Overview
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a weeks-long Carnival season of parades and balls that ends on Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent.
History
Carnival was celebrated in New Orleans from its early days. The first organized parade by a krewe, or club, rolled in 1857, and famous krewes such as Rex and Zulu followed.
Today
Mardi Gras draws enormous crowds and one of the largest public-safety and security operations in the country.
Compiled October 2026. History is summarized for general interest; check primary sources for research. This landmark is local context, not an employer or job listing.