Your Military Family's Guide to Carnival Season
Welcome to one of Louisiana's most colorful and beloved traditions! Whether you're experiencing Mardi Gras for the very first time or introducing your children to the magic of Carnival, there's so much more to discover than beads and Bourbon Street.
Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, the final day of Carnival before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Although many people refer to the entire celebration as "Mardi Gras," Carnival is actually a season!
Here are a few important things to know:
Twelfth Night (January 6): The official beginning of Carnival season in New Orleans.
Carnival Season: Weeks of parades, balls, king cakes, costumes, and community celebrations.
Lundi Gras: The Monday before Mardi Gras, featuring its own festivities.
Mardi Gras Day: The grand finale, traditionally celebrated with parades, costumes, and gatherings.
Ash Wednesday: The following day marks the beginning of Lent, bringing Carnival season to a close.
Absolutely!
But choosing the right parade and location makes all the difference.
Despite what you may have seen on television, many Mardi Gras celebrations are wonderful family experiences.
Families gather along parade routes with folding chairs, wagons, snacks, and bags ready to collect throws. Children love the colorful floats, marching bands, and excitement of seeing a parade up close.
Some celebrations are more crowded or adult-oriented than others, particularly in parts of the French Quarter.
For families with young children, consider daytime neighborhood parades, Northshore celebrations, and family-friendly viewing areas along larger parade routes.
Local Tip: You don't have to head into downtown New Orleans to experience Mardi Gras! Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, Metairie, and other nearby communities have their own Carnival traditions.
Krewe: An organization that hosts Carnival celebrations.
Throw: A bead, cup, toy, or other item tossed from a parade float.
Doubloon: A collectible coin featuring a krewe's design.
Neutral Ground: The grassy median between opposing lanes of traffic. Locals may tell you to meet them on the "neutral ground side" of a parade route.
Sidewalk Side: The opposite side of the street from the neutral ground.
Laissez les bons temps rouler: A Louisiana expression meaning "Let the good times roll!"
Lundi Gras: The Monday before Fat Tuesday.
Ball: A formal or themed Carnival celebration, sometimes requiring an invitation or special attire.
You'll hear the word krewe everywhere during Carnival season!
A krewe is an organization that plans and hosts Mardi Gras parades, balls, or other Carnival celebrations.
Each krewe has its own personality, traditions, themes, and sometimes even signature throws.
Some of the best-known New Orleans krewes include Rex, Zulu, Bacchus, Endymion, and Muses. The Northshore and surrounding communities also have their own beloved krewes.
And here's something you might not expect: Some krewes celebrate with walking parades, decorated wagons, bicycles, or even dogs!
My favorite Krewe is the Krewe of Poseidon. It's Slidell's BIGGEST Night Parade of the season. You can catch me and my family at the top of Float 17.
-Amanda
Believe it or Not!
The Coast Guard and Navy, both have Mardi Gras Floats. You will see them in various New Orleans parades, and may even get the opporunity to ride.
One of the most exciting parade traditions is catching throws!
Throws are items tossed from parade floats to spectators. They might include:
Colorful beads and necklaces
Plastic cups
Doubloons (collectible coins)
Stuffed animals and toys
Light-up trinkets
Krewe-specific collectibles
Some krewes are famous for their signature throws. For example, the Krewe of Muses is known for its beautifully decorated shoes, while the Krewe of Zulu is famous for its decorated coconuts.
First-Timer Tips:
You don't have to catch everything! Enjoy the floats, music, costumes, and atmosphere.
Never reach beneath a moving float to retrieve a throw.
BRING A BAG! You will need at least one (or three) to carry all your throws home!
The Dessert of Carnival
What is all the king Cake craze about?
The name “king cake” comes from the Biblical story of the three kings who bring gifts to Baby Jesus. A blend of coffee cake and cinnamon roll, king cake is usually iced in yellow, green and purple – the colors of Mardi Gras -- and is frequently packed with fruit fillings and decadent cream cheeses. Hidden within these season sweets also lie a special surprise: a plastic king cake baby to continue the fun. Click HERE to read more.
Here are some of my favorite King Cakes.
