Mardi Gras Central at www.satchmo.com
Countdown to Mardi Gras 2012 in New Orleans
|   Mardi Gras Parade Schedule   |   Mardi Gras Message Board   |   Satchmo.com Home Page   |

Mardi Gras Countdown Calculator (for the java impaired)

no one deals like we do!
Don't miss out ... book your hotel & flight reservations today!

Mardi Gras in New Orleans 2012
Mardi Gras News & General Info:

  • When is Mardi Gras 2012? - Mardi Gras Day falls on Tuesday, February 21, 2012.

  • Future Mardi Gras Dates - 2013 (February 12) - 2014 (March 4) - 2015 (February 17).

  • Don't Miss Out! - make your travel plans now for the best rooms & rates. We recommend checking out Expedia, Priceline.com, Hotels.com and/or Travelocity for the best deals on hotel rooms, flights and car rentals.

  • Orpheus 2012 - celebrity monarchs for the 2012 Krewe of Orpheus include krewe co-founder Harry Connick Jr., actresses Hillary Swank & Mariska Hargitay, rocker Brett Michaels, and songstress Cyndi Lauper. Walton & Johnson, Sarah Hyland, Jennifer Finnigan, and Matt Prokop will also be riding in the Orpheus Parade on Lundi Gras (February 20th).

  • Lundi Gras - special events taking place on Lundi Gras (Monday, February 20th) include the 2012 Zulu Lundi Gras Festival, being held at Woldenberg Riverfront Park (near the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas), and Lundi Gras on the Mississippi, which takes place at Riverwalk Marketplace. See the New Orleans Concert Line for more events, plus live music listings.

  • Endymion 2012 - the Krewe of Endymion have announced their grand marshals and celebrity riders for 2012. Celebs riding in the 2012 Endymion parade on February 18th include rock band Maroon 5 and newsman Anderson Cooper. Country music stars Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson will ride in the parade and will also perform at the post-parade Endymion Extravaganza at the Superdome. The pre-parade Samedi Gras Festival will feature music from local bands The Topcats, Category 6, and Bucktown All-Stars.

  • Bacchus 2012 - funnyman Will Ferrell will reign as Bacchus XXIV when the krewe rolls on Sunday, February 19th.

  • Muses News - actress Patricia Clarkson has been named the Honorary Muse for 2012. Clarkson will lead the Krewe of Muses when they parade on February 16, 2012.

  • Rocckus Returns - alt-rock band Better Than Ezra have announced plans for their second annual "Krewe of Rocckus" event, taking place during Mardi Gras 2012. The event package includes two Better Than Ezra concerts at the New Orleans House of Blues, and lots more Mardi Gras fun. Head to the Krewe of Rocckus web site for details and a complete schedule of events.

  • New Krewe in 2012 - the New Orleans City Council has granted a parade permit for the all female Mystic Krewe of Nyx. The new krewe will roll for the first time on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, following the Krewe of Ancient Druids, on the traditional uptown parade route.

  • Parade Viewing: catch the parades in comfort from grandstands at the InterContinental Hotel on St. Charles Avenue. The InterContinental is also hosting a buffet for hungry revelers on Mardi Gras Day. Another great spot for catching parades is Michaul's on St. Charles Ave. The Cajun restaurant offers packages that include food, liquor, grand stand admission, taxes and gratuity.

  • Surviving Mardi Gras - suffering from too much partying? try the Zaca Recovery Patch - a simple, natural, and organic way to help you wake up refreshed. See more hangover remedies.

  • Mardi Gras Supplies - Shop early for your Mardi Gras 2012 needs. If you are looking for costumes, masks, wigs, beads, home decorations, or other party supplies, try BuyCostumes.com or Wholesale Costume Club. Amazon.com also has a slew of Mardi Gras merchandise to choose from.

  • Mardi Gras Playlist - Our great big list of classic Mardi Gras songs, ready for download to your iPod or other digital music player.

  • Live Music - See the New Orleans Concert Line for live music listings during Mardi Gras. Also check the Calendar of Events for a list of festivals, fairs, and other happenings going on in & around New Orleans.

Mardi Gras Costumes, Beads, Hats, Masks and Party Supplies

Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Mardi Gras in New Orleans - FAQ / General Info / Tips

  • Mardi Gras parades & related festivities begin in New Orleans circa 3 weeks before Mardi Gras Day.

  • Festivities officially end at midnight on Mardi Gras Day (February 21st in 2012).

  • At midnight on Mardi Gras Day, NOPD (New Orleans Police Dept) officers take over Bourbon Street on horseback, clearing it out to announce the official end of Mardi Gras. The mounted police are followed by a convoy of street cleaning trucks, so you are advised to get off of Bourbon Street before all of this comes down. Not to worry though - you can head into any bar in and around the French Quarter to continue celebrating.

  • If you can only be in town for a couple of days, the weekend prior to Mardi Gras Day is the best time to be here. New Orleans is packed with tourists and locals, the biggest and best parades - the krewes of Endymion, Bacchus, and Orpheus - roll on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and there are other special events (eg. Zulu's Lundi Gras Festival) that only take place on the weekend before Fat Tuesday.

  • Flights and hotel rooms get harder to come by as Mardi Gras Day approaches, so book your travel plans as far in advance as possible. Note that some hotels may have a minimum stay requirement. We recommend checking with Expedia, Priceline.com, Hotels.com and/or Travelocity for the best deals on hotel rooms, flights and car rentals.

  • Glass bottles or containers are not allowed on the streets of New Orleans. Every bar / restaurant / convenience store will be stocked up with "Go Cups" - free plastic disposable cups - so ask for one on your way out the door.

  • What will the weather be like? In New Orleans, weather can change completely in a matter of hours, so your guess is as good as mine; check the forecasts before coming, and bring some warm clothes as well as rain gear just in case. Here is a little historical weather data from the Washington Post for what it's worth.

  • At Mardi Gras, you can get away with almost anything, but use common sense. Police forces are stretched, work long hours, and have to deal with thousands of drunks, so don't push your luck. If you are after the wild & crazy stuff, then hang out in the French Quarter (i.e. Bourbon Street). Girls flashing their breasts seems to be accepted, but only to the confines of Bourbon Street. Fighting, public sex, urinating in the streets, etc. will likely land you in the slammer. Not fun with a hangover, and you may not get out of the pokey until after Mardi Gras.

  • Have some cash on hand - if you catch a local band playing on the streets, or in a club, please make a deposit in their tip jar. Tip your waiters and bartenders well too - they also have to put up with loads of drunks, plus they have to struggle through crowds, traffic, and blocked streets just to get to work to wait on you.
Visit the Mardi Gras Central News Archives

Copyright © 2012 - Satchmo.com

Mardi Gras in New Orleans - the world's greatest free party!

Louis Satchmo Armstrong Mardi Gras Float

Satchmo.com is dedicated to the memory of Louis Armstrong