Fun is free, so when Mardi Gras time arrives you must throw off the shackles of your Protestant work ethic and join in the season's greatest fun free-for-all. After all, the best things in life are feelings.
As Mark Twain wrote in  "Life on the Mississippi" in 1896:
" a thing that could hardly exist in the practical North....
For the soul of it is the romantic, not the funny and the grotesque"

There are still some missing neighborhoods, but the visitor infrastructure is happening and the hotels and restaurants are open and waiting for your contribution to the local economy.  For 2009 we made a major addition of CarnavalCity.com/New Orleans Mardi Gras. Find out about this year's Mardi Gras with our 2009 update in the foto visitor guide.

Best Guides-Introduction

New_Orleans_Mardi_Gras/ ||Festivals-year_round  ||History ||Indians  ||News  || Places_to_Stay  || Krewes >  Bacchus  || Krewes/Du_Vieux  || Krewe_of_Muses    ||Rex  || Krewes/Wikipedia_Directory  Our new site, Look for lots of flickr and youtube video feeds to come. MardiGras.com From NOLA Live w/ The Times-Picayune. Home of the uncensored Bourbo-Cam ! Search Nola.com for "Mardi Gras." || 2009 || 2010 || 2006 || 2007 || 2008 For the latest juice, scope the Mardi Gras digest. || A "Mardi Gras" search reveals loads of articles || 2009 || 2010 || 2008 || 2007 MardiGrasUnmasked.com  Has an all new site that is packed with good information and cute graphics Satchmo.com || New Orleans Mardi Gras Parades  Still going strong with lots of outside links and an expanded Mardi Gras guide to go with one of the best guides to the local music anywhere.   Check out  the Official New Orleans Site/Mall MardiGrasDay.com MardiGras.org || Date Calculator More info for the parade goer and Krewe crew.

History

Three Centuries of Mardi Gras New Orleans || Quadroon   Illustrated & Flashed  by Carnaval.com  We're working on an update to this history

"New Orleans is self-conscious about its history and uses Mardi Gras to reconfirm its image as Southern, Catholic and French. It displays its food, its jazz and its reputation for being "naughty." -- Burt Wolf for Salon.com

Mardi Gras History by Mardigrasneworleans.com
Why some of the oldest private clubs--Momus, Comus and Proteus--no longer parade the streets.

What is Mardi Gras? History Part I
From Icorp’s Carnival New Orleans. "In reality the New Orleans carnival is similar to the Fasching of Germany which begins on the twelfth night after Christmas and continues until Shrove Tuesday. The expression Mardi Gras is from the French, meaning Fat Tuesday."

"Celebrate the death of winter and the rebirth of nature, ultimately recommitting the individual to the spiritual and social codes of the culture."

Chip has more Mardi Gras sites and more links from Mardi Gras web sites than anyone else. Let Dead Elvis and Elvira serve as your guide to the annual festival.

A news search shows just how much Mardi Gras buzz is out there!
2004 || 2005 || 2006 || 2007 || 2008

Jester's guide has photos, tons of links, and a listing of beautiful and unique Mardi Gras products.

A Mardi Gras search on bestofneworleans.com yields loads of info! || 2004 || 2005 || 2006 || 2007 || 2008

Yahoo!-Society and Culture:Holidays:Mardi Gras
Regularly reworked with 6 categories.

RINGS (6) Mardi Gras & New Orleans Web Rings
plus Louisiana, Big Easy, Bourbon Street & Cajun 

Parade Schedule by MardiGrasnewOrleans.com 

MardiGras.org Parade Schedule || New Orleans || Metarie || St. Bernard || North Shore

Check out the growing data, including float history and parade map links.   || Fat Tuesday Rundown


MAPS & More TIPS
Amberle.com Parade Maps & Tidbits || also operates the Mardi Gras Web ring 

New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade  Fat Tuesday 2008 is February 5 In Egyptian times the annual calendar of 360 days was completed with 5 days of time outside of time- Carnival time
Highlights of the Season of Pageantry
The fun will be going on all month, but things really kick into gear on Carnaval Friday! For a complete schedule of parades, click here An extensive description of the Krewes can be found here.
www.KreweduVieux.orgy Forever dedicated to the pure spirit of Carnival: satire, music, fantasy, fun, and naked public intoxication...
Carnival  Friday	Hermes - Uptown, 5:45 p.m. Krewe d'Etat - Uptown, 6:30 p.m. Aquila - Metairie, 7p.m. Knights of Jason - Metairie, 7:30pm Morpheus - Metairie, 7:15 p.m.
Carnival  Saturday	Iris - Uptown, 11:00 a.m. Tucks - Uptown, noon Endymion - Uptown, 3:30 p.m. Isis - Metairie, 6 p.m.
Endymion.org/ || Founded 1967 After the parade, Endymion's  riding members will celebrate with a party in the Superdome KreweofTucks.com Parading for the past 30 years as one of Mardi Gras's biggest collection of Rag Tag irreverant folks on the weekend before Fat Tuesday
Carnival Sunday: Dimache Gras	Okeanos - Uptown, 11:30 a.m. Thoth - Uptown, follows Okeanos Adonis - West Bank, Noon Mid-City - Uptown, 1:30 p.m. Bacchus - Uptown, 5:15 p.m. Napoleon - Metairie, 5:30 p.m.
KreweofBacchus.org (est.1968)  The Official web site. Famous Bacchus rolls Sunday, with a new celebrity king every year.
Fat Monday: Lundi Gras	Proteus - 5:15pm Orpheus - Uptown, 5:45 p.m. Zeus - Metairie, 6:30 p.m.
KreweofOrpheus.net   Mega-Parades Monday Night (Lundi Gras) followed by the Orpheuscapade party. Founded by musical star Harry Connick Jr.  in 1993 to honor  the ancient story  of Orpheus, one of the earliest  Carnival deities.
Fat Tuesday: Mardi Gras!  "a kaleidoscope of offbeat cultural rituals to behold"	Zulu - Uptown, 8:00 a.m. Rex - Uptown, 10 a.m. Elks Orleans - West Bank, after Rex Crescent City - Uptown, after Elks Argus - Metairie, 10 a.m. Elks - Jeff. - Metairie, 11 a.m. Jefferson - Metairie, after Elks Jefferson Grela - West Bank, 11 a.m. Choctaw - West Bank, noon
	Fat Tuesday Rundown by mardigrasunmasked.com  "Exuding an energy all their own, freewheeling walking/marching groups often inspire others to follow in their wake - mimicking, drinking and dancing."
Zulu Queens Zulu parades on Mardi Gras Day with their famous coconuts. In 1909, a group of laborers went to the Pythian Theater for musical comedy. A skit about the Zulu Tribe called "There Never Was and Never Will Be a King Like Me," inspired the social group to form Zulu.

KreweofPegasus.com\
(1957)  Our motto is "Neither Rain, Cold, Strike nor Hurricane's Might..." Membership is on the move

Krewe of Pontchartrain ||  ;
Founded 1975. Among the first 4 Krewes to parade on the first Saturday of the official Mardi Gras season.

Knights of Sparta || Founded  1951.  The Bards is one of the premiere parading organizations, riding on the most exciting night of the Mardi Gras season  "Lundi Gras," or Fat Monday. They invite you to join them 

kreweofmid-city.org/ (1933)
Motto is "Pour La Joie De Vivre," which translates "For The Joy of Living."  With themes dedicated to children, entertaining the young and young at heart.

Krewes at Yahoo.com  

Krewe of ELVIS (est. 1999)  || jestermg.com/ 
Led by the owner of the most linked to Mardi gras web site Chip of Chip's Links aka Dead Elvis 

Jefferson City Buzzards
(1890) The first band  to sort of march Uptown on Mardi Gras morning 

Barkus Parades  
The annual parade of dogs & dog owners get bigger every year.

The Purple Knights of  St. Augustine High School are the renowned stars among dozens of marching bands performing in the parades. "Instead of marching outward, we march upward."

Metairie, Jefferson Parish LA

The parish's 24 krewes  are nonprofit organizations working closely with the Parish which grants them each a bingo license. 
Almost 3/4 of the parades follow the same route on Veterans. Corporate sponsorship is allowed but nudity is not. 

NapoleOnParade.com/ 
Laisez les bon temps rouler! join us for some big-time fun, food, and festival!

Get the official scoop on doing Mardi Gras in Mobile

Each year, MAMGA presents King Elexis I and his queen, the Mammoth Parade, and the Grand Marshall's Ball. Tickets available --  Mobile's largest parade happens late afternoon on Fat Tuesday.
1-334-432-3050

Viva La Mardi Gras Mobile
Mardi Gras reviewed from inside the secret mystic societies from the City distinguished as the "Mother of Mystics."

When  6 young Cowbellions from Mobile saved the Mardi Gras.

"In 1852 the Cowbellion de Rakin Society of Mobile took their parade to New Orleans where they introduced the city to its first themed float parade. 5 years later, 6 CdRS members founded the Mistick Krewe of Comus"  Dave Sweatt

Mississippi Gulf Coast 

On Feb. 13, 1699, Canadian Pierrre le Moyne, Sieur D'Iberville, under instructions from French King Louis XIV, secured the first French colony on Biloxi Bay, where Ocean Springs is today.  Three hundred plus years later, the area consists of 11 cities and dozens of smaller communities known collectively as the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Enjoy the Gulf Coast with its white sandy beaches, deep sea fishing, golf , historical sites, casinos -- and have your Mardi Gras too!
Biloxi & Gulfport Fotos & Links
 Mardi Gras || Calendar of Events || Mardi Gras search on Gulfcoast.org

Cajun Country, Southwest Louisiana

 Are you interested in expanding your Mardi Gras resume beyond the Big Easy borders? Discover the many small town celebrations of Mardi Gras, and enjoy the festivities without large crowds.  Towns like Mamou, Iota and Ossun practice "Courir De Mardi Gras" where masked horseman perform various antics before feasting on delicious Cajun delicacies.

Lafayette, Capital of Cajun Country

Lafayette, Louisiana  is thoroughly entrenched in the aura of family, religion, a live-and-let-live philosophy of life and an intense sense of its own history and place in the world.
Krewe of Apollo de Lafayette on gaymardigras.com
Apollo's history has established its reputation of splendor, creativeness and gaiety in Lafayette. This reputation has also been maintained in other cities with the formation of associate krewes: Apollo Baton Rouge, Apollo Shreveport, and Apollo Birmingham. The ball is staged in Lafayette's Cajundome and the Captain is Ted A. Viator.

The Alexandria Mardi Gras Association

Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge City Guide has pics, parade routes, krewe links and more!


Houma

• Houma.com

• KreweofHercules.com

Bossier

• Shreveport-Bossier Mardi Gras

• Krewe of Centaur 

• Krewe of Gemini

MardigrasGalveston.com/ by GalvestonTourism.com 
It's Mardi Gras, Texas style! The biggest Mardi Gras celebration in Texas with more than 75 events, including an entertainment district, nine  parades, elaborate balls, exciting parties,  exhibits and sporting events.

A Carnival where the soul of New Orleans meets the spirit of Texas in the form of Rock and Mexican Tejano music.   Search Houston Chronicle for "mardi+gras"

• Zkrewe.com
  Zanie happen'in krewe
• Krewe of Rex Arborius.com
  In the Kingwood / Humble / North Houston, Texas area. 
• Krewe of Babalu
• Krewe of Gambrinus

Texas artist Perry Bowman designs new medallions for each Mardi Gras Check them out here  See what's new for Texas & Carnaval here

Mississippi River 
Soulard Mardi Gras St, Louis || Fotos
Big and getting bigger

Mardi Gras Indians by carnaval.com
  zymondo.com

"I'm 52 inches across my chest.  And I don't bow to nothin' 'Cept God and death" -- from a battle chant by Larry Bannock

"Most songs are made for telling a story," says Big Chief Robee

Advice for the serious party guys Waiting for a parade is a great time to talk to locals. Outside the Quarter, Mardi Gras is a family affair and parents bring children to the parades so really obnoxious behavior here is inappropriate. Save it for Bourbon Street.  

Mardi Gras Do's & Dont's by .mardigrasneworleans.com 
For parade goers mostly plus Do not take your children to the French Quarter during Mardi Gras 
"Remember to step on doubloons" & lots more good stuff!
Tips and Tricks by gaymardigras
Unlike parades in other cities, Mardi Gras parades require people to become participants.
Where, What, When to Eat

CARNIVAL 101 by MardiGrasUnmasked.com

Carnivaldom is a realm unto itself, with a peculiar lexicon and a dizzying array of rituals and traditions propagated by many different groups and organizations that cut across virtually every social strata. And while the city of New Orleans is responsible for some aspects of the celebration (such as doling out parade permits and approving parade routes), there is no single committee or group that coordinates or oversees Carnival/Mardi Gras. All of which can sometimes produce a sense of bewilderment among the uninitiated. Want to get your arms around the festivities? Start by delving into some historical background , terminology and what Mardi Gras is all about. Plus: practical reminders and tips.

 The Big Balls Factor 
What accounts for a Beads worth? 

Mardi Gras beads....the currency of Carnival? The down low on throws

"Be warned! If you're at your first parade and reach down to pick up a doubloon with your hand, your fingers may never be the same!"

Balcony Envy: Some balconies on Bourbon Streetnow rent to private parties for over $1000/hour or you can find one to hang out at like the Cat's Meow 

Masks

Masks 
Throughout the ages the mask has been used to escape everyday reality and enter new fantasies and even more real worlds of reality than we understand. 

Mysterious Marie Laveau Voodoo Queen and Folk Tales Along the Mississippi
 Originally published in 1956. Learn about Marie Laveau (1794-1881), "Queen of the Voodoos," and other fascinating historical data
Voodoo Dreams : A Novel of Marie Laveau
by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Zulu Queens

Have you gotten a King Cake baby lately? "It is, after all, meant to be a mystery." The King's Cake tradition stems from the ancient tribal custom of choosing a  "sacred king"  for one year and then   sacrificing him in a Carnival ceremony before returning his body to the earth to insure a successful harvest. Probably the earliest application of the often frustrated popular people's will of imposing term limits on politicians... More locally, some krewes use a lottery with gold coins or tiny plastic babies to decide their royalty. Cajun & Creole & New Orleans Food

Cooking: Holidays: Mardi Gras    

Mardi Gras Funology 
"Mardi Gras rituals include donning outrageous costumes, holding parades, attending parties and general merriment."

Mardi G. Raccoon by mardi.com
Cool places and things for Kids in New Orleans & Louisiana Mardi G. Raccoon is the Official MC at Storyland in New Orleans City Park located on Victory Drive. A top ten kid's park in the USA

Play the King Cake Game

Mardi Gras Kids Books at amazon.com
Nice selection  in our  New Orleans & Mardi Gras Books 
Mardigrasfun.com
"Let the good times roll..."
 

Krewe of Petronius 
The "Grande Dame" of gay Mardi Gras balls, founded in 1961 

Krewe of Armeinius: Spreading the culture of gay mardi gras

Mystic Krewe of Apollo de Lafayette
   
 Krewe of Queenateenas

GayMardiGras.com || Photos by Ambush Magazine is the leading guide to gay life in New Orleans, Louisiana and the South 

The Bourbon Street Awards
World Famous Fat Tuesday Costume Contest

Web Cams: in New Orleans

aforum.com/

BourboCAM Central: 
The web famous has plenty of company visit aforum for more options. 

 
Icorp's Carnival
They don't want a direct link to their Bourbon Street camera. As a general rule Carnaval.com unlinks on request

Mardi Gras Radio nolalive.com
Carnival classics and recent hits.

New Orleans: Jazz, Blues, Mambos, Swamp & More

Mardi Gras Indians photos & stories

All on a Mardi Gras Day : Episodes in the History of New Orleans Carnival 
-- Reid Mitchell

• The most intriguing stories of Carnival since 1804
• "There has been a lot of thoughtless celebration written down and called New Orleans history, and it has done nobody any good."
  -New Orleans Times-Picayune

"...based on the theory that if people take one week to be as debauched as they possibly can, they'll be too worn out to sin until Easter."

For a breakdown of the mythical figures, Christian influences, and and explanation of what the heck those masks are all about, read Russell K. Tardo's The Spirit of Mardi Gras.

12 clips all G-rated by usacitylink.com