Mardi Gras — New Orleans

New Orleans' Mardi Gras is one of the world's greatest street festivals — a weeks-long celebration of parades, live jazz, elaborate floats, costumes, and beads culminating on Fat Tuesday (the day before Lent). The Krewe of Rex and Zulu parades on Mardi Gras day are legendary. Bourbon Street and the French Quarter become an open-air party attracting over 1 million visitors. Best experienced in the period from Twelfth Night (January 6) through Fat Tuesday.