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Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler “Let the Good Times Roll” for Mardi Gras New Orleans, Louisiana. Welcome to New Orleans for lots of fun & adventures. Hurry book your flight in time for Mardi Gras which is Tuesday February 28 this year. Carnival Season has already started and activities are happening now. Let us see the dates when all this takes place.
Mardi Gras New Orleans less than 60 seconds!
Dates for Mardi Gras New Orleans
Carnival Season after the Epiphany which is also called Three Kings Day a Christian Feast begins on Jan 6, 2011 this year. Carnival ends Feb 28 at midnight before Ash Wednesday March 1, 2017. All during the Carnival Season more and more people flock to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
New Orleans is one of my favorite place to celebrate Mardi Gras. I try to get tickets to stand on a balcony along Bourbon Street, These Balcony Parties supple drinks, food and throws. People are yelling up to you to “Throw me something Mister“ and you yell at them to “Show me something“, so you can throw the beads to them. It does not get any better than this. Now for a little history of how Mardi Gras arrived to New Orleans.
History of Mardi Gras New Orleans
The brief history of Mardi Gras New Orleans has been traced back to Medieval Europe during the 17th and 18 Century. It went from Rome on towards Venice to the French House of Bourbons. French Explorer Jean Baptiste arrived south of New Orleans and brought this tradition with him. It first started 1703 in Mobile, AL then in 1718 brought to New Orleans by Bienville, but not with all the parades they have now. In 1740 is when the elegant society balls started. Then in 1781 the first of hundreds of organizational clubs called Krewe’s were established.
By 1830’s the street processions with gas lite torches, masked people with carriages and horseback riders started. The first recorded Mardi Gras throws from the street processions were in 1870. Then in 1886 is where the colorful floats emerged with beautiful costumes.
Parades for Mardi Gras New Orleans
Now large beautiful colorful floats with gorgeous outfits can be seen from the famous parades. Each Krewe has their own court (king and queen) theme and parades. See the list of parade dates and times to take in your favorite parade.
During Carnival Season, it is fun to venture into the French Quarter and catch some of the parades. Not all the parades are in the French Quarter with some in the outlying cities. Here is your list for the Parade Schedule for Carnival 2017 Mardi Gras (click the green name) .
When you view a parade be expected to catch colorful throws that include beads and trinkets. Some people will wear crazy outfits or say things to catch the most beads. Be warned sometimes the beads will be thrown very hard and fast plus people will be drinking at some of these parades. (Here is your warning). Also please note each parade will start and end at different locations.
Bourbon Street plus the Best Time to Visit
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is fun and the best place to experience it is in the French Quarter with some streets busier than others. Bourbon St. seems have the most Bars and Crazy Adventures. The other streets are not as crazy and it is great to walk around during the day to take in the shops, restaurants and galleries. By evening more people arrive in town and the fun begins.
I find the best time to be downtown in the French Quarter during Mardi Gras is the weekend before the actual day on a Friday which is Feb 24th this year. During the day it is not as hectic walking down Bourbon Street and seeing the crazy outfits people are wearing. By the evening more people arrive and you will see a shift in activities and scantily clad people. I find the daytime Friday and Saturday is a little bit more subdued than the evenings.
Lafitite’s Blacksmith Shop a must stop place for a drink…
Crazy Time for Mardi Gras New Orleans
Sunday arrives with day and nights busy, then Monday, Lundi Gras is very crazy in the French Quarter. Mardi Gras arrives on Tuesday which is even more crazy but ends on midnight. Ash Wednesday begins and is a holy day of obligation so all festivities stop at midnight on Tuesday. See my tips on Surviving Mardi Gras below.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a great fun experience. I have gone to the huge Balls in the Super Dome where a famous Parade ends and was able to go home with thousands of beads. Those Balls are fun to dress up in evening gowns and dance to famous musicians.
The Voodoo Shop…also a meet up for the night Haunted Tour
Other
New Orleans is fun to visit other times during the year with lots of festivals or just to walk the streets. Look for my New Orleans Blog on Activities, Hotels and Restaurants. Then check out my “Mind-Blowing Words to Improve your Mardi Gras Fun”. For other travel locations visit me at 1AdventureTraveler.
Tips on how to Survive Mardi Gras New Orleans
- Note, the closer you get to Mardi Gras the more crowd it is on Bourbon Street. The street fills with hundreds of people all walking one way.
- You will be merged in with the crowd and have to walk with them. It is very hard to move on your own to the side or out of the crowd.
- If you are with a group or another person hold hands, clothing or lock arms, but watch your belongings.
- During this time while walking hands seem to fly all over and people will try and pick pocket your items. Yes, you might get your bum pinched or grabbed too.
- I like to hide my money inside my clothes and if I take a very small purse it is across the body with the zipper held closed and is tight against my body. Guys put your wallet in the front or find a hiding place.
- Also watch when you are using your phone. It can be snatched out of your hands which happened to my daughter. It was never recovered.
- All the poles are greased so you will not be able to climb up to the second stories and meet the people throwing the beads. 🙂 Well I must say one Mardi Gras guy made it up the pole after I teased and threw beads and he scared me to death. I didn’t know what to say or do. So be careful what you say.
- No drinking and driving. Call Uber. I have used them many times in New Orleans and they are quick and cheap.
- Now go out and have fun!
Remember life is short go out and have an adventure!
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Also, please have a look at the link up’s I’m participating in with #FollowMeFriday and #WeekendWanderlust on Facebook. Here you will find fantastic adventures by other professional bloggers.
This is such a great guide, loved reading about the history and you have provided some great tips!. This is something I would love to do, I have never been to a big carnival like this and it looks so much fun. Pinned. #feetdotravel
Thanks Angie, Hope you do get a chance to visit New Orleans during Mardi Gras or any time. It is a great town for fun & some tasty food! The Jazz Festival is coming soon 😊
It’s always been a wish of mine to go to Mardi Gras! Always looks like so much fun! This year I’m going to my first Carneval in a few weeks which I’m realllly excitied about! I’ve been to a few parades but nothing on the scale of Mardi Gras! #FeetDoTravel
How fun, enjoy your first Carnival in a few weeks. I will look forward to your article. Sometime in your travels, you must visit New Orleans and take in all the parades and fun for Mardi Gras!
Great tips for Mardi Gras Stephanie. New Orleans seems like one of the best places to experience Carnival festivities, and would love to visit there one day. I’d probably like to visit at another time of year too so I could actually do some sightseeing as I imagine it is pretty tough during Mardi Gras.
Hi David,
New Orleans for Carnival is a fun time to visit. Another great time is during spring when the azaleas bloom and you get a chance to see a lot more. There is also the Jazz Festival there but I think New Orleans if fun to visit it anytime but Carnival if one of my favorites.
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
Never been to Mardi Gras or New Orleans. That’s two things i need to knock off my bucket list!
Hi Barry,
Carnival, Mardi Gras in New Orleans is amazing with the food, people, parades, beads, and so much more. It is a place where you need some guidance on where to go. Hope you get a chance to visit.
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
Haven’t been to New Orleans in quite a long time. Best thing there is the FOOD! It’s amazing. It can be crazy especially for Mardi Gras so I definitely agree with all of your tips. Nice breakdown of everything going on during this time.
Thanks Lisa,
You are correct, the FOOD is sooo amazing. The French Quarter in New Orleans I think is crazy anytime of the year but is more fun for Carnival especially with the Parades.
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
“Throw me something Mister“ and you yell at them to “Show me something“. Hahaha this made me laugh. I can’t imagine how crazy it gets in New Orleans during Mardi Gras.
Hi ThriftyTrails,
What is fun hanging over the balcony and saying “show me something mister” lol….(I have stores to tell). Wow, it can be very crazy. On the flip side the parades can be a family affair and do not going through the french quarter. 🙂
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
Yay! Mardi Gras time is so fun! Kind of crazy around Vieux Carre with all those people, but lots of fun all around town. One I parade DO want to see is Barkus! Can you imagine dogs parading through the French Quarter? That would be so fun!
Hi Rob & Ann,
You have been to the Vieux Carre. lol, I had to check to see if I spelled Bacchus Parade incorrectly to Barkus! But seeing dogs parading through the French Quarter would be kinda cool 🙂
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
I fell in love with New Orleans & would go back in a heart beat. Thanks for taking us to Mardi Gras! 🙂
Thanks Shona,
Glad you enjoyed your journey to Mardi Gras through my article and I hope you make it back there. New Orleans is fun anytime of the year but especially during Carnival 🙂
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
One of my favourite place in the USA. It screams of culture and art. I am fascinated with the street arts at the French quarter. It has the vintage tint of horse-drawn carriages and quaint
cafes. Celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans would be a great experience indeed.
Hi Sandy,
New Orleans is fascinating along with the architecture and history. Top it off with Mardi Gras is amazing. Have you been there for Mardi Gras?
I loved New Orleans on my visit a couple of years back but seeing it during Mardi Gras would be an incredible experience. I can just imagine how beautiful Bourbon St would be! Thanks for sharing
Thanks Alexei,
Glad you had a chance to visit New Orleans and the French Quarter. It is fun during Mardi Gras with all the festivities. Parades, food, costumes, beads and so much more 🙂
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
I love how you included a little history of Mardi Gras. I have to agree it sounds like a blast!
Thanks Agness of eTramping,
Hopefully their was not to many dates with the history but it gives a perspective on how long ago Mardi Gras has played a roll in New Orleans. There is so much fun at that time of the year 🙂
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
This sounds interesting, I have to admit I didn’t knew much about this carnival. I would love to visit New Orleans any time of the year, not only during Mardi Gras. Thank you for sharing , will pin this for future reference.
Thanks Oana,
New Orleans is fun any time of the year though Mardi Gras is a great draw with its Parades, food, beads, and more 🙂 There is also a Jazz Festival and tours available to the antebellum homes. Hope you get a chance to visit.
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
I’d really love to experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans some year. It just seems like one of those things you must do at least once in your life, and especially if you’re from the US! I haven’t even been to New Orleans yet, and I’d actually love to just go thre and eat everything in sight. 🙂
Hi Anna,
New Orleans is a fun place to visit anytime. In the summer it can be very hot and humid but its always fun to visit when there is a festival like Mardi Gras. Hope you get a chance to visit 🙂
This sounds amazing! I’ve never been to New Orleans but really like to go now. I’ve recently seen a parade in Peru and loved watching the people in colourful costumes dancing and singing on the streets. The balconies at Bourbon Street look perfect to watch the parade. Are you going this year?
Hi Sina,
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is so much fun with the Parades and more. How exciting to be in Peru with the parades and people dancing in the street. Balconies are the perfect and safe place to watch the streets and unfortunately I will not make Mardi Gras this year, since I was just there. I look forward to my next trip during Carnival.
Happy Travels, Stephanie (1AdventureTraveler)
Wow, a carnival that lasts over two months… that’s something! I love the Balcony Parties, they sound so much fun. I really want to experience that!
Hi Elena, Oh yes, those balcony parties are awesome and the best way to see Mardi Gras. An exciting city to visit 😁
Great post. The photos of the buildings in New Orleans caught my eye and I find the history of the Mardi Gras very interesting. I would love to attend someday 🙂
Thanks Sam,
Hope you get a chance to visit New Orleans on Mardi Gras someday. 😁 The parades with the floats are just amazing!
This was great! New Orleans is one of our favorite cities, and we love the voodoo shops too. It must be exhilarating to be there during Mardi Gras. Next time you stop by make sure you get a roast beef po-boy from Mothers restaurant. We think its the best sandwich in the US. #feetdotravel
Thanks for the tip! I must that try that roast beef po-boy at Mother’s Restaurant next time I am in town. The lines there are usually so long but sounds like its worth it. 🙂
Oh yes! One day, I will make it to NOLA for Mardi Gras and I will take all your tips with me!
Thanks Jenn,
Hope these tips help on your visit NOLA 🙂 How fun! There is also so much more to see that I have not mentioned. Look forward to read them after you visit the city that never sleeps.
Happy Travels 🙂
Funny story, the only time I’ve been to Mardi Gras – and the only time I’ve been to New Orleans – was when my parents brought me to Mardi Gras when I was 4 years old (why they thought that was a good idea, I don’t know). So needless to say, my memory of Mardi Gras as a 4 y/o is pretty far from reality. I’d love to go back now as an adult and experience the real Mardi Gras. Great tip about going down there the weekend before it starts – I like festivities like this and the energy that comes from big crowds, but generally speaking, I am all for tips to avoid the crowds. Thanks for sharing this post!
Thanks Diana,
A trip to New Orleans now that your older would be fun! It would be a big difference from when you were 4 yrs old. For a tip there I always suggest to book early for carnival season which is fun the whole time but the weekend before the actual Mardi Gras day (tuesday) is fun with less crowds.
Happy Travels 🙂
This sounds insanely fun! I’ve always wanted to attend a Mardi Gras; for some reason, though, I thought it was later in the year (so of course I check flight prices in a panic and realize it’s too late to go this year, darn). Still, you offer some great tips, and we’ll keep it in mind in case we can ever attend in the future. Thanks!
Thanks Anna,
Oh no, sorry you missed carnival season and Mardi Gras this year 🙁 Now you can plan for next year! There is so much fun things to do and with the link provided you can find out next years parade schedule. Must see some of the fabulous Parades while there.
Happy Travels 🙂