IT’S CARINVAL SEASON Y’ALL!!!
By Karen Brem, Marketing Director, Historic Mardi Gras Inn
Everyone talks about the parades.
The floats. The throws. The marching bands.
But let’s be honest…
Mardi Gras in New Orleans isn’t just about what rolls down the street —
it’s about what happens between the parades. 😏
That’s when the real magic kicks in.
🎉 The French Quarter Never Waits for a Float
In the French Quarter, Mardi Gras doesn’t politely start and stop with parade schedules.
It oozes through the sidewalks, spills into the bars, and flirts with you from every balcony.
Between parades, you’ll find:
• street performers setting up on corners
• pop-up parties happening for no clear reason
• costumed strangers becoming best friends
• music drifting out of open doors
• cocktails appearing in your hand like fate
It’s the city’s favorite hobby:
turning dead time into party time.
👠 Costumes Are Not Optional (Spiritually)
Sure, you could wear jeans and a hoodie…
but why would you?
Between parades is prime time for:
• outrageous outfits
• last-minute costume upgrades
• wigs that defy gravity
• glitter that migrates
• accessories you didn’t know existed
And the best part?
Nobody asks questions.
They just nod respectfully and offer you a drink.
This is New Orleans.
We honor commitment to chaos.
🚶 Walkable, Wanderable, and Dangerously Distracting
One of the greatest gifts of Mardi Gras in the French Quarter is how walkable everything is.
You can:
• parade hop
• bar hop
• snack hop
• people-watch hop
• costume-judge hop
All without:
• driving
• parking
• calling a rideshare
• explaining yourself
And with streetcar stops just a short walk away, you can wander farther…
and still find your way back when the beads start weighing you down.
🌈 Mardi Gras, But Make It Extra
Let’s be real:
Mardi Gras already comes with drama, flair, and glitter baked in.
Now add:
• bold fashion
• fearless self-expression
• wild humor
• fabulous confidence
• and a crowd that fully understands “too much” is never enough
Between the parades is when personalities shine, outfits escalate, and the party becomes personal.
It’s not just watching Mardi Gras.
It’s participating.
🍹 The Party Between the Parades Is the Point
You’ll remember:
• the stranger who became your parade buddy
• the bar you wandered into by accident
• the costume that made you spit out your drink
• the moment you realized you’d been dancing for two hours
Not just the float number.
Between the parades is when:
New Orleans shows off its personality —
and invites you to try it on.
📍 Make It Easy on Yourself
Staying close to the French Quarter means:
• more fun
• less transportation stress
• easier costume changes
• faster recovery breaks
• and no race against parade traffic
Which is exactly how Mardi Gras should be done.
📍 Historic Mardi Gras Inn
🌐 www.HistoricMardiGrasInn.com
📞 504-949-5815
📞 1-800-209-9408
Come for the parades.
Stay for the party between them. 🎭🍾
Because in New Orleans…
Mardi Gras isn’t just an event.
It’s what happens when plans fall apart beautifully.