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Mardi Gras Traditions - All things Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Welcome
About Us
Mardi Gras Parades
Mardi Gras Calendar
Mardi Gras 101
Tips and Tricks
Children & Mardi Gras
Local Color & Customs
Mardi Gras Music
Mardi Gras Beads
King Cake
Colorful Characters
Backstreet Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras Attractions
Mardi Gras Broadcasts
Mardi Gras Trivia
Mardi Gras Miscellany
Media Galleries
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more
About Us

We believe in the wisdom of fools and the true spirit of Mardi Gras: an optimistic and enduring human capacity for merriment and make-believe, for mirthful mockery and the creative indulgence of whimsy.
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Image Galleries

Experience the eye-popping kaleidoscope that is Mardi Gras — a visually intoxicating celebration and the official art form of New Orleans.
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Parades

The offerings range from offbeat subcultural processions to spectacles with huge, glitzy floats to traditional affairs featuring floats built on old cotton wagons and depicting themes from myth and legend.
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Mardi Gras 101

Bone up on trappings, traditions and symbols of Mardi Gras — and find out why this civic ritual best exemplifies the cultural richness of New Orleans.
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more
Tips and Tricks

Reap throw booty and eyeball kicks, while avoiding pitfalls like parking tickets or bungling the all-important logistics of finding a place to pee.
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more
Mardi Gras Beads

The thrill and challenge of acquiring prized gewgaws has become a competitive spectacle unto itself, summoning both animal urges and creative strategizing.
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more
King Cake

King cake has become a widely recognized symbol of pre-Lenten feasting and the most popular way to share the Mardi Gras spirit.
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more
Mardi Gras Music

Mardi Gras music, like Christmas music, is not so much a style as it is an aural milieu comprised of various forms and genres.
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more
Local Color and Customs

The customs and traditions of Mardi Gras comprise a cultural repertoire, whereby different themes, rituals and symbols are cobbled together, recycled and reinterpreted.
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more
Children and Mardi Gras

Costume closets, king cake parties, making shoebox floats, watching parades from atop festooned ladders and snagging throws with butterfly or fishing nets — all are part of the experience of children and Mardi Gras.
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more
Mardi Gras Calendar

A compilation of events and activities that are open to the public including everything from parades, balls and parties to grassroots expressions of indigenous culture and art and photography exhibits.
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more
Colorful Characters

Iconoclastic provocateurs, gifted artisans and visionary revelers who collectively enrich the panorama of Mardi Gras.
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more
Mardi Gras Trivia

Test your knowledge of Mardi Gras — a civic ritual with a storied history and innumerable facets and traditions.
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more
Backstreet Mardi Gras

Idiosyncratic processions, artistic pursuits and living traditions happening outside tourist zones.
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more
Broadcasts and Streams

Binge viewers of Mardi Gras programming and live coverage have never had it so good. The offerings are comparable in abundance to an Endymion bead shower.
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more
Mardi Gras Attractions

As an expression of a rich cultural heritage, Mardi Gras — Louisiana’s most asked-about tradition — is well represented in museums and attractions year round.
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Mardi Gras Miscellany

A grab bag that includes appreciations of movers and shakers who are no longer with us, plus retrospectives and features on noteworthy happenings.

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About Us
Seeking the true spirit of Mardi Gas, as expressed through a potpourri of colorful characters and homegrown customs.
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more
Contact
Hey now! Holler back at us!
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Partner with us
We seek collaborative marketing relationships with partners that can offer relevant products and services to our audience and benefit from the goodwill we've created.  
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Copyrights and Terms of Use
Pretty much the usual boilerplate, with contact info for questions and concerns about usage rights, etc.
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Printable New Orleans Mardi Gras 2019 Parade Schedule
Mardi Gras 2018 parade dates, times and locations at a glance. Print for quick reference and to share with friends.
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more
Blaine Kern
From humble beginnings, Blaine Kern transformed what was once essentially a seasonal ritual for locals into an internationally recognized, mass-entertainment spectacle.
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more
Parade Tips
Parade customs and etiquette, route descriptions, safety and preparedness.
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more
Throw-Catching Tips
Tips for getting rich quick in the competitive Mardi Gras bead-and-bauble economy.
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more
Throw Me Something Mister!
At Mardi Gras, the thrill and challenge of acquiring beads and other coveted gewgaws is a competitive sport—and an entertaining spectacle.
♕
more
Driving and Parking
Meter maids write parking tickets at Mardi Gras with the same abandon that some float riders toss beads.
♕
more
Dealing with the Police
Mardi Gras is a time to cut loose with abandon, but if you act like it's an excuse for unbridled stupidity, it’s not so hard to wind up in lock-up.
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more
Balconies & Grandstands
Offering a good view of the action, balconies are also part of very much a part of the action, especially in the French Quarter.
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more
How to Ride in a Parade
Outsiders with a yen to play Santa Claus, bestowing beads and baubles, can join the fun — for a price.
♕
more
Live Streams & Broadcasts
Binge viewers of Mardi Gras live streams and programming have never had it so good. The offerings are comparable in abundance to an Endymion bead shower.
♕
more
Parade Maps and Apps
Whether you’re looking to avoid traffic snarls or get yourself in position to catch the action, having the right parade apps with maps is a must.
♕
more
Printable New Orleans Mardi Gras 2019 Parade Schedule
Mardi Gras 2018 parade dates, times and locations at a glance. Print for quick reference and to share with friends.
♕
more
Parties and Balls
Revels come in many guises during the season of merriment that begins on feast of the Epiphany (Jan. 6) and culminates on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).
♕
more
When is Mardi Gras
Thanks to Church fathers, Mardi Gras, which falls on February 13 in 2018, is a movable feast depending on the date of  Easter.
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more
Live Streams & Broadcasts
Binge viewers of Mardi Gras live streams and programming have never had it so good. The offerings are comparable in abundance to an Endymion bead shower.
♕
more
Mardi Gras 101
An introduction to the core curriculum for aspiring revelers.
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more
What it's all About
Understanding Mardi Gras as a cultural “tool kit” or repertoire comprised of various tropes, symbols and traditions that are constantly being remixed and reinterpreted.
♕
more
King Cake History
With a fascinating lineage, king cake has become the most widely recognized symbol of pre-Lenten feasting and the most popular way to share the Mardi Gras spirit.
♕
more
Mardi Gras Music History
In city whose musical heritage and vibrancy is second to none, the soundtrack to Mardi Gras spans virtually every genre and is constantly evolving.
♕
more
Words to the Wise
When caught up in the thrall of Mardi Gras Madness, don’t blithely assume it’s okay to act with wanton abandon because it’s New Orleans and “anything goes.”
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more
Tips and Tricks Intro
Advice and insights on navigating the ins and outs of a sprawling extravaganza that can be challenging to get one’s arms around.
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more
Ride-sharing, Taxis and Public Transportation
Ride-sharing and public transportation apps have greatly improved options for getting by in New Orleans without a car.
♕
more
Flashing for Beads
The voyeuristic atmosphere of some locales during Mardi Gras, swarming with paparazzi in search of flesh-baring revels, is sometimes more aggressive and exploitative than playful. Insights and advice.
♕
more
Parade Ladders
Step ladders with seats attached are a favorite way to provide kids with a prime parade perch and help them snag lots of throws.
♕
more
Mardi Gras History
Connecting dots between prehistoric cave paintings of dancing stick-like figures wearing animal masks, the ancient god Dionysus and the modern pre-Lenten revels known as Carnival or Mardi Gras.
♕
more
When is Mardi Gras
Thanks to Church fathers, Mardi Gras, which falls on February 13 in 2018, is a movable feast depending on the date of  Easter.
♕
more
Mardi Gras Dictionary and Terminology
Who is The Lord of Misrule? What does the word “krewe” have to do with the poetry of John Milton? Why are go-cups popular throws? And what does a spyboy mean when he hollers “Humbah!” If these questions seem puzzling, it’s time to bone-up on some Mardispeak.
♕
more
Live Streams & Broadcasts
Binge viewers of Mardi Gras live streams and programming have never had it so good. The offerings are comparable in abundance to an Endymion bead shower.
♕
more
Parade Tips
Parade customs and etiquette, route descriptions, safety and preparedness.
♕
more
Words to the Wise
When caught up in the thrall of Mardi Gras Madness, don’t blithely assume it’s okay to act with wanton abandon because it’s New Orleans and “anything goes.”
♕
more
Throw-Catching Tips
Tips for getting rich quick in the competitive Mardi Gras bead-and-bauble economy.
♕
more
Tips and Tricks Intro
Advice and insights on navigating the ins and outs of a sprawling extravaganza that can be challenging to get one’s arms around.
♕
more
Bringing the Kids
Bringing the kids to Mardi Gras is routine for most locals but more of a logistical challenge for visitors.
♕
more
Ride-sharing, Taxis and Public Transportation
Ride-sharing and public transportation apps have greatly improved options for getting by in New Orleans without a car.
♕
more
Driving and Parking
Meter maids write parking tickets at Mardi Gras with the same abandon that some float riders toss beads.
♕
more
Dealing with the Police
Mardi Gras is a time to cut loose with abandon, but if you act like it's an excuse for unbridled stupidity, it’s not so hard to wind up in lock-up.
♕
more
Hotel Rooms
Factors to weigh in choosing hotels for Mardi Gras and when to book them.
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more
Finding a Place to Pee
Incorporating lavatory logistics into your Mardi Gras game plan.
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more
Weather and Clothing
Weather in New Orleans during Mardi Gras can vary considerably, so be sure to pack appropriate clothing.
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more
Drinking and Mardi Gras
Never underestimate “just a few” when it comes to the brightly colored libations of Bourbon Street — or the hangovers that can be exacerbated by their sugary content.
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more
Balconies & Grandstands
Offering a good view of the action, balconies are also part of very much a part of the action, especially in the French Quarter.
♕
more
Flashing for Beads
The voyeuristic atmosphere of some locales during Mardi Gras, swarming with paparazzi in search of flesh-baring revels, is sometimes more aggressive and exploitative than playful. Insights and advice.
♕
more
Parade Ladders
Step ladders with seats attached are a favorite way to provide kids with a prime parade perch and help them snag lots of throws.
♕
more
How to Ride in a Parade
Outsiders with a yen to play Santa Claus, bestowing beads and baubles, can join the fun — for a price.
♕
more
Parties and Balls
Revels come in many guises during the season of merriment that begins on feast of the Epiphany (Jan. 6) and culminates on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).
♕
more
WWOZ
The mission of the "Guardians of the Groove" at WWOZ is to serve as the worldwide voice, archive and flag-bearer of New Orleans culture and musical heritage.
♕
more
Louisiana Music Factory
Louisiana Music Factory is an essential destination — a veritable shrine worthy of pilgrimage — in a city whose musical heritage and vibrancy is second to none.
♕
more
OffBeat Magazine
A key resource for New Orleans-centric music and cultural content as well as, both online and via its mobile app, listings about events and live music gigs.
♕
more
American Routes
A syndicated radio program with a strong affinity for New Orleans and the traditions and music of Mardi Gras.
♕
more
Parade Maps and Apps
Whether you’re looking to avoid traffic snarls or get yourself in position to catch the action, having the right parade apps with maps is a must.
♕
more
Local Color
New Orleanians are known for their almost religious devotion to traditions, and the rituals and customs surrounding Mardi Gras are no exception.
♕
more
What it's all About
Understanding Mardi Gras as a cultural “tool kit” or repertoire comprised of various tropes, symbols and traditions that are constantly being remixed and reinterpreted.
♕
more
King Cake History
With a fascinating lineage, king cake has become the most widely recognized symbol of pre-Lenten feasting and the most popular way to share the Mardi Gras spirit.
♕
more
Mardi Gras Music History
In city whose musical heritage and vibrancy is second to none, the soundtrack to Mardi Gras spans virtually every genre and is constantly evolving.
♕
more
Throw Me Something Mister!
At Mardi Gras, the thrill and challenge of acquiring beads and other coveted gewgaws is a competitive sport—and an entertaining spectacle.
♕
more
Flashing for Beads
The voyeuristic atmosphere of some locales during Mardi Gras, swarming with paparazzi in search of flesh-baring revels, is sometimes more aggressive and exploitative than playful. Insights and advice.
♕
more
Parade Ladders
Step ladders with seats attached are a favorite way to provide kids with a prime parade perch and help them snag lots of throws.
♕
more
Parties and Balls
Revels come in many guises during the season of merriment that begins on feast of the Epiphany (Jan. 6) and culminates on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).
♕
more
Children of the Realm
Despite its reputation for bawdy excess, Mardi Gras is still in many ways a family event with much to offer to stir young imaginations.
♕
more
Mardi Gras Dictionary and Terminology
Who is The Lord of Misrule? What does the word “krewe” have to do with the poetry of John Milton? Why are go-cups popular throws? And what does a spyboy mean when he hollers “Humbah!” If these questions seem puzzling, it’s time to bone-up on some Mardispeak.
♕
more
Royal DisemBARKation
If Rex and Zulu can arrive at the riverfront with ceremonial fanfare, as a prelude to their moment in the sun, why not the canine Queen of Barkus?
♕
more
Party Hounds on Parade
Tapping a Hollywood costume designer to create Medieval regalia for canines participating in the Mystic Krewe of Barkus parade with the theme “Joan of Bark.”
♕
more
Bringing the Kids
Bringing the kids to Mardi Gras is routine for most locals but more of a logistical challenge for visitors.
♕
more
Parade Ladders
Step ladders with seats attached are a favorite way to provide kids with a prime parade perch and help them snag lots of throws.
♕
more
Children of the Realm
Despite its reputation for bawdy excess, Mardi Gras is still in many ways a family event with much to offer to stir young imaginations.
♕
more
Mardi Gras Music History
In city whose musical heritage and vibrancy is second to none, the soundtrack to Mardi Gras spans virtually every genre and is constantly evolving.
♕
more
Parties and Balls
Revels come in many guises during the season of merriment that begins on feast of the Epiphany (Jan. 6) and culminates on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).
♕
more
WWOZ
The mission of the "Guardians of the Groove" at WWOZ is to serve as the worldwide voice, archive and flag-bearer of New Orleans culture and musical heritage.
♕
more
Louisiana Music Factory
Louisiana Music Factory is an essential destination — a veritable shrine worthy of pilgrimage — in a city whose musical heritage and vibrancy is second to none.
♕
more
OffBeat Magazine
A key resource for New Orleans-centric music and cultural content as well as, both online and via its mobile app, listings about events and live music gigs.
♕
more
American Routes
A syndicated radio program with a strong affinity for New Orleans and the traditions and music of Mardi Gras.
♕
more
Flashing for Beads
The voyeuristic atmosphere of some locales during Mardi Gras, swarming with paparazzi in search of flesh-baring revels, is sometimes more aggressive and exploitative than playful. Insights and advice.
♕
more
Throw Me Something Mister!
At Mardi Gras, the thrill and challenge of acquiring beads and other coveted gewgaws is a competitive sport—and an entertaining spectacle.
♕
more
Throw-Catching Tips
Tips for getting rich quick in the competitive Mardi Gras bead-and-bauble economy.
♕
more
John Lawson
An artist with a bohemian bent who scavenges Mardi Gras beads and uses them create dazzling objets d’art.
♕
more
King Cake History
With a fascinating lineage, king cake has become the most widely recognized symbol of pre-Lenten feasting and the most popular way to share the Mardi Gras spirit.
♕
more
Coacoochee
Does this Seminole’s extraordinary story hold the key to mysteries of a “masking” tradition that has become emblazoned on the cultural consciousness of New Orleans and beyond?
♕
more
Alan Langhoff
Founder of the Krewe of Kosmic Debris, a footloose marching group that gives new meaning to the word "tumble."
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more
Blaine Kern
From humble beginnings, Blaine Kern transformed what was once essentially a seasonal ritual for locals into an internationally recognized, mass-entertainment spectacle.
♕
more
L.J. Goldstein
L.J. Goldstein and his band of Mardi Gras revelers, the Krewe du Jieux, have proven that "masking Jewish," with unbridled chutzpah, can be a transformative, uplifting experience.
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more
Ann Marie Coviello
Her rambunctious krewe, Box of Wine, strives to recreate the communal ecstasy of ancient rites in which wine was a medium of religious experience.
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more
John Lawson
An artist with a bohemian bent who scavenges Mardi Gras beads and uses them create dazzling objets d’art.
♕
more
Mardi Gras Underground Man
The inside story on the birth of a legendary bacchanal, MOMs Ball, from the founding mystic orphan and misfit instigator.
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more
Coleen Salley
Riding around in a grocery cart known as the Royal Chariot, blowing kisses and parting crowds, Queen Coleen was the living embodiment of the city’s rollicking spirit and love of revelry.
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Chuck Busch
Mondo Kayo’s founder was an iconoclastic provocateur who conjured a tropical Tiki mythology based on the premise that New Orleans is the northernmost banana republic.
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Hash House Harriers
Hash House Harriers and Mardi Gras—they go together like champagne and king cake, or big beads and bare breasts.
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more
Pat Jolly
In the city of Mardi Gras merriment, Pat Jolly, a.k.a. the Funtrepreneur, immerses herself in a smorgasbord of rituals and subcultures that thrive on creative expression.
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more
Andrew Justin
Profile of a Mardi Gras Indian Big Chief based in Los Angeles who has a gift for braggadocio and "runnin' pretty."
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more
Colorful Characters
Celebrating reveler-ringleaders who express the true spirit of Mardi Gras, in a realm where eccentricity is a civic virtue.
♕
more
Coacoochee
Does this Seminole’s extraordinary story hold the key to mysteries of a “masking” tradition that has become emblazoned on the cultural consciousness of New Orleans and beyond?
♕
more
Andrew Justin
Profile of a Mardi Gras Indian Big Chief based in Los Angeles who has a gift for braggadocio and "runnin' pretty."
♕
more
Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World
A myriad of realms and characters come to life in this phantasmal funhouse — a float den and working studio for making sculptures, props and thematic architecture.
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more
Live Streams & Broadcasts
Binge viewers of Mardi Gras live streams and programming have never had it so good. The offerings are comparable in abundance to an Endymion bead shower.
♕
more
Virgin
In your dreams you wear the golden crown, but let it be decreed: You are not worthy until you show you know… the difference between… a throw and a flambeau.
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more
Intermediate
Of course, you wanna be the jester’s pet. So go ahead and polish those coconuts, and let’s see where y’at — and what score you get.
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more
Advanced
You bleed purple, green and gold, you say, and you’re oh-so-deep into the wisdom of fools. But without a passing grade here, my festive friend, you might just be… a Mardi Gras tool.
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more
Junkie
You know who you are, Mardi Gras smarty-pants. Take this test so the world can see… whether you’re a TRUE connoisseur of king cakes and krewes … or just another aspiring wannabe.
♕
more
Party Hounds on Parade
Tapping a Hollywood costume designer to create Medieval regalia for canines participating in the Mystic Krewe of Barkus parade with the theme “Joan of Bark.”
♕
more
Royal DisemBARKation
If Rex and Zulu can arrive at the riverfront with ceremonial fanfare, as a prelude to their moment in the sun, why not the canine Queen of Barkus?
♕
more
Mardi Gras History
Connecting dots between prehistoric cave paintings of dancing stick-like figures wearing animal masks, the ancient god Dionysus and the modern pre-Lenten revels known as Carnival or Mardi Gras.
♕
more
Printable New Orleans Mardi Gras 2019 Parade Schedule
Mardi Gras 2018 parade dates, times and locations at a glance. Print for quick reference and to share with friends.

All things Mardi Gras in New Orleans