New Orleans’ Mardi Gras might be known for its decadent, indulgent bacchanalia, but if you’re traveling to the Big Easy for the party, it doesn’t just have to be about the booze and the beads. Thanks ...

The Mardi Gras season, also referred to as Carnival, begins 12 days after Christmas on Jan. 6 and lasts until Fat Tuesday.

As a New Orleans local, I’m familiar with (and occasionally guilty of ignoring) the number one rule of Mardi Gras: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Carnival season in 2026 begins on 6 January and runs ...

The floats. The costumes. The parties. The beads. So many beads. Mardi Gras is a long-standing tradition, filled with fun, families and often, a lot of booze. But there's something really important ...

Learn about the history of some of the most popular Mardi Gras traditions so you can celebrate in New Orleans the right way!