NEW ORLEANS — As Carnival season 2025 reaches its peak in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, the city comes alive with vibrant parades along major routes. Some attendees prepare for elegant balls while others don playful costumes, embracing the festive spirit of the occasion.
On Thursday night, three parades will bring excitement to New Orleans, with numerous masked participants riding on vividly decorated floats. These lively processions will continue daily culminating on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday. In addition to the French Quarter’s costumed crowds, nearby suburbs, other Louisiana cities, and areas across the Mississippi and Alabama coasts will also host parades.
Mardi Gras Explained
Carnival traditions in New Orleans, and worldwide, are steeped in Christian and Roman Catholic customs. The celebrations begin on January 6, marking the 12th day post-Christmas, and last until Mardi Gras, which signals the last day of indulgence before Ash Wednesday and the onset of Lent, a period of reflection leading up to Easter.
In New Orleans, the festivities have largely transitioned into secular celebrations featuring street parties, extravagant balls, and energetic parades. Some parades showcase high-tech elements, with large floats adorned with flashing lights and intricate moving displays.
Virginia Saussy of the Krewe of Muses shared, “It’s all about family. It’s like a six-mile-long block party and nothing could be more fun. It’s for everyone. You got to come experience it to understand.”
Alternative Mardi Gras Celebrations
On Mardi Gras in southwest Louisiana, the Courir de Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday Run, remains popular. These rural processions, inspired by medieval French traditions, involve masked participants who entertain and request donations. Enthusiastic participants often chase chickens for inclusion in a communal gumbo.
In New Orleans, some African Americans don intricate beaded and feathered Mardi Gras Indian outfits, wandering the city with songs, dances, and drumming. This long-standing tradition honors Native Americans who aided Black communities, especially during an era when segregation excluded them from white parades.
Preparations in Light of Recent Incidents
In response to the New Year’s Day truck attack that claimed 14 lives in New Orleans, the Department of Homeland Security has heightened Mardi Gras’ risk level. Consequently, security measures are intensified, with increased law enforcement presence, reported Eric DeLaune, leading Mardi Gras security efforts.
The city incorporates strategies used during the early February Super Bowl, such as SWAT teams, armored vehicles at intersections, helicopters, and undercover agents in crowds. Around 600 police officers, augmented by state and local reinforcements, will ensure safety.
“We’ve made an effort to make carnival season as safe as we possibly can without intruding on the historical and cultural context of Mardi Gras,” stated DeLaune.
Additional Security Measures
Crowds will flock to St. Charles Avenue to enjoy the parades with floats, bands, and celebrity appearances. A “serpentine” configuration of heavy barricades aims to obstruct fast vehicles while permitting traffic flow.
“You’re going to weave it like a snake,” detailed New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick at a press briefing. Drones are prohibited, and ice chests and coolers, previously used in the January attack, are restricted in the bustling French Quarter, affirmed Louisiana State Police Superintendent Robert Hodges.
Late Mardi Gras Celebration
Mardi Gras’ timing varies, linked to Easter, occurring between February 3 and March 9. This year’s date, March 4, is on the later side, promising warmer Gulf Coast weather. However, rain might affect the region on Tuesday.
The Tradition of ‘Throws’
“Throws” refer to trinkets distributed by float riders and carnival club members, also known as krewes, during parades. While plastic bead necklaces are common, some krewes are exploring eco-friendly options. Participants in the New Orleans Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club parade hand out cherished painted coconuts.
The Muses parade offers glittery hand-decorated shoes as prized mementos. “The first year we created a bead that was a stiletto shoe and it was just to be a commemorative bead — but it took off,” explained Saussy. “People love shoes, who knew?”
