Mardi Gras 2015 Happened February 17

Mardi Gras 2016 happens on February 9; Twelfth Night is January 5.

 Mardi Gras 2015 Walking Parades

Check out photos from a few of the many small walking parades that happen during Mardi Gras. The Red Beans and Rice Parade happened on Lundi Gras; this Fat Tuesday Gallery contains shots from around the Quarter, including Pete Fountain's Half-Fast Walking Club, KOE, and the Society of St Anne's Marching Parade (plus a litttle Zulu on Canal Street for good measure).

 Mardi Gras 2015 Gets Rolling

The 2015 carnival season kicked off on Twelfth Night, January 6. In addition to the Phunny Phorty Phellows streetcar ride, the occasion was marked by the Krewe de Jeanne d'Arc's annual procession through the French Quarter. Check out some pictures.

Mardi Gras Videos

We've put together a playlist of some Mardi Gras videos to help get you in the Carnival mood. Amongst them are music videos (Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, the Neville Brothers), footage from parades long past (1941 and 1956), and last year's "greasing of the poles" ceremony.

Mardi Gras Parades

It's almost time to roll! 

Check out some of 2015 Parade Schedules we like: mardigrasneworleans.com and mardigrasparadeschedule.com.

Carnival Wisdom from Our Show Hosts

Here's a few Carnival-related blogs by our show hosts, from the 2013 season:

--Sam Cammarata with advice on How to survive Mardi Gras.

--Jelly Roll Justice on the Saint Anne's parade.

--Bill de Turk's King Cake cocktail.

Mardi Gras Play List

While you're busily sewing, fashioning, and (inevitably for those last minute scragglers) stapling and glueing, what music puts you in the mardi gras mood? We'd love it if you would take a few minutes to Add to our Mardi Gras Play List!

Alternative Fat Tuesday Krewes

Pete Fountain's Half-Fast Walking Club. French Quarter

Societé de Saint Anne. Marigny/French Quarter

Krewe of Elvis. French Quarter

Krewe of Cosmic Debris. French Quarter

Krewe of the Living Dead. French Quarter

Mardi Gras Indians

Many New Orleanians get in shape for Carnival by attending weekly Mardi Gras Indian practices held at several clubs around town.

One of the most popular is the Unified Mardi Gras Indian Practice at Handa Wanda's, 2425 Dryades Street, every Sunday evening.

Learn more about the Mardi Gras Indians:

» Listen to Ronald Lewis of the House of Dance and Feathers, a museum devoted to Mardi Gras Indian culture in the Lower Ninth Ward. 

» Listen to Big Chief Howard of the Creole Wild West Mardi Gras Indians as he talks about this quintessential New Orleans tradition.

» Listen to Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr. of The Wild Magnolais Mardi Gras Indians talking about his tribe, the Dollis family, and the Wild Magnolia funk band.

» Visit the Backstreet Cultural Museum

» Visit the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame

» Listen to a Street Talk story about the Wild Mohicans Mardi Gras Indians

King Cakes

King Cakes are an old tradition brought over from France and eaten from Epiphany through Mardi Gras, although these days King Cake is brought out  for all sorts of celebrations, including black-and-gold themed King Cakes! Gambino's Bakery, Haydel's Bakery and Randazzo's Camellia City Bakery are three of the most popular bakeries in the city, but almost every grocery or bakery has their own twist on the treat. Learn more about the history of king cakes.

Want to make your own King Cake? Check out our recipe from Louisiana Cookin' or give your hand a try at Emeril Lagasse's version.

Mardi Gras Around the World

Send in pictures and stories about Mardi Gras in your hometown to feedback@wwoz.org and help bring your own Mardi Gras experience to the universe.

The Honky Tonk Jazz Club in Dendermonde, Belgium is bringing Mardi Gras for the first time to their city. The virtual krewe, Verti Gras, is asking New Orleanians to make miniature floats across the world and show them off via photos and video. A couple of Lousiana natives started the Mystic Krewe of Nimbus in Portland, Oregon and are having their fourth Carnival Ball this year.

Check out Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile, Alabama ; Salvador da Bahia, Brazil; Trinidad; and around the world.

Past Mardi Gras Coverage:  2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010