Don’t plan on vacationing in New Orleans during Mardi Gras unless you are coming specifically for Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is also the worst time to experience the "real New Orleans" as the entire city is centered around the parades. Most restaurants and attractions will be closed and there will be insanely long wait times for the ones that are So I was bringing a friend to his first Mardi Gras and he arrived that Thursday. His Airbnb was out that way so we were driving past them about 2:00 p.m. and he was like "I can't believe people are sitting out here waiting for a parade that doesn't start for 4 hours!" It depends. New Orleans is a blast during Mardi Gras, but a lot of restaurants are fully booked or closed, many businesses in general close or get extremely packed, especially anything on a parade route. So if you're planning on going to certain restaurants or see certain attractions, it may be difficult. Mardi Gras is a centuries-old cultural phenomenon, and like any great tradition, it's deep and layered. I lived in New Orleans for seven years and, even as a resident, it took me several years to truly embrace the Carnival spirit. Break away from the drunken mobs of Bourbon Street and you'll be treated to a kaleidoscope of N'awlins culture. You Mardi Gras is an integral part of the culture of New Orleans - like Loup mentioned, his mother-in-law participated for more than 50 years. This isn't *just* a big party, it is a cultural event spanning weeks with lots of parades, balls, and other events that go on. Webber, a New Orleans native, said Mardi Gras isn’t just a party but a cultural celebration in Louisiana. Mardi Gras allows people to celebrate before the Lenten season, where people become more 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. First-Timers New Orleans Mardi Gras Guide. Mardi Gras, which means “Fat Tuesday” in French, is a carnival celebration that takes place in many parts of the world, but is especially famous in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. The festival is held annually on the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Christian season of Costume like a boss: what to pack for Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Dress code for Mardi Gras is simple: go crazy. No costume is too wild, no notion too absurd. And no, you don’t necessarily have to wear purple, yellow, and green. Dress like it’s your last Halloween on earth. Read this: A Mardi Gras packing list so you can do Mardi Gras like a New Orleans comes alive during Mardi Gras in ways that are impossible to capture until you’ve seen it with your own eyes. The vibrant parades, dazzling costumes, and infectious energy create an experience that's truly one-of-a-kind—but, let’s be honest, it can also overwhelm first-timers. Go to parades, enjoy mardi gras instead of the french quarter, stay uptown and go to napoleon and st charles and see mardi gras instead of just a bunch of drunk tourists begging for shitty beads. Go to mardi gras and catch the good stuff, see the magnificent floats, and enjoy some red beans at fat Harry's. Gotta disagree here. Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras Day are the best time to visit Bourbon -- great costumes, lots of people having fun, etc. It usually isn't shoulder to shoulder those days except maybe at night, and in certain 1/2 block areas. This is the subreddit for the Greater New Orleans area. This sub is for locals to discuss all things New Orleans. All tourist questions of any type should be asked at r/askNOLA. This subreddit is NOT for hookups, finding drugs, tourists, or tourist questions. If you post here about these things, you will be shunned and talked to quite harshly. This is the subreddit for the Greater New Orleans area. This sub is for locals to discuss all things New Orleans. All tourist questions of any type should be asked at r/askNOLA. This subreddit is NOT for hookups, finding drugs, tourists, or tourist questions. If you post here about these things, you will be shunned and talked to quite harshly. We eventually realized the best time to enjoy Mardi Gras was during the day. However, if you like the balls to the wall insane crazy party scene, it's all about going out at night. I enjoyed New Orleans, and Mardi Gras was fun, but if I ever go back, I'll probably skip Mardi Gras. It has absolutely nothing to do with what Mardi Gras was originally for and about. It just seems like an excuse to indulge, get drunk and act hoe-ish. I'm not saying anything directly about New Orleans either as I like New Orleans and it's fun but that is the largest Mardi Gras festival I know of (honestly don't know any others). Yeah I like to The Philadelphia New Year's Day mummers parade is 200 years older than Mardi gras and two of the foundeing members of Mardi gras were Philadelphia mummers. Like they say it officially started with city financing in 1900 but our parade goes back to the 1640s. Mardi Gras ("Fat Tuesday" in French) is most popularized in America by its association with New Orleans. For examples of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, see almost every film, TV show, or book that has a scene in New Orleans without vampires- colorful floats, beads, drinks, and jazz bands. The rest of America isn't as festive. Mardi Gras is here and now nobody remembers our sewerage system is a skip and hop away from a damn bucket on a rope. Oh. Ok. 😐😐 7.) YOU DONT TAKE THE THROWS FROM THE CHILDREN. Point Du Mardi Gras was just south of modern day New Orleans, and was the first celebration. “The party proceeded upstream to a place on the west bank about 60 miles (97 km) downriver from where New Orleans is today, where a small tributary emptied into the great river, and made camp in what is now Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.
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