Strange

New Orleans welcomes Mardi Gras

by Amy Judd | February 5, 2008 at 12:18 pm

2508 views | 3 Recommendations | 8 comments

Despite competition from the Giants' parade and Super Tuesday at the polls, the biggest party of the year kicked off today, with celebrations across the world, but the festivities in New Orleans still draws the biggest crowds and the loudest party goers.

Many New Orleans hotels were full and the streets of the French Quarter packed with tourists Tuesday as revelers took part in Mardi Gras festivities.
This marks the third time the traditional Fat Tuesday has taken place since Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Louisiana city in August 2005.

It will take a lot more than that to keep people away from a great street party...

Mardi Gras — Fat Tuesday — is the often raucous end to the pre-Lenten Carnival season. The celebration characterized by family friendly parades uptown and in the suburbs — and by heavy drinking and lots of near-nudity in the French Quarter — is highlighted by 12 days of parades and parties.

Due to rising temperatures in the Louisiana city, it is expected that the festival will become x-rated much quicker than usual...

Temperatures were expected to rise to about the record of 81 degrees in New Orleans, an indicator that flesh-flashing in the bawdy French Quarter was likely to be greater the usual.

Local police are hoping the celebrations will be kept under control this year, and not be plagued by violence as has been the case in some previous years.

Only sporadic violence has marred the celebration. At least eight people had been wounded by gunshots, five of them on Saturday.

Police said 1,100 officers, state troopers and National Guardsmen have been positioned along parade routes since the season began.

There are also a number of celebrities attending the celebrations in New Orleans, including rappers Salt-N-Pepa, and Kevin Costner.

Kevin Costner will serve as grand marshal of the Krewe of Endymion, one of the largest, glitziest parades.

He'll be joined by the Doobie Brothers and the Go-Gos, including lead singer Belinda Carlisle.

Wrestler and reality TV star Hulk Hogan will reign as king of the Krewe of Bacchus.

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Rob Peters

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 12:46 on February 5th, 2008

Great job, thanks.

Kate_Holden-Wood

at 14:00 on February 5th, 2008

Laissez les bon temps rouler.

Kate_Holden-Wood has contributed a photo to this story.

mitraillette

at 13:46 on February 5th, 2008

"Krewe of Thoth" carnival parade rolls down Magazine Street in New Orleans. Sunday, February 3, 2008.

mitraillette has contributed a photo to this story.

sassycrafter

at 15:23 on February 5th, 2008

The picture I uploaded was one of the many floats in the 2008 Krewe of Bacchus parade. The weather was great and the crowds were plentiful, despite the parade's overlap with the Super Bowl. Several people around us had portable TVs so that they could watchstay up to date on the game while enjoying the parade.

If you've never been to Mardi Gras, it's definitely worth the trip. If you're thinking you're too old, forget it. Mardi Gras isn't centered on drinking and debauchery, despite popular belief in other areas of the country (though some of the former definitely happens).

Instead, it's about family and community. For a rundown on what Mardi Gras means to true New Orleanians, visit Mardi Gras Central on WWOZ.org, the local community radio station's Web site.

sassycrafter has contributed a photo to this story.

G L W

at 16:07 on February 5th, 2008

Endymion Parade 2008
Mardi Gras
New Orleans, LA

G L W has contributed a photo to this story.

bitzcelt

at 17:00 on February 5th, 2008

You can buy them, or you can earn them the hard way.

bitzcelt has contributed a photo to this story.

KnitZy

at 18:14 on February 5th, 2008

one of the little marching parades.... Box of Wine hits St Charles Avenue with a flourish

KnitZy has contributed a photo to this story.

rustchic

at 21:03 on February 5th, 2008

These are great recycled throws made by the artist Ze from Krewe do Craft. The krewe, made up of a group of local artists who sell at art markets and on etsy, marched with other artists from the city in the "Box of Wine" parade that proceeds Bacchus on Dimanche Gras (the Sunday before Mardi Gras). There were about 80 artists- visual and performing in the parade. The Krewe do Craft hands out handmade throws and their theme this year was New Orleans: DIY.their mantra: "when levees fail, craft will prevail...".

rustchic has contributed a photo to this story.