Get ready for the biggest party of all, Mardi Gras

As New Orleans strives to rebuild its spirited city after Hurricane Katrina, revelers nationwide flock and find every reason to celebrate the best party of all, Mardi Gras.

About 60 parades are held during Carnival season. Each day is actually hosted by a private organization or “krewe.” Most of them take place in the final ten days leading up to Fat Tuesday—“Mardi Gras” in French. This day always falls in February or early March, Ash Wednesday eve, the start of Lent for many Christians.

Don’t flash any body parts in hopes of getting those coveted beads, stuffed animals or other goodies. Police are cracking down on such risqué behavior. The French Quarter, however, rarely warns those that flash illegally. Holding up a poster saying your hometown LOVES NOLA should definitely do the trick.

One of the must-see parades is Endymion, the largest with the most “throws,” and carries Mardi Gras’ longest float. There’s also Krewe of Orpheus, a music based parade founded by Harry Connick Jr. Several bars along Bourbon Street have balconies, but expect to pay $5 to $20, and some have time limits at the lower prices.

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