Parades, floats, costumes mark Fat Tuesday in New Orleans

It’s wall-to-wall people and all walks of life on New Orleans most famous street. “I didn’t know I needed to bring long underwear”.

The costumes, the parades, and of course the beads.

It is Fat Tuesday, quite literally the translation for Mardi Gras.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 9, 2016: Jay Banks, King of Zulu, waves to crowds during Mardi Gras day on February 9, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Tens of thousands of people are expected on the streets of downtown Dunedin clamoring for beads today during the city’s 25th annual Mardi Gras celebration themed “Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves”.

“Let the good times roll” with WRTI’s J. The Mardi Gras Indian tribes are another tradition in the city.

“I couldn’t even think of the words, because I had never had a birthday party, and I was just overwhelmed by all my friends here and my wonderful daughter and family”, Chachere said.

“The energy is just over the top”, Mitzi Roauth of Alaska said. Residents, who skip school and work to turn out in droves for parades and other festivities, say this is the real Mardi Gras celebration.

Hendricks said two of the wounded people remained hospitalized Monday, one with a leg wound and the other with a knee wound. Their parade dates back to roughly 1910, and is followed by the Rex Organization’s parade, which dates back to 1872.

Mardi Gras is cold, but cold can depend on perspective.

With festive purple, green and gold, three parades rolled through the streets of Lafayette. One especially prized “throw” is the coconuts given out by members of Zulu. The coconuts have been hollowed out and had the outside hair removed before they’re specially decorated with glitter or elaborate designs. “It’s warm. It’s friendly and it’s a great big party”.