Fat Tuesday: 5 Parades at New Orleans' Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras -- the biggest free party thrown in North America -- always falls 46 days before Easter and is the city's most popular attraction. People love the crowds, costumes, and camaraderie; I don't know of another place or time where you can make so many friends just standing on a curb calling out for beads. Following are recommended parades for Lundi Gras (Mon) and Mardi Gras (Tues); citywide parades roll nearly every day in the two weeks prior to Mardi Gras day.

Photo Caption: New Orlean's Bourbon Street during the Mardi Gras celebration.

Arthur Hardy's Mardi Gras Guide is an annual magazine and my personal Mardi Gras bible come Twelfth Night. It contains the all-important parade schedule, calendar of related events, and informative articles on Carnival history. You can buy one almost anywhere in the city -- including bookstores, drug stores, and grocery stores (it usually comes out right after Christmas). You can also order a copy by phone (tel. 504/913-1563) or online (www.arthurhardy.com).

Photo Caption: A Mardi Gras Indian wears his handmade suit.

The second-oldest Carnival krewe (Mardi Gras society) dates back to 1882 and is comprised of 275 men riding on about 20 old-fashioned floats that still use the original chassis from the 1880s. Throws include (plastic) pearls, lighted beads, flasks, and plush fish.

Details: Starts uptown at Perrier St. and Napoleon Ave., turns east on St. Charles Ave., turns north on Canal St., makes a U-turn at Baronne St., and finishes at Canal and Chartres sts.; http://www.kreweofproteus.com; Free admission.

When: Lundi Gras (Mon) at 5:15pm.

Photo Caption: Mardi Gras costumes on display at the Presbytere.

Native New Orleanian Harry Connick, Jr.'s, young superkrewe some two decades years old but boasts some of the most popular megafloats, including the Leviathan and Trojan Horse. More than 1,200 men and women on 30 floats throw beads, pearls, silver doubloons, plush ducks, gocups, and more. Celebrity guests serve as "royalty"; past guest monarchs include Whoopi Goldberg, Glenn Close, Sandra Bullock, Stevie Wonder, Cyndi Lauper, Quincy Jones, Laurence Fishburne, Vanessa Williams, James Brown, Little Richard, David Copperfield, Anne Rice, Dominic Monaghan, and Brad Paisley.

Details: Starts uptown at Tchoupitoulas and Magazine sts. at 6pm and ends downtown at the Convention Center; www.kreweoforpheus.net; Free admission.

When: Lundi Gras (Mon). Begins 6pm.
Photo Caption: Mardi Gras float and crowd in New Orleans.

Carnival's premier African-American parade was originally created as a parody of exclusive, haughty Rex before segregation ended; both krewes now allow anyone to join. As the 35 floats and 1,200 riders pass by, keep an eye out for the prized Zulu coconut, a handpainted souvenir that even the natives scramble for. Hang out near the cops keeping the crowds in check; Zulu members typically pass coconuts to them as thanks. Coconuts used to be thrown like beads, but must now be passed by hand for safety reasons.

Details: Starts uptown at Jackson and St. Charles aves. and ends at Orleans Ave. and N. Broad St.; www.kreweofzulu.com; Free admission.

When: Mardi Gras (Tues). Begins 8am.

Photo Caption: A float from the Zulu Aid and Pleasure Club.

The oldest parade debuted 1872 and now has more than 600 men riding 27 floats. The royal costumes are a sight to behold -- lots of gold and glitter. The throws are fairly traditional, including beads, pearls, doubloons, and go-cups.

Details: Starts uptown at S. Claiborne and Napoleon aves. and ends downtown at Canal and St. Peter sts.; www.rexorganization.com; Free admission.

When: Mardi Gras (Tues). Begins 10am.

Photo Caption: A crowd pleading and competing for "throws" from a passing Mardi Gras float.

Some parade watchers go home after the "official" end of Mardi Gras with the passing of Rex, but if you want more throws or just want the party to last, hang out to watch more than 200 themed truck floats decorated and ridden by family members. Kids often ride, too, and tend to throw stuffed animals and other cute trinkets to kids waving from the neutral ground or sidewalk.

Details: Starts uptown at S. Claiborne and Napoleon aves. and ends downtown at Canal and St. Peter sts.; Free admission.

When: Follows Rex.

Photo Caption: A biker pedals down a littered St. Charles Avenue just as Mardi Gras has ended in New Orleans, Louisiana.