Since the time of Mardi Gras has arrived, let’s make plans to travel to New Orleans, Louisiana, the location of many of the celebrations and parades associated with this holiday. You can kick back and enjoy yourself during Mardi Gras because New Orleans is such a well-known tourist destination, and because the streets are so crowded with people. The experience of being surrounded by a large crowd at one of the major parades is comparable to that of being in Times Square on December 31.
People are getting into the holiday spirit as bakeries all over the place are making King Cakes. The phrase “festive mood” is the best way to describe the anxious feeling that those who love Mardi Gras experience in anticipation of the holiday. The return of Mardi Gras is comparable to the arrival of Christmas for someone who truly enjoys the holiday, with the exception that instead of exchanging gifts, participants yell, “Throw me something, Mister!” and run around frantically trying to catch beads. At a Mardi Gras parade, you can get away with doing things that, in any other setting, would make you appear to be acting foolishly. Let your hair down!
Mardi Gras in Mobile, AL
There are two major cities in the United States that play host to Mardi Gras celebrations… Mobile, Alabama, as well as New Orleans, Louisiana. It is true that these two cities are not the only ones that celebrate this rowdy holiday on an annual basis, but there is no denying that they are the “Majors” in terms of the scale of their parties. Even though Mobile and New Orleans are located in the deep south, you shouldn’t count on being able to get away with going sleeveless there. The deep south experiences their coldest temperatures during the month of February. If you don’t enjoy saying “brrrrrrrrrrrrr,” it’s probably a good idea to bring along at the very least a jacket that’s comfortable to wear, especially if the temperature is going to be low.
These two cities do a lot to promote these celebrations and to help you get ready for an amazing time by providing you with useful information. Parade schedules can be found most easily on websites that are specifically designed for this purpose. There are websites for other small towns as well, the links will take you to well-prepared schedules.
The celebrations for Mardi Gras have already begun in New Orleans, which is not the oldest but does host the largest event of its kind. On January 19th, the Krewe du Vieux kicked off their new parade season along the route of their French Quarter parade. There are seven enormous parades held on Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras Day. But if you are someone who enjoys parades, you can show up whenever you like between mid-January and the 12th of February at midnight, and you will find a parade taking place somewhere each day of the week.
In the Mobile area, the parades will start as early as the 25th of January. The number of parades as well as the frequency at which they take place increases until Mardi Gras Day, which occurs on Fat Tuesday. On Fat Tuesday, there will be seven parades held in and around the Mobile, Alabama area.
If you are interested in experiencing New Orleans and have more than a day or two to spare, you should attend some of the parades that are held in the surrounding areas. A number of the more rural communities in southern Los Angeles County also host spectacular parades. If you are in that area, you will hear a lot of hype from the news media about upcoming parades as well as parades that have recently taken place.
“Clubs” of Mardi Gras enthusiasts, also known as KREWES, are responsible for organizing, promoting, and funding the various parades and festivities associated with Mardi Gras. Krewes will get together in areas where Mardi Gras celebrations take place in order to organize, publicize, and fundraise for floats. Mardi Gras has begun. Meetings to make preparations, events to raise money, attempts to find sponsors for floats, and the purchase of materials to decorate floats have all been ongoing for several months. They are currently inspecting the stocks of “throws” that have been provided for the riders of the floats. The level of excitement is reaching a crescendo right now.
Celebrations of Mardi Gras take place every year in the majority of cities and towns along the Gulf Coast, stretching from Mobile, Alabama to New Orleans and beyond. The parade in Mobile, Alabama, which has the distinction of being the nation’s oldest, was first held in 1703.
Massive Crowds in New Orleans, LA
The size and complexity of parades can range from intimate and “folksy” to massive and ornate. The parades in New Orleans are likely the largest, most expensive, and most elaborately staged events at any of the festivals. However, compared to parades in most other cities and towns, those held in New Orleans aren’t exactly kid- and family-friendly. The attendees at these parades prefer bizarre behavior and indecent attire, so they have taken over and confiscated the parades. I would not recommend attending any of the “Fat Tuesday” parades with a family group that included young children.
When I was younger, I used to take our family to several of the parades in New Orleans, Louisiana. Each year, the crowds and the riders of floats have appeared to lean toward sexually suggestive and sexually explicit actions, which I do not consider to be appropriate for family attendance at the festival.
On the other hand, Mobile puts forth a lot of effort and takes a lot of pride in providing a parade venue that is family-friendly. Even though there are just as many people drinking alcoholic beverages at the parades in Mobile, those attending the parades have a tendency to be more considerate of the preferences of other participants.
Mobile is not the only city in south Alabama that hosts parades; rather, there are many parades held in towns located on both sides of Mobile Bay. Some of them take place during the day, giving you the opportunity to watch more than one parade in a single day. In comparison to other areas, the Mobile metropolitan area has a significantly lower incidence of traffic-related headaches.
The residents of the surrounding communities attend a greater number of parades in the smaller towns and villages than they do in the larger cities. The unfortunate truth is that the smaller towns simply are not equipped to deal with large numbers of tourists coming from outside their region. But if you are going to be in the area, you shouldn’t miss out on the quaintness and excitement of a Mardi Gras parade in a small town.
Parade in Pass Christian, MS
On the coast of the Mississippi Gulf, many people look forward to attending the small parade held in Pass Christian, Mississippi. There is sufficient space for spectators, and the ambiance is that of a wild and wonderful party held outside. It is not the presence of law enforcement that keeps things under control; rather, it is the decent behavior of those who are present. When you are aware that people are all around you, including your neighbors, you have a lower risk of embarrassing yourself in front of them. Events on the Mississippi Coast can be found at this link…
The Mardi Gras parade in Biloxi, Mississippi is the largest one along the coast, and it completes its route twice on that day. The first parade is held in the morning, and the second one is held in the evening. Check the websites of the cities to find out when and where the parades will be held. In point of fact, every city possesses a method for web-based publication of their schedules.
The celebration of Mardi Gras and all of its associated activities come to a swift close at the stroke of midnight on the evening of the festival. This marks the beginning of Lent, a season observed by Catholics. This day of the week is known as “Ash Wednesday.” On this day, faithful Catholics go to confession and are marked with soot on their foreheads in the shape of a cross. This is done in honor of Christ’s crucifixion. The sign indicates that they have “gone to church” and are commencing a period of fasting in preparation for Easter, which will occur in a little over a month’s time. Since I do not practice Catholicism, I am unable to participate in this aspect of the holiday.
The Paperwork
There is yet another stage of the Mardi Gras celebration that is of the utmost significance. According to a well-known proverb, “The job is not finished until the paperwork is done.” Midnight marks the beginning of the trash collection process in earnest. The number of tons of trash that are picked up along the parade routes in each city and in the French Quarter in New Orleans is weighed to determine how successful each year’s festival was.
I really hope that you will be able to attend one of the festivals. If an aversion to large groups of people or an objection to sexually suggestive behavior is a factor… Choose one of the more rural communities, and then proclaim, “Let the good times roll.”
On this particular road trip, we do not stop to pick up the trash. In point of fact, we will leave town before the show’s conclusion.
Where to Stay for Mardi Gras 2023?
Mardi Gras can be a lot of fun, but if you aren’t a local and you can’t get in or out of town on the day of the parade, you might be in for a rude awakening when you check out the room rates at the local hotels. They get booked up very quickly, so if you don’t make your reservation in advance, you might not be able to find a room. Worst case scenario, you might be required to make hotel reservations in a city that is close by and then drive into New Orleans for the carnival.