Travel by Design
Get in the Mardi Gras Spirit With This New Orleans Neighborhood Tour
Wreaths, beads, masks and swaths of green, purple and gold add a festive Carnival splash to The Big Easy
In most places, it’s just another Tuesday at work. But in New Orleans, a city whose inhabitants know how to throw a party, Mardi Gras is an excuse to throw the biggest and most fabulous one of the year. It’s a spirited and vibrant citywide celebration, where house exteriors are decked out in candy-colored flags, wreaths and garlands, and where people gather in the streets. Mardi Gras means dancing along to a marching band playing a jazzy beat, eating too much king cake, having a strawberry daiquiri (or two) during the day or wearing a funny colored wig because — well, why not?
People flock to New Orleans from all over for the annual celebration, swelling the population to nearly twice its normal size by Fat Tuesday, which heralds the start of the Lenten season. Even if you can’t make it to the celebration, you can see how six New Orleans neighborhoods decorate their doors, windows, balconies and railings to conjure up the spirit of the season in shades of green, purple and gold.
People flock to New Orleans from all over for the annual celebration, swelling the population to nearly twice its normal size by Fat Tuesday, which heralds the start of the Lenten season. Even if you can’t make it to the celebration, you can see how six New Orleans neighborhoods decorate their doors, windows, balconies and railings to conjure up the spirit of the season in shades of green, purple and gold.
This home in the lower Quarter proudly displays a pair of nearly life-size Carnival jesters, along with one of the most impressive door garlands in town.
This warm and bright shotgun house has space for a small garden and two crape myrtle trees. That’s impressive considering that private green space is nearly as rare in the French Quarter as in Midtown Manhattan.
The French Quarter is rightly famous for its wrought iron balconies. They’re perfect for decorating and prized real estate during Carnival season.
Each Mardi Gras parade is hosted by a different Carnival krewe, which plans year-round for the event. The krewes in New Orleans have different identities and characteristics. They also have unique flags. Displayed here is the flag of the Krewe of Bacchus, which rolls Uptown the Sunday before Mardi Gras each year.
The French Quarter, often simply called “the Quarter,” is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans. Many of the buildings and homes date to the early 1800s and are influenced by Spanish architecture. The tall, narrow doors and windows found throughout the Quarter are ideal for wreaths and garlands.
In typical bawdy New Orleans fashion, these masked faces appear to be drooling party beads onto the French Quarter street below.
Bayou St. John
While the historic Bayou St. John neighborhood is better known for playing host to the city’s other annual extravaganza, Jazz Fest, the neighborhood buzzes with a similar vitality during Mardi Gras.
While the historic Bayou St. John neighborhood is better known for playing host to the city’s other annual extravaganza, Jazz Fest, the neighborhood buzzes with a similar vitality during Mardi Gras.
Much like its residents, exteriors in New Orleans aren’t afraid to show some personality, as seen in this surprising contrast of neon green and orange paint in Bayou St. John.
As anyone who has watched a Saints football game can attest, New Orleanians love saying “dat.” This sign points the way toward Esplanade Avenue.
A little colorful tulle on a rustic wreath makes this purple shotgun house in Bayou St. John festive while maintaining its monochromatic scheme. The color of the house speaks for itself.
This stunning home is guarded by a wonderfully sculpted wrought iron gate, one of the typical architectural details for which New Orleans is known.
A gold wreath and lush greenery match the warm earth tones of this not-quite-a-shotgun in Bayou St. John. The homeowner strung small lights underneath the tulle so it glows softly at night.
Beads and masks have become a symbol of Mardi Gras. Float riders have always worn beads while riding in parades, and masquerade balls are a key element in the Carnival celebration for krewes. Here, masks decorate the colorful shutters of a Bayou St. John home.
This tabby cat in a home in Bayou St. John doesn’t appear quite as excited about the coming of Carnival season.
This bold trio of homes sits proudly along oak-lined Esplanade Avenue, one of the grandest boulevards in the South. It runs from the Mississippi River to Bayou St. John and ends at the foot of the New Orleans Museum of Art. These colors reflect the vibrancy of both the architecture and the residents of New Orleans.
These homeowners used Mardi Gras beads to line their iron fence. The beads are often draped around fences or hung from tree branches, as well as around the necks of paradegoers.
This brightly colored home along Grand Route St. John states its address with local flair thanks to a painted sign from popular local artist Simon.
Bywater
The Bywater is perhaps New Orleans’ most colorful neighborhood, as evidenced by these two neighboring shotguns painted bright shades of pink, blue and green. This resident strung together beads caught during different parades to create this Mardi Gras garland for the front railing.
The Bywater is perhaps New Orleans’ most colorful neighborhood, as evidenced by these two neighboring shotguns painted bright shades of pink, blue and green. This resident strung together beads caught during different parades to create this Mardi Gras garland for the front railing.
One of the most inspiring qualities of the decorations is that most are handmade and individual. This small paper banner is the perfect touch of green and purple on this electric yellow house.
Several homes in the Bywater show more subtle adornments, such as flags and banners in the three colors of Mardi Gras: purple, gold and green.
An orange door pops brilliantly on this double shotgun, which has been converted to single occupancy. Wreaths like this one are yet another way people can show their Carnival spirit.
This relatively staid (by Bywater standards) shotgun shows its Carnival spirit with beads, masks and even a feather boa in Mardi Gras colors.
Uptown
One of the most popular exterior decorations for the Carnival season is a Mardi Gras flag in the traditional colors. Only a former king or queen of a Carnival krewe has the privilege of flying a flag with a crown in the middle.
One of the most popular exterior decorations for the Carnival season is a Mardi Gras flag in the traditional colors. Only a former king or queen of a Carnival krewe has the privilege of flying a flag with a crown in the middle.
Many of the major parades originate Uptown and follow historic St. Charles Avenue, which is lined with some of the most spectacular homes in the city. Many people who live on the route throw parties during the parades, which “roll” every night beginning the Wednesday before Fat Tuesday.
Homeowners here drape flags along their porch railings.
This palatial porch in Uptown is the perfect place to relax with a mint julep (or, for true authenticity, a Sazerac) and watch the parades roll by.
Many residents choose to utilize the space between banisters or columns of their Victorians to hang bunting flags, as seen in the Uptown neighborhood.
Marigny Triangle
The Marigny Triangle, just outside the French Quarter, is one of the oldest and smallest neighborhoods in the city. It’s now one of the most coveted residential areas, thanks to its charming architecture and proximity to the Quarter and Frenchman Street — often called “the Bourbon Street for locals.” Only a handful of parades roll through here, the most notable being Krewe du Vieux, a satirical walking parade.
The Marigny Triangle, just outside the French Quarter, is one of the oldest and smallest neighborhoods in the city. It’s now one of the most coveted residential areas, thanks to its charming architecture and proximity to the Quarter and Frenchman Street — often called “the Bourbon Street for locals.” Only a handful of parades roll through here, the most notable being Krewe du Vieux, a satirical walking parade.
This fantastic Creole cottage — identifiable by its sloped, hut-like roof — wonderfully illustrates the charm of the Marigny Triangle. The homeowner, Matt Easley, has lived in this neighborhood for most of his life and has noted its transformation. He bought the cottage in the mid-’70s and has renovated it from the ground up, restoring it to its original style and making it the gem of the block. Easley says he waits until just before Mardi Gras weekend to hang his Mardi Gras flag.
Garden District
This pooch stands guard over its porch in the Garden District.
This pooch stands guard over its porch in the Garden District.
This clever door hanger is molded in the shape of a king cake, a gooey treat eaten between Twelfth Night and Fat Tuesday. King cakes typically have a cinnamon-sugar taste and can be filled with anything from strawberries to cream cheese. King cakes also have a small plastic baby hidden inside; whoever receives the slice of cake with the baby has to bring the king cake to the next party.
Passers-by watch dogs go by in the Krewe of Barkus parade.
This boxer is decked out in a green boa while excitedly participating in the Barkus parade in the French Quarter.
See more photos of Mardi Gras
Show us: How are you celebrating Mardi Gras this year? Share a photo in the Comments.
These Homes Say Happy Mardi Gras!
See more photos of Mardi Gras
Show us: How are you celebrating Mardi Gras this year? Share a photo in the Comments.
These Homes Say Happy Mardi Gras!
Many people are surprised to learn that traditional Mardi Gras krewes, or social clubs, don’t parade through the French Quarter. However, several walking krewes have sprung up to fill that void. One of the most popular of these is Barkus, a dog parade open to any and all canines and their owners.