There is nothing like carnival season in New Orleans! It's the yearly season of Mardi Gras parades, Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club, Endymion, Rex, Bacchus, carnival krewes, masked float riders tossing throws (beads, doubloons, throw cups and more!) to the crowds, Mardi Gras Balls, flambeaux with kerosene torches, Mardi Gras Indians, elaborate costumes and French Quarter decadence! Carnival season celebrations are concentrated for about two weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras in French), the day before Ash Wednesday. Usually there is at least one major carnival parade each day and many days have several large parades. The largest, most elaborate and decadent events and parades take place the last five days of the season. And behind the commercialized scenes deep in the neighborhood streets on Claiborne Avenue, St Bernard Avenue and many other streets is the long time tradition of the Mardi Gras Indians - the most spectacular part of Mardi Gras!