Watch Mardi Gras 2025 livestream replay: See celebrations throughout New Orleans
The final day of Mardi Gras has arrived.
Fat Tuesday, or the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, is March 4 this year and is typically the day during Mardi Gras with the largest parades and biggest parties. Ash Wednesday marks the start of the 40-day Lenten season that culminates with Easter.
While one of the most famous Mardi Gras celebrations is in New Orleans, the holiday is celebrated across the globe, from North America, to South America, Europe and Asia.
Paste BN is providing live coverage of the parades around New Orleans on Fat Tuesday, beginning around 11:15 a.m. EST. You can watch the festivities live at the embedded video at the top of the page or on Paste BN's YouTube Channel.
When is Mardi Gras 2025?
This year, Mardi Gras, which translates from French to "Fat Tuesday," is on March 4.
Ash Wednesday is on March 5, the day marking the start of the 40-day Lenten season that culminates with Easter.
Why does New Orleans celebrate Mardi Gras?
Although it is a Christian holiday now, Mardi Gras is a holiday that dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites, according to the History Channel. Mardi Gras, also often called Carnival or Carnaval, is celebrated in countries around the world with large Roman Catholic populations.
Louisiana was colonized first by the French before it became part of the U.S., and has retained strong French and Cajun culture and traditions, including Mardi Gras.
When are the 2025 Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans?
There will be plenty of parades around New Orleans on Tuesday, March 4. There will even be parades for dog lovers after the official carnival season ends.
Here's when and where to catch these parades, according to Mardi Gras New Orleans. For specific parade routes, click the link on the corresponding parade.
Tuesday, March 4
- Krewe of Argus: 11 a.m., Metairie (Krewe of Elks Jeffersonians follows)
- Krewe of Zulu: 8 a.m., Uptown New Orleans
- Krewe of Rex: 10:30 a.m., Uptown New Orleans (Krewe of Elks Orleans and Krewe of Crescent City follow)
- Covington Lions Club: 10 a.m., Covington (Carnival in Covington follows)
- Krewe of Folsom: 2 p.m., Folsom
Sunday, March 9
- Krewe of Barkus: 2 p.m., French Quarter
- Krewe of Mardi PAWS: 2 p.m., Covington
Saturday, March 15
- Krewe du Pooch: Noon, Mandeville
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at Paste BN. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.