At a Glance
- Carnival season starts on Jan 6 and ends on Feb 17, 2024 (Mardi Gras).
- 43 days of parades, king cakes, and bead throws.
- More than 80 parades in and around New Orleans, with 3,200 riders in the largest.
- Why it matters: The festivities bring tourism, community pride, and a burst of color to Louisiana each year.
As holiday lights are taken down, Louisiana residents shift focus to the most colorful part of the year: Carnival season. Beginning on Epiphany (Jan 6), the 43-day celebration culminates on Fat Tuesday (Feb 17), drawing more than a million visitors to New Orleans and the wider Gulf Coast.
What Is Carnival?
Carnival is the pre-Lenten period marked by feasting, drinking, and revelry before Ash Wednesday. Rooted in Christian and Roman Catholic traditions, it lasts until Mardi Gras.
King Cake and Beads
The season’s hallmark is the king cake, a brioche-style pastry with a hidden plastic baby. The cake’s colorful icing and fillings vary, and finding the baby earns the baker a new celebration.
- Traditional ring-shaped cake with cinnamon and icing
- Boudin-filled version
- Sushi-roll version
Throwing beads is a staple of parades; floats toss plastic beads, candy, doubloons, and more.
- Plastic beads
- Candy
- Doubloons
- Stuffed animals
Parades and Krewes
Carnival’s most visible display is its parades, with more than 80 in New Orleans and surrounding areas. The largest parade features 3,200 riders and more than 80 floats, while the smallest uses shoe-box floats.
| Parade | Riders | Floats |
|---|---|---|
| Largest (Endymion) | 3,200 | >80 |
| Smallest | – | Shoe-box floats |
The Endymion krewe estimates 15 million throws along the route; its motto is “Throw ’til it Hurts.”
Other Traditions
Beyond parades, Louisiana’s Carnival includes the Courir de Mardi Gras, where masked participants beg for ingredients and chase chickens for gumbo, and the Mardi Gras Indian tradition, featuring elaborate feathered suits and drum circles.
- Courir de Mardi Gras
- Mardi Gras Indian suits
Key Takeaways
- Carnival season runs from Jan 6 to Feb 17, lasting 43 days.
- New Orleans hosts over 80 parades, with the largest featuring 3,200 riders.
- King cake and bead throws are central to the celebration.
The city decked in beads and the aroma of king cake in the air, Louisiana’s Carnival season promises a vibrant mix of history, community, and unforgettable celebration.
