Mardi Gras Day 2018 Falls On February 13

Next year Mardi Gras Day will be  February 13, 2018. 

Don't wait until the last minute to travel to New Orleans, most of the parades and other festivities will be held at least 2 weeks before Fat Tuesday.

Remember Mardi Gras day is the final day of the Carnival Season. After that comes Ash Wednesday which is the beginning of Lent. So if you get there too late you'll miss out!

Feel free to post any questions or related comments below. Thanks for visiting, stop by again soon!

Sondra Carpenter

The Mardi Gras Girl

TheMardiGrasGirl.com

Happy Mardi Gras Day 2017!

Hey, the big day has arrived. Today is Mardi Gras Day! This is the last day of the Carnival Season and celebrations. There's still time for you to enjoy the festivities if you're in the area. Lots of music clubs in the French Quarter, on Frenchmen Street and throughout the city will be partying until midnight tonight. After that it's Ash Wednesday and you'll have to wait until next year to do it again! 

Here's some Mardi Gras music from Professor Longhair to help you get into the mood. Enjoy! Happy Mardi Gras, yeaaaah!!!

Sondra Carpenter

The Mardi Gras Girl

TheMardiGrasGirl.com

Kermit Ruffins And Rebirth Brass Band Performing Song Mardi Gras Day

One of the things about Mardi Gras celebrations that I love is the music. The songs, the horns, especially along with the brass bands, just get me caught up in a party flow no matter where I am.

Kermit Ruffins, native New Orleans trumpet player and vocalist, teamed up with the renowned Rebirth Brass Band on their rendition of "Mardi Gras Day". You can play the video below to listen.









Feel free to post comments below and let me know what you'd like to see here. Thanks for stopping by.


Sondra Carpenter
The Mardi Gras Girl

The Mardi Gras Krewe Of Krewe Du Vieux

The Krewe du Vieux, one of New Orleans more controversial Mardi Gras krewes, will be parading Saturday, February 11, 2017. The name of their krewe is formally Krewe du Vieux Carré, and Vieux Carré is French for the French Quarter, a very popular neighborhood in New Orleans. 

They marched for the first time in 1987 and have been a local favorite with their satirical and amusing adult parade themes. "Where The Vile Things Are" and “Habitat for Insanity” are just a couple of examples. Also they continue to parade in the traditional fashion with mule drawn carriages in addition to other parade floats.

Krewe du Vieux was the first krewe to march during Mardi Gras after Hurricane Katrina in 2006. They gained national attention for facing adversity with humor. 


If you want to catch up with them visit this site which lays out their parade route:
http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/schedule/parade-info/krewe-du-vieux.html

Feel free to post comments below. Thanks for visiting!

Photo credit: www.bestofneworleans.com / gambit


Sondra Carpenter
The Mardi Gras Girl
TheMardiGrasGirl.com

Mardi Gras Music From The Band Of Saint Augustine High School The Marching 100

One of the many special components of the Mardi Gras parades are the marching bands. They consist primarily of local area high schools and the most famous is from the St. Augustine  High School in New Orleans. They are known as "The Marching 100" to their fans and are considered one of the best high school marching bands in the United States.

They have played in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Super Bowl, also during a celebration for Pope John Paul II. 

Check out the video below to see them in action!








They'll be performing with several krewes this Mardi Gras, you can view their schedule here:
http://www.mardigras.com/news/2016/01/st_aug_marching_100_mardi_gras.html

Photo credit: Sabree Hill, UptownMessenger.com

Fee free to post comments below. Thanks for visiting!


Sondra Carpenter
The Mardi Gras Girl
TheMardiGrasGirl.com

The Mardi Gras Walking Clubs

The walking clubs consist of people that gather together to enjoy the Mardi Gras experience. These Mardi Gras krewes may walk holding banners, some participants wearing costumes and others play music. 

They offer a personalized version of the celebration, each with their own traditions.

A few that parade during Mardi Gras are:


* The The North Side Skull and Bone Gang

This group starts out in the Treme, the oldest Black neighborhood in the country, in the wee hours of the morning. 
Click here to read my previous post about this krewe.

* The Society of Saint Anne or St. Anne Revelers
They are known for their beautiful colorful costumes and for their ritual of carrying the ashes through the parade of Society members that have passed away to the Mississippi River.

* KOE (formerly Krewe of Elvis)
This walking club is interesting in that it is made up of members from around the country as well as worldwide and anyone can join. Members dress in costume according to that year's theme. Usually Mardi Gras organizations consist of New Orleans area locals only. 

Pictured are revelers from Saint Anne. Photo credit: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

For updated schedules on the walking clubs for 2017 you'll want to check out this page: http://www.mardigrasparadeschedule.com/Mardi-Gras-Marching-Clubs/

You can post comments below. Thanks for visiting!


Sondra Carpenter
The Mardi Gras Girl
TheMardiGrasGirl.com

Carnival Season And Mardi Gras Festivities Begin January 6

Mardi Gras Day is February 28 this year, but that's not when you want to start getting involved in the festivities. The actual Carnival Season begins each year on January 6, which is also Three King's Day or Feast of the Epiphany.

The Mardi Gras krewe of The Phunny Phorty Phellows will be riding the streetcar tonight to start off the season. 

They'll be in the Uptown section of the city and heading down St. Charles Avenue on a streetcar starting at 7PM. This krewe has a tradition of satire and fun as opposed to the regal presentation presented by the Krewe of Rex. Check out their website for more details at: http://www.phunnyphortyphellows.com


Parades from several krewes and clubs will be running every day through to Mardi Gras.

Photo credit: Kathleen Flynn, NOLA.com / The Times-Picayune

You can post questions or comments below. Thank for visiting!


Sondra Carpenter
The Mardi Gras Girl
TheMardiGrasGirl.com