Footage from the USA TODAY's livestream shows a vibrant and cheering crowd in New Orleans catching beads from the floats. These photos capture the essence of the 2025 Mardi Gras celebration.

Despite what you might have heard, Mardi Gras didn't get its start in New Orleans. Mardi Gras actually began in Mobile, Alabama – a port city with close proximity to the Gulf of Mexico ...

Although New Orleans, Louisiana is highly credited for throwing the first Mardi Gras celebration, there's been an ongoing debate about whether Mobile, Alabama was the original origin. The argument ...

For 40 days every spring, Christians observe the season of repentance and fasting known as Lent. In New Orleans, the change from Mardi Gras to Lent is striking.

Narrator: What would Mardi Gras in New Orleans be without the parade ... or they'll just tell you what their ideas are to see the big picture, which is great. I feel like this is my family.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The good times and parades still rolled in New Orleans for Mardi Gras Day celebrations early Tuesday, ahead of expected severe winds, thunderstorms and tornado warnings in the ...