Festivals + Holidays
New Orleans bills its Mardi Gras as the Greatest Free Show on Earth. As the first parades get set to march throught the streets of the Big Easy, is it too late to make travel plans for this year’s edition?
Mardi Gras, a.k.a. Fat Tuesday, falls on 9 February in 2016. The first parades will begin on 6 February.
The most popular time to visit New Orleans will be from 5 through 9 February. The parades are free of charge, but you can buy tickets to sit in the Grand Stands if you wish.
Forget about dining at restaurants with balconies overlooking parades routes, and the same goes for hotels. The few such venues that exist are reserved years in advance.
Weather during Mardi Gras reason can range from very cold to very warm.
Mardi Gras falls on a different day each year because its date is related to Easter Sunday. Fat Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday. It is exactly 47 days before Easter, which can fall any time between 23 March and 25 April.
Plan Ahead!
Believe it or not, the best time to plan your Mardi Gras vacation is NOW! And I’m not talking about 2016, I’m talking about 2017.
Most hotels are fully booked for this year’s Mardi Gras season. And when you do book a hotel room, keep in mind that most hotels require a minimum 4 or 5 night stay.
But doesn’t not mean that you still can’t try to attend Mardi Gras this year. There is always the chance of last minute cancellations. Just get on the phone, and bom chance!