Gallery
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |
The 2025 festivities culminate on Tuesday, March 4, in vibrant and boisterous eruptions of joy. If you can’t celebrate the holiday here, enjoy our collection of parade-worthy compositions at home. Mardi Gras History and Tradition. Now a cultural phenomenon, Mardi Gras began as a Christian practice — particularly a Roman Catholic one. During Mardi Gras celebrations, you'll hear a whole mish-mash of party music and other genres. For this Mardi Gras playlist, we've focused mainly on brass bands, rhythm and blues, jazz, and zydeco in order to capture the traditional sounds of the Bourbon Street festivities. What do you do when you’re waiting for a parade? Eat Popeye’s Fried Chicken or red beans and rice and listen to Mardi Gras music. Here are six of our favorites (we tried to narrow it down to five but couldn’t do it). Check them out on the YouTube links provided. BTW, they're not listed in any particular order. We love them all. So to help you celebrate the holiday, we've compiled 10 of our favorite Mardi Gras songs. We hope they put you in the carnival spirit! 1. "Carnival Time" - Al Johnson. Al "Carnival Time" Johnson (born June 20, 1939, in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American singer and piano player who literally got his nickname because of this iconic Mardi Gras Here they are, in no special order, the Top Ten Mardi Gras Songs of Louisiana! 10) "My Feet Can't Fail Me Now" The Dirty Dozen Brass Band 9) Carnival Time Al Johnson The Essence of Mardi Gras Music. Historical Roots: From Brass Bands to Today’s Hits; Mardi Gras music traces its origins to the lively streets of New Orleans, a melting pot of cultural influences. Brass bands, a cornerstone of Mardi Gras music, set the stage for a tradition of celebration that spans genres from jazz to R&B, zydeco, and beyond. The traditions of Mardi Gras are a huge part of New Orleans' cultural identity. Hear five artists whose music you might find playing on the streets of the Crescent City during Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras music fuels the celebration, and you can embrace the festive spirit with a vibrant playlist. Start with classics like "Go to the Mardi Gras" and "Carnival Time" to set the mood. Add infectious tracks like "Mardi Gras Mambo" and "Big Chief" to keep the energy high. Much of the music associated with Mardi Gras arises from historical events. A good example is “ Corey Died on The Battlefield ” — a song inspired by a fight in a neighborhood where a Native American was killed. “Being folk music, it changes over time,” says Louisiana State University ethnomusicologist Joyce Marie Jackson. It’s Carnival time y’all! As you're prepping for parades to roll, listen to the songs that make New Orleans’ Mardi Gras special. We’ve curated this family friendly Mardi Gras playlist to include all the most famous parade tunes, and few we just really like. Check back as we update this playlist throughout the season! Over time, the festivities evolved into Mardi Gras as we know it today. 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). That would make Feb. 3 the earliest Mardi Gras can be and March 9 the latest it could fall. I hear Mardi Gras has its color scheme. What is it? The official colors of the Carnival season in New Orleans and most other places are gold, purple and green. Gold for power, purple for justice and green for faith. That would make Feb. 3 the earliest Mardi Gras can be and March 9 the latest it could fall. I hear Mardi Gras has its color scheme. What is it? The official colors of the Carnival season in New Orleans and most other places are gold, purple and green. Gold for power, purple for justice and green for faith. First, we hear from Abby Roniger, author of the colorful new children's book, Carnival Time in My Mind, which depicts the joy and excitement of being a kid at Mardi Gras. The book will bring back The final day of Carnival is Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras 2025 events in and near Des Moines. Big Grove's Mardi Gras Prix Fixe Dinner: On Thursday, March 6, Big Grove Brewery, 555 17th Street, Des That would make Feb. 3 the earliest Mardi Gras can be and March 9 the latest it could fall. I hear Mardi Gras has its color scheme. What is it? The official colors of the Carnival season in New Orleans and most other places are gold, purple and green. Gold for power, purple for justice and green for faith. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, many of these pagan traditions were incorporated into Christian observances, resulting in the formation of Carnival and Mardi Gras as we know it today. Mardi Gras itself became more closely associated with the Christian calendar during the Middle Ages, particularly in Catholic-dominated countries such Rooted in French medieval history and brought to Louisiana in the 19th century, Courir de Mardi Gras has many rituals that come together in a celebration on Fat Tuesday. It's commonly referred to as "the real Mardi Gras." The main event in a Cajun Country Mardi Gras is the traditional courir or “run” led by the capitaine of the Mardi Gras That would make Feb. 3 the earliest Mardi Gras can be and March 9 the latest it could fall. I hear Mardi Gras has its color scheme. What is it? The official colors of the Carnival season in New Orleans and most other places are gold, purple and green. Gold for power, purple for justice and green for faith. Mardi Gras was celebrated soon after the city of New Orleans was founded in 1718, but was briefly banned when the Spanish took control of New Orleans until Louisiana became a U.S. state in 1812
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|