Click on the Mardi Gras krewes below for further information about the krewe and to see their usual route for each parade. Please note: Events and activities are subject to change without notice. Stay tuned to the site for further info. Knights of Revelry parade down Royal Street in Mobile during the 2010 Mardi Gras season. In 1723, the capital of Louisiana was moved to New Orleans, founded in 1718. [33] The first Mardi Gras parade held in New Orleans is recorded to have taken place in 1833 with Bernard de Marigny funding the first organized parade, tableau, and ball. The Mardi Gras is a tradition that dates back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, Ten years later, the first recorded New Orleans Mardi Gras parade took place, a The first ball was held in 1857 by the Mistick Krewe of Comus. Comus hosted the first parade, followed by Rex in 1872, which debuted the king of Mardi Gras. The Rex parade gave Mardi Gras the official colors of purple to represent justice, green to represent faith, and gold to represent power. The three colors were to represent the “king.” In 1856, 21 businessmen gathered at a club room in the French Quarter to organize a secret society to observe Mardi Gras with a formal parade. They founded New Orleans' first and oldest krewe, the Mistick Krewe of Comus. According to one historian, "Comus was aggressively English in its celebration of what New Orleans had always considered a The Mardi Gras Indians only parade on Mardi Gras day and on Super Sunday (generally the 3rd Sunday closest to St. Joseph’s Day in March). The Mardi Gras day routes are not published anywhere, but they happen in and around their inner-city neighborhoods. Some sources say that you will see the Creole Wild West tribe at the corner of LaSalle and Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the world, particularly in places like New Orleans, Louisiana, and parts of Europe and Latin America. This vibrant and colorful celebration is associated with indulgent feasting, elaborate parades, intricate costumes, and lively music. The Carnival season there opens on Twelfth Night (also called Epiphany, which is observed on January 6) and climaxes with the Mardi Gras festivities commencing 10 days before Shrove Tuesday. This period is filled with citywide revelry and elaborate parades, both day and night, building up to Mardi Gras and the Rex parade. Mardi Gras comes to a close on Tuesday night, and soon, those who celebrate will exclaim “Laissez les bons temps rouler,” or “Let the good times roll” for the last time this Carnival season. Mardi Gras Colors. In 1872, Rex, the king of Carnival, proclaimed the official colors of Mardi Gras to be purple, green and gold. While Arthur Hardy believes they were probably chosen simply because they looked good together, Rex assigned a meaning to the colors in his 1892 parade titled Symbolism of Colors: Purple represents justice, green stands for faith, and gold signifies power. The first Mardi Gras parade was held in New Orleans by the Krewe of Comus in 1857, and in 1870, Mardi Gras’ second Krewe, the Twelfth Night Revelers, began tossing “throws” (more on these iconic parts of Mardi Gras later). 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, Mardi Gras Day – The Independent Parade is scheduled to begin following the Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Parade. Mardi Gras Day Street Closures Mardi Gras 2025 Parade Schedules. Each year, the Mardi Gras parade schedule varies. Parades run for several weeks, from Twelfth Night on January 6th to Fat Tuesday (which is March 4th this year). As described above, most of the major parades take place in the two weeks leading up to Mardi Gras, with the biggest ones happening on the weekend Mardi Gras Parade Schedule. Mardi Gras is more than just a day, or one week, or even a weekend. Starting January 6 (Twelfth Night), New Orleans has parades in the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras Day, which falls on March 4, 2025. Take a look at the parades below and click on each to learn more. The term "Mardi Gras" is commonly used to refer to the entire Carnival season, but Mardi Gras (a.k.a. "Fat Tuesday") is actually just a one day, pre-Lent party. When is Mardi Gras? This means that the weekend when the major New Orleans Mardi Gras parades will be taking place is on the last weekend of February, which is, more specifically, from Feb. 28 through March 2. Plan your visit to Houma, and experience the joy, tradition, and culture of our unforgettable Mardi Gras celebration. Stay tuned to ExploreHouma.com for parade updates, route details, and everything you need to make the most of Mardi Gras 2025. Houma, it’s your time to shine—Mardi Gras season is here! Let’s celebrate Bayou Country style! Mardi Gras happens every year. It's the day before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday starts Lent for Christians. Lent is when people give things up. Mardi Gras is a big party before that. 'Mardi Gras' is French, and it means 'Fat Tuesday. Individuals tend to consume rich foods during the festival. This is because they will fast throughout Lent. ST. LOUIS — Soulard's biggest party of the year is back this weekend. The Mardi Gras main event, the Grand Parade, starts at 11 a.m. Here's everything you need to know if you are heading to The king of Mardi Gras himself, Arthur Hardy is your go-to guy for information on parade routes, krewes, Mardi Gras royalty, and everything in between. You can find it all in the Arthur Hardy Mardi Gras Guide, which has been published since 1977 and contains 160 pages of facts, photos, and fun. Order your guide here. B - Beads
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