When: Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday (moving with Easter). Parades ramp up over the two weekends before.
Tickets: Free + ticketed extras — The parades are free to watch. Reserved grandstand seats and bleachers along the route can be bought in advance; krewe balls are ticketed or invite-only. No ticket is needed for the main event.
What it is
Dozens of krewes roll elaborate parades through the city for two weeks, throwing beads and trinkets to the crowd, all building to Fat Tuesday. You don't need a ticket to watch.
How to get started
- Know that watching the street parades is free — just claim a spot on a route.
- Book a hotel early; the French Quarter and Uptown fill up fast.
- Optionally buy reserved grandstand seats, or angle for a krewe-ball invite, for the ticketed extras.
Tickets & where to buy
The parades are free to watch. Reserved grandstand seats and bleachers along the route can be bought in advance; krewe balls are ticketed or invite-only. No ticket is needed for the main event.
- Where to stay
- Book months ahead — Mardi Gras is one of the city's busiest weeks.
- First-timer tips
- St. Charles Avenue is the classic family-friendly route; Bourbon Street is the raucous adult scene. Bring a bag for the 'throws'.
- Watch out
- It's a huge drinking event — hydrate, pace yourself, and mind your belongings in the crush.
Several of these festivals are tied to Easter or a lunar calendar, so the exact dates shift each year. Confirm the current year's dates and ticket on-sale times from the official source before you book flights.