Mardi Gras Carnival Guide 2025

Like every year, Mardi Gras 2025 is expected to be a spectacular celebration, captivating attendees with extravagant parades, infectious energy, and unparalleled festive spirit.

This comprehensive Mardi Gras 2025 guide aims to provide you with everything you need to know for a truly unforgettable trip. From accommodation advice to packing and safety tips, we have included a lot of practical information so you come well-prepared and enjoy the festivity without feeling overwhelmed.

Mardi Gras is a French word that literally means Fat Tuesday.

The Mardi Gras season, i.e., the Carnival season, begins on the 12th Night or King’s Day and lasts until Fat Tuesday, or the actual Mardi Gras day.

Depending on the year, the Carnival season can last from 4 to 8 weeks. Social organizations known as the ‘Krewes’ organize large parades , each featuring about 15 to 40 (or more) wildly decorated floats . You also get to enjoy balls, parties, food tasting, cultural events, community celebrations, and more.

People (both participants and the attendees) dress up extravagantly to boost the spirit of the celebrations. They often wear masks, which is a vital part of their tradition. Although Mardi Gras is celebrated at many places, none of them can match the level of celebrations that happen in New Orleans.

Mardi Gras falls on March 4, 2025 . The carnival season, however, begins on January 6, 2025 , which is King’s Day, the Feast of Epiphany.

Mardi Gras 2025 will last for 58 days, compared to just 38 days in 2024.

Definitely!

Despite the struggle for transport and accommodation, Mardi Gras 2025 is worth visiting.

Whether you are a first-timer or have attended the carnival before, Mardi Gras celebrations provide the perfect blend of fun, food, and cultural experience for everyone every year.

New Orleans goes wild, and the crowd gets rowdy. The streets get clogged with people in vividly embellished purple, green, and gold costumes, which represent justice, faith and power, respectively. The city knows how to party non-stop without running low on energy or enthusiasm. And let's not get started with the food - you don’t want to miss out on the iconic dishes.

The Krewes select new themes every year, so even if you have attended Mardi Gras before, in 2025, you will get to see something extraordinary and memorable.

In short, Mardi Gras provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience and is worth visiting, even multiple times.

Since Mardi Gras 2025 will last 58 days, you might be wondering when is the best time to plan your trip.

As we said above, the carnival season begins on Jan 6, 2025, with many famous parades, balls, and events marking the beginning of the carnival season.

This is the best time to enjoy the vibrant festivities without struggling with hotel bookings and food. If you have crowd anxiety or are bringing young kids or senior citizens, we recommend you visit New Orleans from January 6 to February 20, 2025.

However, the festivities will be at their peak from 28 February 2025 until Fat Tuesday . This is the best time to experience the carnival's charismatic energy.

But keep in mind that the city is expected to be flooded with more than 1 million people. Most of the hotels get booked before January. You might have to walk for miles, as traffic often becomes a nightmare. But that’s the time when the city gets as wild as you expect it to be .

Whether you want to visit early or during the peak of the carnival season, there is a lot to see and do during those 58 days. And we bet each day will offer you a unique experience.

Here are the five must-do activities that will make your Madri Gras 2025 unforgettable.

Parades are a major attraction of the carnival season. In fact, most people visit New Orleans only to watch the elaborate parades, during which participants dress flamboyantly and toss beads and other small prizes into the crowd.

Pro Tip : Make sure you carry a bag to collect the beads; it's more fun than it sounds.

The themes and schedule of the parades are not yet final. Yet, you can expect about 60–80 parades to happen during the Mardi Gras 2025 celebration. Most of these parades will happen during the last two weeks of the carnival season.

Just like every year, the krewes will select unique themes for their parades. The themes could be inspired by anything you can imagine, from history and mythology to famous movies and aliens. To keep the excitement on its verge, most of the krewes do not disclose their themes until the parade is rolling.

You can get the other details of the Mardi Gras 2025 parades from the New Orleans official website.

Lifesaver tip : You may have to stand for hours to watch a parade. So, make sure you choose a spot close to porta-potties. You might also use a restaurant’s bathroom, though most of them charge a fee.

Yes, you can, provided you are ready to pay for it.

Most krewes charge a fee for riding the floats, though the charges vary widely. You can contact a krewe of your choice to inquire about the fees and their terms and conditions.

You can wear anything, but brighter costumes with sequins, rhinestones, feathers, beads, and embossing will help you blend in with the crowd.

Mardi Gras is all about self-expression, so don’t hesitate to be bold and creative. Even gender-crossing dresses are welcome here.

If you need inspiration, refer to our Mardi Gras collection, including costumes and accessories. We also recently wrote an article about the best Mardi Gras outfits.

Our top picks for Mardi Gras 2025 are Ondalinda fringe bodysuit purple and Felizia crystal jumpsuit fringes.

To appropriately accessorize your costume, we recommend face gems, crowns and hats, body jewelry, body glitter, and more.

Money-saving Tip : You can wear these Mardi Gras costumes for almost any event, such as the upcoming Lightning In A Bottle Festival 2025.

Here are a few things that we believe will keep you comfortable while standing on the roads for hours -

• Water and food, especially bagged snacks.

• Hand sanitizers

• Sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses

• Rain jacket and winter jacket - the weather remains unpredictable during the carnival season.

• Portable phone charger - so you don’t run out of battery while accessing online maps (or clicking hundreds of photos).

• Toilet paper - You can’t expect the porta-potties to be well-stocked

• Comfortable, well-cushioned shoes

• Lightweight and portable chair, if you have one

When you are done with the parades, head straight to the nearest bakery and order a king cake. It is a blend of coffee cake and cinnamon roll with fruit filling and cream cheese.

Look out for the ‘king cake baby’ in your slice. It is believed that whoever gets the plastic baby will be blessed with good luck and prosperity.

Want a proper dinner?

Order Jambalaya, a staple Mardi Gras dish made with rice, meat, vegetables, and seasonings. Shrimp creole is another Mardi Gras food you can try. As obvious, it is made of seasoned shrimp mixed with diced and crushed tomatoes.

If you would like to spend a raucous evening drinking, dancing, and shopping the whole night, Bourbon Street should be your next destination. Although just 13 blocks long, this area of New Orleans is renowned for live music, iconic bars, upscale restaurants, and never-ending parties.

But let us warn you: Many people still ‘flash for beads’ here. It might not be a good place to take your kids or parents, especially at night.

Want to know how those beautifully decorated floats are made?

Plan a trip to their 300,000-square-foot working warehouse, Mardi Gras World, where you can watch the massive floats being made right in front of you and learn about the history and tradition of parades.

Mardi Gras World closes three days before Mardi Gras Day, so make sure you plan your trip in advance. You can book your tickets through its official website.

Located in the French Quarter, this museum features a vast collection of elaborate Mardi Gras costumes. Their interactive tours help you understand how the costumes and culture have evolved over the years. You can even wear some of the costumes and click photos for social media!

While there are so many exciting things to do, let's not forget the practical aspects of planning your Mardi Gras 2025 trip. Thorough planning and advance booking can make things easier, even when more than a million people surround you.

Let's start with ticketing and accommodation.

No, you don’t! Mardi Gras is one of the greatest free events you can attend.

Parades are free to watch from the street. But be prepared to stand for hours, jostling among a sea of enthusiasts like you. If you prefer a seat, you may buy tickets for grandstands located on the routes of the parades.

Many bars and hotels also sell their balcony space for watching parades and events. These balconies are best suited for people who prefer watching the celebrations from a distance without any active participation.

Selecting a hotel can be tricky.

Hotels on the parade route, such as Napoleon Avenue and Canal Street, are pricey, and the noise level is generally high. But staying there means you won’t have to stand on the streets for hours or walk long distances.

If you are on a budget or prefer quieter locations, book a hotel away from the carnival's prime action spots.

It depends on where you are planning to stay. If you are staying on the parade route, you might just walk around.

Nevertheless, the best way to get around New Orleans during the carnival is by public transport or Uber. 

Unless you are going out of the city, we do not recommend renting a car during Mardi Gras. The traffic gets chaotic, and you may not be able to find a parking spot for hours. And, even if you do find a parking space, the charges would be expensive.

Plus, many roads remain closed during Mardi Gras parades.

Now that you have an idea of accommodation and transportation let's learn the basics of planning, packing, and safety.

Everything gets expensive (and sold out) during Mardi Gras, especially during the last week of the carnival season. Don’t leave things to your luck; book everything in advance to avoid last-minute hassles. Plan each day of your trip and make the necessary reservations, even restaurant reservations, if possible.

To avoid walking for miles, book a hotel that is closest to the parade routes.

New Orleans weather remains unpredictable during the carnival season. Some days are cold and rainy, whereas others are hot and humid. And, sometimes, you can experience all of these in a single day!

When packing, make sure you carry clothes that you can wear in layers and keep yourself comfortable day and night.

Always check the weather forecast before starting your day , and dress up accordingly. Bring a jacket for the evening.

When attending extravagant parades and carnival parties, safety should be your top concern. Here’s what we recommend.

• The parades are family-friendly. Do not get too unruly . Keep your behaviour respectful and kid-friendly, or you might have to spend your evening dealing with the police.

• Pickpocketing is a major issue during Mardi Gras and on Bourbon Street. Leave your valuables in your hotel.

• Arrive at least four hours early to secure a prime spot on the parade route. The streets may look deserted at first, but the crowds swell quickly.

• Avoid picking up beads and other ‘throws’ from the ground. You never know what you may end up picking. Plus, someone might accidentally step on your fingers.

• Do not throw anything on the float riders or the floats . It is considered offensive during Mardi Gras.

• Decide a meeting point so everyone knows where to regroup in case they get separated. Write down your hotel’s name, address, and phone number on notecards and give them to everyone, especially your children. Mobile networks are not always reliable , and batteries are most likely to die when you take hundreds of photos. Make sure everyone knows how to reach the meeting spot or find their way back to the hotel you are staying.

Still have questions? These FAQs can help.

Yes, you can.

Most parades are family-friendly . In fact, kids love catching the throws. Many families bring a ladder with a seat on the top so their kids can get a clear view of the floats and get a good catch of the throws.

However, some parades, such as the ones organized by Krewe du Vieux, are usually based on adult themes. They may not be suitable for families.

Absolutely!

Mardi Gras is all about embracing individuality . Everyone is welcome to participate in the celebration, provided they remain respectful.

Yes, it is legal to drink in public spaces from open containers during Mardi Gras celebrations.

You can bring your own alcoholic beverages in any container except glass or buy from vendors, who will obviously charge you a premium price.

Interestingly, if you can’t finish a drink at a bar, you ask for a go-to cup and drink it on the go!

The 58-day-long Mardi Gras 2025 promises a unique experience for people of all ages. However, advanced planning, reservations, and proper costumes are important to make your trip comfortable and memorable.

Remember to wear comfortable shoes and be well-prepared for unpredictable weather. Stay cautious in lively but raunchy places like Bourbon Street.

Looking for costumes and accessories for Madri Gras 2025 ? We have something to suit everyone’s taste.