Mardi Gras 2010 - Rental Car and Arrival Date Question

Hi - MG 2010 is on Tue Feb 16th. I hear the weekend before MG is the time to go. Can someone confirm this? I was thinking of heading there the 12th (Friday before), then leaving the day after MG...Also, if I stay walking distance to Bourbon St and F.Quarters, do I need a rental car? THANKS SO MUCH!

-First Timers!!!- hehe

I am born and raised in New Orleans born, or should I say N'Awlins.

Yes the weekend before Mardi Gras is the big tourist/party weekend because most of them go home Sunday night and try to work on Monday. The streets are overflowing for the Endymion parade on Saturday night, but it should not be missed. In comparison Sunday, Monday (Lundi Gras), and even Tuesday (Mardi Gras) are more laid back. Do not miss Bacchus (Sunday night) and Orpheus (Monday Night, Lundi Gras). Naturally there are nice parades during the day on Saturday and Sunday too, but none on Monday during the daytime.

Zulu starts at 8:00 AM on Mardi Gras Day and should reach Canal St by 10:00 AM. Most of the walking groups are before Zulu. People will be out on the street around daybreak. None of the parades on Mardi Gras, including Rex, are as big or as nice as Endymion, Bacchus, or Orpheus. However, 100+ decorated trucks follow Rex, in the Krewes of Elks and Orleans, with local families riding them, so the parade will literally go on for hours.

Also during the day/evening on Lundi Gras there are festivals on the riverfront near the end of Canal Street for the Zulu and Rex parades. For instance Amanda Shaw plays early at the Zulu Lundi Gras Festival and you can get up front to see her. For the Jazz Fest you can barely see her on the stage.

If you stay anywhere near the French Quarter in my opinion a car is a complete nuisance that you will never use and they will charge $30+ per night to park. Besides at times you would be very lucky to be able to get it if you need it. You can walk to just about anywhere you need to go. And for the price of the parking you can take taxies too.

On a side note in general the drinks in the French Quarter are more expensive then those outside the area. I have seen the price of a beer drop $2.00 in three city blocks, so look around. Also, bring cash because the ATMs can run out of money and have long lines in the French Quarter area.

The biggest problem is, like the local song says,“There ain’t no place to pee on Mardi Gras Day,” and that is also true for the weekend days too! So plan far ahead, because there will be lines to get drinks as well as get rid of them.

Happy Mardi Gras,

Dan