We Missed This Year’s Mardi Gras – Here’s Our Bucket List for Next Year

Mardi Gras FOMO

New Orleans transforms into a kaleidoscope of purple, green, and gold during Mardi Gras season, with two weeks of parades, parties, and festivities leading up to Fat Tuesday.

We missed it this year, and if you did too, here’s everything you need to experience next year.

Score Your First King Cake at Manny Randazzo’s

Starting King’s Day, grab the city’s most sought-after king cake. It’s a traditional cinnamon-filled cake topped with purple (representing justice), green (faith), and gold (power) sugar. Don’t forget to check for the hidden plastic baby, whoever finds it buys the next cake. 

Catch the Krewe of Muses Thursday Night Parade

Secure your spot on St. Charles Avenue for one of Carnival’s most creative parades. 

The all-female Krewe of Muses rolls in from the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Magazine Street, throwing their signature hand-decorated glitter shoes that have become coveted collectibles. Position yourself near the intersection of Napoleon Avenue and St. Charles around 6:30 PM for prime viewing. 

Tip: Pack a small cooler with local Abita beers, muffulettas from Central Grocery, and a portable chair. 

Join a Mardi Gras Indians Practice

Head to the Backstreet Cultural Museum in Tremé on Sunday evenings to watch tribes like the Wild Magnolias and Fi Yi Yi rehearse their percussive songs and call-and-response chants. 

The museum at 1116 Henriette Delille Street also displays elaborate Indian suits from previous years, hand-sewn with thousands of feathers, beads, and rhinestones, some weighing over 100 pounds. 

Master the Art of Bead Catching at Endymion

Position yourself along Canal Street for Super Krewe Endymion’s massive parade.  

This parade features double-decker floats, celebrity riders like Harry Connick Jr. (2023’s Honorary Grand Marshal), and throws including LED beads, doubloons, and the prized Endymion cups. 

Arrive by noon to claim your spot at the stretch between South Galvez and South Carrollton for great views with fewer crowds than Mid-City. Don’t forget to yell “Throw me something, mister!” while making direct eye contact with float riders.

Bring a ladder with an attached seat for kids (just keep it 6 feet back from the curb to be safe), and pack a drawstring bead bag to collect your treasures.

Experience Lundi Gras at Spanish Plaza

Head to Spanish Plaza for the arrival of Rex, King of Carnival, and Zulu’s characters by riverboat. 

The ceremony starts at 6 PM, featuring food vendors serving crawfish étouffée and boudin balls, and a spectacular 15-minute fireworks show over the Mississippi River synchronized to New Orleans musical classics. 

Grab dinner at nearby Riverwalk restaurants like Drago’s (famous for charbroiled oysters) or Grand Isle, but make reservations at least two weeks ahead. 

Watch both krewes’ ceremonial toasts to each other using traditional Mardi Gras champagne cups and join locals in welcoming Carnival royalty before their Fat Tuesday appearances.

Attend a Mardi Gras Ball

While many krewe balls are invitation-only, several organizations host public balls for visitors to experience the formal side of the Carnival Ball. 

The Orpheus Orpheuscapade allows guests to attend both the parade and the following ball at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for $175 per ticket. 

Good to know: Ladies should pack floor-length gowns, while gentlemen are expected to wear black-tie tuxedos. 

You’ll be treated to performances by nationally recognized musicians (past performers include Cyndi Lauper and Sheila E), elegant Champagne fountains, and the opportunity to mingle with krewe members like founder Harry Connick Jr.

Feast on Traditional Mardi Gras Cuisine

Your palate deserves a true Carnival experience, aka all the good food in New Orleans.

Visit Dooky Chase’s Restaurant on Orleans Avenue for their renowned Creole gumbo z’herbes, traditionally eaten during Carnival season and made with nine different greens for good luck. 

The chicken and andouille jambalaya at Mother’s Restaurant on Poydras Street perfectly captures the festive spirit with its smoky, spicy flavors enhanced by their blend of Creole seasoning. Locals know that red beans and rice are served on Mondays. 

Don’t miss sampling a traditional Mardi Gras cocktail. The Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s was invented to use up excess rum during the 1940s and has become a carnival staple, with its passion fruit and citrus flavors.

Join the Society of Saint Anne March on Fat Tuesday

One of the most magical Mardi Gras experiences awaits you in the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods. 

The Society of Saint Anne walking parade begins early, starting around 9 AM at Franklin Avenue. This walking krewe features elaborate costumes with themes related to current events, mythology, and fantasy, and more. 

Participants dress in imaginative, handmade costumes featuring elaborate headdresses, face paint, and flowing capes. 

The krewe gradually makes its way across Esplanade Avenue to the French Quarter by afternoon, stopping at R Bar and BJ’s for refreshments. Not a member? You’re still welcome to follow along respectfully in your creative costume.

Witness the Meeting of the Courts on Mardi Gras Day

A tradition steeped in history since 1882, the Meeting of the Courts brings together Rex (King of Carnival) and Comus (oldest krewe) at the Comus Ball. 

While the ball is strictly invitation-only, the ceremonial meeting can be viewed via local television broadcast on WYES-TV Channel 12. Gather with friends at a local’s home or find a bar on Magazine Street showing the broadcast. 

The tradition symbolizes the continuity of New Orleans Carnival traditions, with the monarchs performing a champagne toast and ceremonial dance before midnight strikes and Lent begins.

Experience Bacchus Sunday Like a Local

The Sunday before Mardi Gras brings one of the most spectacular parades of the season. 

The Krewe of Bacchus rolls through Uptown with its celebrity monarch (past kings have included Will Ferrell, Hugh Laurie, and Jon Lovitz, with Kevin Costner serving as Bacchus LIV in 2023). 

Locals know to stake out spots near Magazine Street and Napoleon Avenue, complete with folding chairs and coolers. Families set up barbecues, bringing folding tables loaded with crawfish boils (approximately 5 pounds per person) and jambalaya. 

The parade was founded in 1968 to revitalize Carnival and features animated super-floats like the 98-foot-long Bacchasaurus and the Bacchagator’s tail throw from the last section of this iconic float.

Join the Bourbon Street Awards on Fat Tuesday

Witness one of the world’s most famous costume contests. 

Held at the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets at noon on Fat Tuesday. This event showcases elaborate costumes that often cost thousands of dollars to create. 

The competition, hosted by local drag performers and personalities, draws massive crowds to the heart of the French Quarter. Categories include Best Drag, Best Group, Most Original, and Most Outrageous. 

Arrive by 11 AM to secure a viewing spot near Oz or Bourbon Pub. 

After the awards, the celebration continues throughout the Quarter until midnight, when mounted police ceremonially clear Bourbon Street, signaling the official end of Carnival.