The Dispatch
Stories & guides from the Carnival beat
Independent reporting, first-timer guides, and updates on doing Mardi Gras well.
The Perfect Mardi Gras Weekend Itinerary: 3 Days in New Orleans, Planned Hour by Hour
Only have a weekend for Mardi Gras? That's enough - if you plan it right. Here's a local's 3-day New Orleans itinerary for the big final weekend before Fat Tuesday: which parades to catch, when to eat, where to stand, and the hour-by-hour rhythm that first-timers always get wrong.
Mardi Gras Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules Locals Wish First-Timers Knew
Mardi Gras has rules - locals just never wrote them down. Here's the etiquette that keeps Carnival running: bead-throwing rules, ladder law, neutral ground customs, safety tips, and the first-timer mistakes that mark you as a tourist.
How Much Does Mardi Gras Cost? A Local's Budget Guide to New Orleans Carnival
Mardi Gras itself is free - every parade, every throw, every marching band. What costs money is everything around it. Here's what a New Orleans Carnival trip really costs, where the money goes, and how locals do the whole season on a shoestring.
Mardi Gras Parade Routes, Explained: Where the Parades Roll & the Best Viewing Spots
Almost every major New Orleans Mardi Gras parade rolls down the same Uptown route - and where you stand along it changes everything. Here's the St. Charles Avenue route block by block, the other routes worth knowing, and the viewing spots locals actually pick.
The History of Mardi Gras in New Orleans: From French Explorers to Fat Tuesday
How did Mardi Gras get to New Orleans, and how did it become the biggest free show on Earth? Three centuries of Mardi Gras history, from a French camp on the Mississippi in 1699 to Comus, Rex, Zulu, the super krewes and today's Carnival.
New Orleans Mardi Gras Krewes, Explained: Super Krewes, Satire and the Parades Locals Never Miss
What is a krewe, and which ones should you actually plan your Mardi Gras around? A local's guide to the super krewes, the satirical walking clubs, Zulu's coconuts, Muses' shoes and how to build your parade schedule around the krewes that matter.
Mardi Gras Food and Drink: A Local's Guide to Eating Your Way Through Carnival
Carnival is the eating season of New Orleans. Here is what to actually eat and drink at Mardi Gras: king cake rules, parade-day food strategy, the restaurant classics worth a reservation, beignets done right, and the drinks that define the season.
New Orleans Carnival Season, Explained: From Twelfth Night to Fat Tuesday
Mardi Gras is one day - Carnival is a whole season. Here's how New Orleans Carnival season actually works: when it starts, why the length changes every year, king cake rules, ball season, and the parade crescendo that ends on Fat Tuesday.
What to Wear to Mardi Gras: Costume Ideas, the Colors & a Local's Packing List
Locals costume, visitors watch - don't make that mistake. Here's what to actually wear to Mardi Gras in New Orleans: easy costume ideas, what purple, green and gold really signal, parade-day outfit strategy, and the packing list we send our own friends.
Mardi Gras with Kids: The Family-Friendly Guide to New Orleans Carnival
Yes, Mardi Gras is family-friendly - locals bring their kids every year. Here's where families watch the parades, which krewes children love most, the ladder-seat tradition, and how to plan a kid-approved Carnival day in New Orleans.
When Is Mardi Gras 2027? Dates, Parade Schedule & the Full New Orleans Calendar
Mardi Gras 2027 falls on Tuesday, February 9. Here's the full New Orleans Carnival calendar - when the season starts, the super krewe weekend, Lundi Gras, and how to time your Fat Tuesday.
Mardi Gras Traditions, Explained: King Cake, the Colors, Masks & Throws
King cake babies, purple-green-and-gold, Zulu coconuts, masked riders - a local's guide to what New Orleans Mardi Gras traditions actually mean and where they come from.
Where to Stay for Mardi Gras 2027: The Best New Orleans Neighborhoods
A local's neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to where to stay for Mardi Gras 2027 in New Orleans - Uptown, the Garden District, the CBD/Warehouse District, Marigny/Bywater, and the French Quarter - with parade proximity, vibe, and booking tips.
How New Orleans Mardi Gras Parades Actually Work: Your Complete Insider Guide
From the weeks-long parade season to catching a Zulu coconut on Fat Tuesday, here's everything you need to know about New Orleans Mardi Gras parades - routes, krewes, throws, and insider tips.