Where to Party for Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is an extravagant celebration of indulgence. Also known as Fat Tuesday or Carnival, it’s traditionally a final opportunity for Christians to enjoy copious amounts of food, drink and merriment before Lent, a period of fasting.
Today’s Mardi Gras celebrations are enjoyed by people of all faiths. Here are some top Mardi Gras party locations in South America, North America and the Caribbean.
1. Rio de Janiero, Brazil hosts the world’s best-known Mardi Gras celebration. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Rio’s Mardi Gras party is also the world’s largest. Millions of locals and tourists fill the streets to join parades, samba and enjoy elaborate costumes.
2. New Orleans, Louisiana is home to North America’s premier Mardi Gras party. Wild festivities are centered on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, an area that becomes more “adult” as the booze flows. Family-friendly atmospheres can be found along parade routes. Tip: To get the best streetside view of a New Orleans parade, claim your space in the early morning.
3. The Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago celebrates Carnival for a full month before Fat Tuesday. Calypso band competitions are especially popular during this time. The rum-fueled revelry culminates with a massive three-day party on Sunday, Monday and Fat Tuesday. Monday is reserved for devilish disguises; revelers cover themselves in paint and mud. Gorgeous Carnival finery is reserved for Fat Tuesday.
