It’s that time of year again! The time honored Mardi Gras season is upon us. Prepare yourself for good music, colorful parades, crazy costumes, delicious king cakes, traditional paper mache floats, and elegant balls. The time honored tradition of celebrating from the Twelfth Night up to Fat Tuesday, the Carnival revelry can be traced back to medieval Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. The celebration, which leads up to Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, was brought over with early settlers in 1699, and was established in New Orleans in 1718. Painted faces and colorful costumes can be seen everywhere as locals and visitors alike line the parade routes, mostly displaying the traditional colors of Purple (symbolizing Justice), Green (symbolizing Faith), and Gold (symbolizing Power). Most locals know the drill, but if you’re visiting this year don’t forget your picnic blanket, your cooler full of snacks and drinks for the kiddos, homemade Bloody Mary mixers for the big kids, and a full tilt good time that is always unique .When we lived in NOLA, we lived Uptown, that was our preferred spot to catch all the big names and best parades. With ample space in the neutral ground and along the streets, make sure you arrive early to stake out your spot. You can’t go wrong in the Quarter, although space can be a little cramped. Remember ladies, you really don’t have to flash anyone for those beads or coconuts! Be sure to grab a King Cake while you’re at it.
This year Fat Tuesday falls on March 4th, and the parade schedule is as follows:
UPTOWN
MONDAY Jan 6th
Phunny Phorty Phellows 7:00PM
Funky Uptown Krewe 7:00PM
FRIDAY Feb 21st
Krewe of Oshun 5:30PM
Krewe of Cleopatra follows
SATURDAY Feb 22nd
Krewe of Ponchartrain 11:30AM
Legion of Mars follows
Krewe of Choctaw follows
Krewe of Freret follows
Knights of Sparta 5:30PM
Krewe of Pygmalion 6:15PM
SUNDAY Feb 23rd
The Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale 11:00AM
Krewe of Carrollton 12:30PM
Krewe of King Arthur 1:00PM
WEDNESDAY Feb 26th
Krewe of Druids 6:15PM
Krewe of Alla follows
THURSDAY Feb 17th
Knights of Babylon 5:30PM
Knights of Chaos follows
Krewe of Muses 6:30PM
FRIDAY Feb 28th
Krewe of Hermes 5:30PM
Krewe d’Etat 6:30Pm
Krewe of Morpheus follows
SATURDAY March 1st
Krewe of Iris 11:00AM
Krewe of Tucks 12:00PM
SUNDAY Mar 2nd
Krewe of Okeanos 11:00AM
Krewe of Mid-City follows
Krewe of Thoth 12:00PM
Krewe of Bacchus 5:15PM
MONDAY Mar 3rd (Lundi Gras)
Krewe of Proteus 5:15PM
Krewe of Orpheus 6:00PM
TUESDAY Mar 4th
Krewe of Zulu 8:00AM
Krewe of Rex 10:30Am
Krewe of Elks Orleans follows
Krewe of Crescent City follows
FRENCH QUARTER
MONDAY Jan 6th
Societe Des Champs Elysee 7:30PM
Krewe of Joan of Arc 8:00PM
FRIDAY Feb 14th
Krewe Boheme 7:00PM
SATURDAY Feb 15th
Krewe de Vieux 6:30PM
Krewedelusion follows
FRIDAY Feb 22
Krewe of Cork 3:00PM
SUNDAY Feb 23rd
Krewe of Barkus 2:00PM
FRIDAY Feb 28
Krewe of Bosom Buddies 11:30 AM
OUTLYING AREAS
MONDAY Jan 6th
Mande Kings Day (Mandeville) 3:00PM
SATURDAY Jan 11th
Fools of Misrule (Covington) 4:00PM
SATURDAY Jan 25th
Krewe of Majestic Carnival Club (Covington) 11:00AM
SATURDAY Feb 1st
Krewe of Chewbacchus (Marginy) 7:00PM
FRIDAY Feb 14th
Krewe of Titans (Slidell) 6:30PM
SATURDAY Feb 15th
Krewe of Bilge (Slidell) 12:00PM
Krewe of Posideon (Slidell) 6:00PM
SUNDAY Feb 16th
Krewe of Little Rascals (Metairie) 12:00PM
Krewe of Antheia (Slidell) 1:00PM
‘Tit Rex (Marginy) 4:30PM
Pearl River Lions Parade (Pearl River) 1:00PM
Krewe of Nefertiti (New Orleans East) 1:00PM
FRIDAY Feb 21st
Krewe of Excalibur (Metairie) 7:00PM
Krewe of Eve (Mandeville) 7:00PM
SATURDAY Feb 22nd
