| Mardi Gras in New Orleans 2010 |
| Mardi Gras News & General Info:
- When is Mardi Gras 2010? - Mardi Gras Day falls on Tuesday, February 16, 2010.
- Future Mardi Gras Dates - 2010 (Feb. 16); 2011 (Mar. 8); 2012 (Feb. 21).
- Make Your Plans Now - Hotels are filling up quickly for Mardi Gras 2010. Make your hotel reservations
 now to get the best rates & locations.
- Bigger Than Mardi Gras? - yes indeed, February 7th, Super Bowl Sunday in New Orleans, will be the biggest party the world has ever seen. Parade krewes are changing their schedules, and the Big Easy is ready to put Mardi Gras on hold for a few hours to watch the New Orleans Saints take on the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. If you can't make it for Mardi Gras Day, come to New Orleans early and support America's Team, the Black & Gold, the Who Dat Nation, and the 2009-10 NFC Champions! There are plenty of hotel rooms available for Super Bowl weekend, but you better hurry! And while you are waiting for the big game, check out the YouTube clip, "The Soul of New Orleans".
- Saints Parade - a parade honoring the New Orleans Saints amazing 2009 season and Super Bowl XLIV appearance has been set for February 9th in downtown New Orleans. See the Saints parade route here.
- Grandstands & Grub - tickets for parade viewing stands at the InterContinental Hotel on St. Charles Avenue are now on sale. The hotel is also offering a buffet for the Endymion parade and a breakfast & lunch buffet on Mardi Gras morning til mid-afternoon. Get more info on Mardi Gras at the InterContinental New Orleans here.
- Stands II - parade viewing grandstands will also be available at Gallier Hall on St. Charles Avenue.
- Parade Info - the 2010 Parade Schedule for uptown/downtown New Orleans has been posted. Dates are subject to change. Here's a complete Mardi Gras parade schedule covering the Greater New Orleans area & beyond.
- Zulu Display - the rich history and culture of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club will be showcased February 6th-28th through a special Black History display in the lobby of the Entergy IMAX Theatre in downtown New Orleans... and don't forget to catch the Zulu Lundi Gras Festival on February 15th.
- Mardi Gras Live - check out the brand new website MyMardiGrasExperience.com, coming on line on February 1st. The site, which will feature live video & Twitter feeds, promises to "focus on the positive aspects of Mardi Gras and tune out the debauchery." ... Read more here.
- Marching 100 - be sure to catch the St. Augustine High School "Marching 100" during Mardi Gras if you get the chance (see schedule). The renowned marching band has performed for eight U.S. presidents and Pope John Paul II, and have appeared at the Super Bowl, Rose Bowl and Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. See the Marching 100 in action on YouTube.
- A Who Dat Mardi Gras - New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has been named as grand marshal of the 2010 Krewe of Endymion. The Krewe of Endymion parade rolls on Saturday, February 13th. Benson joins fellow Saints in 2010 Mardi Gras celebrations... QB Drew Brees reigns as King of Bacchus (parading on February 14th) and head coach Sean Payton will be a celebrity monarch in the Krewe of Orpheus (rolling on February 15th)... The Endymion Extravaganza after-party will feature music from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Party on the Moon, Cowboy Mouth, Big Swing & the Ballroom Blasters, and the Wise Guys.
- Brees to reign as King Bacchus XLII - New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees announced on his Twitter page that he has accepted an invitation to be the 2010 King of Bacchus. The Bacchus parade rolls on February 14th. Order your Drew Brees jersey
 today so you can wear it to the parade. Hey Drew... throw me something!
- Woof! There It Is - the all canine Mystic Krewe of Barkus parade will take place on (Super Bowl) Sunday, February 7th, starting at Armstrong Park and then heading through the French Quarter.
- Live Music - you can't come to New Orleans without catching some great live music. In the days leading up to Mardi Gras, Tipitina's hosts shows from Papa Mali, RJD2, New Orleans Social Club, Galactic and funk/rock phenom Trombone Shorty. The Howlin' Wolf has several free shows lined up, including Rebirth Brass Band, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Hot 8 Brass Band, Papa Grows Funk, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, and George Porter Jr. - see more listings.
- Orpheus Celebs - celebrity monarchs riding in the 2010 Krewe of Orpheus parade include actor Steve Zahn, New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, kids pop band Imagination Movers, LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri, singer Taylor Dayne and rock band Smash Mouth. Dayne, Smash Mouth and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will perform at the Orpheuscapade after party.
- Mardi Gras Music - We have compiled a list of classic Mardi Gras songs for digital music fans. Check out our list of Mardi Gras tunes and New Orleans party favorites and load up your iPods and MP3 players.
- Krewe du Vieux Update - the satirical Krewe du Vieux parade will take place on Saturday, January 30, 2010, rolling through the Marigny and French Quarter. The King of KdV for 2010 will be music legend Dr. John, with Priestess Miriam Chamani reigning as Queen.
- It's Carnival Time! - the Phunny Phorty Phellows celebrate the start of the 2010 carnival season with their annual street car ride on January 6, 2010.
- Pegasus Grounded - the Krewe of Pegasus, who traditionally rolled on the first Saturday of Mardi Gras season, will not parade in 2010. The Krewe of Pygmalion will move from Friday to Pegasus's Saturday night parade slot on the St. Charles Avenue route.
- Hornets dress for Carnival - the NBA's New Orleans Hornets unveiled new Mardi Gras inspired uniforms on Nov. 19th; the purple, green and gold gear will be worn for selected home and away games during the Mardi Gras season each year; check 'em out in this video clip.
- Ready to Party? - check out Mardi Gras costumes, masks, beads & accessories
 at CostumeSuperCenter.com. Let the good times roll with some great Mardi Gras Music. Head to Amazon.com for beads, masks, party supplies and decorations!
Mardi Gras in New Orleans - FAQ & Tips
- Mardi Gras parades and related festivities begin in New Orleans circa 3 weeks before Mardi Gras Day.
- Festivities officially end at midnight on Mardi Gras Day (February 16th in 2010).
- 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 when things really kick up. 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 evening respectively, 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. You can book airplane tickets, hotels & rental cars online via TravelNow.com.
- Glass bottles / containers are not allowed on the streets of New Oreans (ever). 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. Guys showing their stuff, 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.
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