Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Category: True Carnival
Dates/Time: Season begins on January 6 (Epiphany) and culminates on Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday, day before Ash Wednesday)
Duration: ~4 to 8 weeks of events, with peak celebrations in the final week
Attendance: Over 1 million visitors during peak Mardi Gras week
Venue: Streets and neighborhoods of New Orleans, especially Uptown, French Quarter, and Marigny
Organizer: Individual krewes (private social clubs) in coordination with the City of New Orleans
Established: Early 18th century (official parades since mid-1800s)
Symbolic or Satirical Content: High (many krewes use satire, social commentary, and parody in their themes and floats)
Cultural or Ritual Roots: Yes (blends Catholic tradition with French colonial, African, and Creole cultural practices)
Global or Migrant Influence: High (cultural fusion from European, African, and Caribbean diasporas)

Participation Type: Participatory
Participation Level (Scale): 5/5 (attendees catch throws, wear costumes, and join street festivities; some can ride in parades)
Requires Costume to Join: No, but wearing costumes is strongly encouraged, especially on Mardi Gras Day
Family-Friendly: Partially (many family-friendly parades, especially Uptown; French Quarter is more adult-focused)
LGBTQ+ Inclusive: Yes (notably inclusive, with events like the Krewe of Armeinius and Bourbon Street Awards)