More than 500,000 king cakes are sold each year in New Orleans
between January 6 and Fat Tuesday, and another 50,000 are shipped
out-of-state via overnight courier.
The sugar-coated pastries include a tiny plastic baby doll inside;
the person who finds it is declared "king" and must buy the next
cake or give the next party.
The metro area's 25,000-plus hotel rooms are traditionally 95%
filled during Mardi Gras weekend.
An economic impact study released by the University of New Orleans
estimates that Mardi Gras generates over $500 million annually.
The largest of about one dozen Mardi Gras supply houses in New
Orleans sold 41 million pairs of beads for Carnival, 1991.
The super parades of Endymion and Bacchus, scheduled for the
Saturday and Sunday before Fat Tuesday, feature a combined total of
75 floats, 60 marching bands and more than 250 units. Their 2,300
members toss more than 1.5 million cups, 2.5 million doubloons and
200,000 gross of beads.
OTHER CITIES
Yes, the Mardi Gras celebration is enjoyed in cities all around the globe.
If you know of a local celebration not listed please let us know!
Soulard Mardi Gras - Many believe this one in Missouri is the 2nd largest Mardi Gras event in the country. Michelle emailed us and said it was great fun last year!
Mardi Gras Resource Page
The time has come again. The time to drink and dance in the streets of cities all around
the world. Whether you partake in a local celebration or head to New Orleans for the coup de gras, we wish you the
best, stay safe and enjoy!
So what was it like?
Heather and her friends in the French Quarter. They had a blast and are already making plans for next year!
Click here for more
San Diego's Gaslamp Mother Nature let up on the rain just in time!
When is Mardi Gras? First, one must determine the date for Easter of any given
year (which is, of course, found on the first Sunday after the first full
moon that follows after the spring equinox) and then count back 47 days
(Why 47? Well, there's 40 days of Lent and a then a week of Sundays) to
find Mardi Gras Day. Easy enough? It was on March 7th this last time.
It can be as early as Febuary 3rd and as late as March 9th. Don't wish
to make the calculation? Then just refer to this list...
Feb 27th, 2001
Feb 12th, 2002
Mar 4th, 2003
Feb 24th, 2004
Fat Tuesday is the culmination of all the festivities, and falls on March 7th this year. That is the one day you really
want to be there, otherwise you might as well save a bunch of cash and just go on a holiday weekend (when it's still fun and a whole lot cheaper).
Try to avoid leaving on the Wednesday after (Ash Wednesday) as everyone and their grandma heads out of town that day and it is
a big crazy mess of hung over people trying to get home.
The two largest parades are the Saturday and Sunday before Fat Tuesday (it's like a secret language). Endymion is Saturday and
Bacchus is Sunday.
Tips and Tricks
Don't take anything you can't afford to lose. New Orleans really doesn't have any more of a crime
problem than any other major city, but this many drunk people in one place, what else can I say. Your best bets are
disposable cameras for all those cool pics, comfortable shoes for your soon to be sore feet and of course
a hat for your noggin'.
Make sure you note I said cameras, that's plural, cuz you never know when one will disappear or fall and ruin someone's
perfectly tasty beer. You are also wise to buy some beads ahead of time. That way you fit right in and you're ready to go! Your best
bet (even though the guy won't buy any advertising on our site) is Kern International. The prices
are very good, the quality is high and the service is great. I have a box load of them sitting in the closet ready to go! And hey, if you
talk to him tell him Hugeparty sent you and maybe he'll step up next year and support our site! :-)
As far as beads go, bigger, longer and the most unique make the most friends! Purple stands for Justice, Green stands
for faith and Gold stands for power.
Bring lots of extra clothes. While you may not need them it is quite possible a beer or two may get spilt upon your person.
Before you start to partake in the festivities spend some time walking around getting familiar with the surroundings. Find the nearest restrooms and
make sure you know which major streets will get you back to your hotel. You do NOT want to be wandering around any dark alleys drunk
and lost. (That actually applies to any city so don't go getting paranoid.)
Getting around in this sea of people is an art form. Your best bet is to hold all yer stuff directly in front of you (especially your brew)
and go with the crowd. Please don't attempt to push your way through the crowd to try and get somewhere in a hurry... if it happens, it won't be pretty.
If someone wants you to pay them if they "can tell ya where ya got yer shoes" just say no thanks and keep walking. (The answer is "on yer feet" in case you are wondering.)
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