When is Mardi Gras? Every year, Mardi Gras season begins on Twelfth Night, which is January 6. Twelfth Night represents the Christian holy day of the Epiphany. The season, which represents a time of celebration before Christian Lent, lasts until Fat Tuesday. Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras Day, is March 4 When is Mardi Gras 2025? Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is on Tuesday, March 4 this year. Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. Like Ash Wednesday and Easter, Mardi Gras' date changes Because Easter can fall on any Sunday between March 23 and April 25, and Mardi Gras is always 47 days before Easter, Zulu and Rex can roll on any Tuesday between Feb. 3 through March 9. New Orleans weather on Mardi Gras Day can be unpredictable as well. It can be shorts weather in early February and you might very well need a coat in March. Q: Why does Mardi Gras fall on different dates each year? The date of Mardi Gras changes every year because it's connected to Easter, which can fall on any Sunday between March 23 and April 25. Mardi Gras day always takes place 47 days before Easter. The essence of Mardi Gras lies in its parades. Each parade, from little walking krewes to large processions with elaborate floats, follows a different theme, displaying the originality and energy of New Orleans. Notable parades to watch out for include: No Mardi Gras experience is complete without Yes, Mardi Gras is celebrated every year with the exception of 2021, when New Orleans parades were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mardi Gras festivities in 2025 are already set in New 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. Mardi Gras falls on a different Tuesday each year based on Easter’s date, which determines the date of Ash Wednesday. This year, Mardi Gras is Tuesday, March 4. Mardi Gras parades Here in New Orleans, January 6th is the official start of the Carnival season every year with the first parades rolling on this day. It is also considered the beginning of king cake season. While the date of Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) changes, Twelfth Night does not. Mardi Gras season begins on Jan. 6, the Epiphany, but its duration changes each year based on Easter. New Orleans goes big for Mardi Gras with festive float-filled parades, dazzling balls and 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). 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. New Orleans is famous for its annual Mardi Gras celebration, and one travel writer shares the 15 essentials they pack every year. From comfortable shoes to rain gear, add these travel essentials The parades in New Orleans are organized by social clubs known as krewes; most follow the same parade schedule and route each year. The earliest-established krewes were the Mistick Krewe of Comus , the earliest, Rex , the Knights of Momus and the Krewe of Proteus . Founded in 1933, the Krewe of Mid-City is the 5th-oldest continuously parading organization of the New Orleans Mardi Gras season. Often called "The best day parade in Mardi Gras," Mid-City has gained a reputation for having themes dedicated to children and for having some of the best bands in Mardi read more » Brazil, Venice and New Orleans play host to some of the holiday’s most famous public festivities, drawing thousands of tourists and revelers every year. When Is Mardi Gras? 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 Mardi Gras Doubloon Learn more about this iconic parade throw. What makes New Orleans Mardi Gras parades unique from— and much more fun than—parades across the country is simple: active crowd participation. Mobile still holds Mardi Gras celebrations throughout the year (and has an excellent Mardi Gras museum), but New Orleans has definitely eclipsed Mobile as the US capital of Mardi Gras now. Jess and I have seen Mardi Gras parades in various cities and states across the South including Baton Rouge, Mobile, Navarre and New Orleans. Carnival royalty, the queens and kings of Mardi Gras, are a uniting factor of every krewe. Some are New Orleans natives, others are celebrities from afar, but all bring the pomp and circumstance to an otherwise informal time. There’s typically a toast with the Mayor of New Orleans, a key to the city presented, and lots of scepter waiving
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