top. This top is a carnival in a garment, with its dazzling array of sequins in Mardi Gras colors—vibrant green, shimmering gold, and regal purple—each one catching the light to make you the center of attention. The added fringe brin New Orleans Mardi Gras is known for its vibrant food scene. Cajun cuisine is at the heart of the celebration, making every meal unforgettable. You’ll taste the rich flavors of Louisiana’s culture. Unique Mardi Gras customs are celebrated through famous dishes. Gumbo, a seafood stew, is a Creole cooking staple. Mardi Gras Shirts for Women Mardi Gras Long Sleeve Shirt Fat Tuesday T Shirts Mask Graphic Tees New Orleans Party V Neck Top 4.0 out of 5 stars 9 Price, product page $12.99 $ 12 . 99 Check out our mardi gras top selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our crop tops shops. The official colors of New Orleans Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. The Krewe of Rex chose these colors in 1872 in part to honor the Russian Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich Romanov, who visited New Orleans during that year’s carnival season.
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