2016 Mardi Gras Parade Schedule

Colorful floats filled with costumed riders throwing trinkets to the crowd are hallmarks of Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans. Photo by Pat Garin

NEW ORLEANS, La. (Feb. 10, 2017) — New Orleans is once again hosting more than 30 colorful Mardi Gras parades during the 2017 Carnival season leading up to Fat Tuesday on February 28, 2017.

Contrary to what is often portrayed in media coverage of Mardi Gras, the parades are actually very family-friendly. Bourbon Street lives up to the more wild reputation, but the parades roll down wider streets in residential districts and nearby communities, and police officers work hard to ensure that the crowd stays festive but not crazy.

Each parade carries the name of a different "Krewe" which sponsors its own parade. The following schedule lists parades within New Orleans for the two primary weekends of Carnival. Additional parades are held in the region, including a dozen parades in the nearby community of Metairie.

2017 Mardi Gras Parade Schedule

Friday, February 17, 2017
• 6:00 PM Krewe of Oshun
• 6:00 PM Krewe of Cleopatra

Saturday, February 18, 2017 Mardi Gras parades often include high school, college or community marching bands. Photo by Jeff Strout

Mardi Gras parades often include high school, college or community marching bands. Photo by Jeff Strout

• 1:00 PM Krewe of Pontchartrain
• 2:00 PM Krewe of Choctaw
• 2:30 PM Krewe of Freret
• 6:00 PM Knights of Sparta
• 6:45 PM Krewe of Pygmalion

Sunday, February 19, 2017
• 11:00 AM Krewe of Femme Fatale
• 12:00 PM Krewe of Carrollton
• 1:00 PM King Arthur
• 2:00 PM Krewe of Alla
• 2:00 PM Mystic Krewe of Barkus

Wednesday, February 22, 2017
• 6:30 PM Krewe of Ancient Druids
• 7:00 PM Mystic Krewe of Nyx

Thursday, February 23, 2017
• 5:30 PM Knights of Babylon
• 6:15 PM Knights of Chaos
• 6:30 PM Krewe of Muses

Friday, February 24, 2017
• 6:00 PM Krewe of Hermes
• 6:30 PM Le Krewe d'Etat
• 7:00 PM Krewe of Morpheus

Saturday, February 25, 2017 Most Mardi Gras parades roll through residential districts of New Orleans and are actually very family-friendly. Photo by Jay Combe

Most Mardi Gras parades roll through residential districts of New Orleans and are actually very family-friendly. Photo by Jay Combe

• 11:00 AM Krewe of Iris
• 12:00 PM Krewe of Tucks
• 4:30 PM Krewe of Endymion

Sunday, February 26, 2017
• 11:00 AM Krewe of Okeanos
• 11:45 AM Krewe of Mid-City
• 12:00 PM Krewe of Thoth
• 5:00 PM Krewe of Bacchus

Monday, February 27, 2017
• 5:15 PM Proteus
• 6:00 PM Orpheus

Tuesday, February 28, 2017 - Mardi Gras
• 8:00 AM Zulu
• 10:00 AM Rex
• 11:00 AM Krewe of Elks Orleans
• 12:00 PM Krewe of Crescent City

Parade times are approximate, especially when one parade follows directly behind another. And since parades travel for several miles, depending on your viewing location the parade could arrive much later than the start time shown. Visit the website of each Krewe for more details including parade route maps and parade themes.

Photos courtesy of New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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New Orleans 2017 Mardi Gras Parade Schedule