How to Celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans

The Best Mardi Gras Hotels

The first step in celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans is to find a place to stay that is relatively close to where you would like to partake in the festival’s activities. Much of the Carnival takes place around the French Quarter, with Bourbon Street usually being most favored by the crowds. 

Staying anywhere around that area in the Quarter’s neighborhood will put you right smack in the middle of all the festivities. The Inn on Bourbon and The Royal Sonesta’s front doors open straight out to Bourbon Street and Royal St. Charles Hotel plus many more are in the French Quarter area, near Bourbon Street. 

Most of the hotels that are in and around the Quarter also have special Mardi Gras deals for guests who stay there.

The Parades 

The Mardi Gras festival begins two weeks prior to the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and concludes the night of Fat Tuesday. There is at least one parade each day of Mardi Gras in New Orleans and they are definitely not to be missed. Floats, costumes, and flying objects of all types can be seen at any given parade and the biggest of these parades occur throughout the last five days of the Mardi Gras event.

The parade routes and times vary but usually go all around the city of New Orleans from uptown all the way to the French Quarter neighborhood. Often times you will hear the words, “Throw me something, Mister!” being yelled from the crowds to the krewes who run the floats. Items such as bead necklaces, coins, plastic cups, and small toys or pieces of candy will fly through the air to those who yell the loudest.

The Drinks

Don’t be surprised to see most of the people at Mardi Gras in New Orleans enjoying an alcoholic beverage or two. New Orleans has prized itself in creating their very own drinks that most Mardi Gras attendees love to try. 

The most famous drink to indulge in is known as The Hurricane, which is comprised of three different types of rum, orange and pineapple juice, and a splash of grenadine. With a name like Mardi Gras Mojito, you can expect to observe these drinks served at any and every bar on Bourbon Street. This popular drink contains rum, carbonated water, mint leaves, and simple syrup. Other more common cocktails and all types of beer can also be found at any of the bars during Mardi Gras season. 

With all these drinks, it’s a good thing that the New Orleans open container law allows patrons to walk around with an alcoholic drink as long as it is in a plastic container. 

The Streets 

Without a doubt, Bourbon Street is the place to be if you are looking for the lively, bustling action of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Full of bars, clubs, balconies, people, and beads, you are sure to be in the center of Mardi Gras when on this road. Crowds of people not only swarm the street and sidewalks, but also the balconies that overlook Bourbon Street nightly. 

Bourbon Vieux is home to one of New Orleans’ largest balconies and has a direct line of view to the popular street. Spots at this and other balconies can be rented by the day, but it is important to book early as they sell out quickly. Purchasing a place on a balcony includes food and drinks, and as a result can be quite costly, but don’t let be a reason you miss out on getting some of the best views of Bourbon Street.

Help make the most of your Mardi Gras experience by learning more about the history and culture of Bourbon Street, New Orleans.