Vacation: Mardi Gras, New Orleans
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is one of the most famous carnival celebrations in the world. The celebration is well known for its parades, masquerade balls, and parties all over the city. The festivities usually begin two weeks before and during Fat Tuesday. The most recognized feature of Mardi Gras is the large floats during the parades and the many people on the decks of surrounding buildings throwing strings of colored beads down at the crowd. The many activities cover Bourbon Street, the French Quarter, and the Uptown and Mid-city districts.
This is definitely worth a visit if you’ve never done this before. It is a one-of-a-kind party. But, you had better be comfortable with large crowds! The population of the city more than doubles during this time. The parade season starts about three weekends before Mardi Gras and there is about one parade each night. The celebrations are all rooted in a rich culture dating back to the 1600’s. Many different organizations participate bringing their own unique style. Costumes and masks are a big part of the celebration. You’ll see lots of people, especially the Carnival organizers, dressed up in colorful outfits. Make sure you grab yourself some beads! Many people collect these as mementos of the day and you might be lucky enough to receive limited edition, Fiber optic, or glass beads. The organizers may also throw small toys, LED-powered prizes, or doubloons.
Visiting New Orleans won’t break the bank either. This can be a very affordable vacation. While strolling around taking in the Spanish-style architecture, it won’t take you long to find establishments that play live music. New Orleans is well known for its brass bands. If you are there in advance of Mardi Gras, head over to Jackson Square to see the street performers. If the crowds of Mardi Gras are a little too much for the kids to handle, take them over to “Mardi Gras World”. It is a little version of the holiday for families – small parade floats and sculpted characters. Your visit includes a movie, free king cake, and you can dress up in a Mardi Gras costume. And, of course, there are plenty of hotels to stay in for all budgets. Don’t forget to sample the southern cooking at the many restaurants in and around New Orleans.
