Laissez les bons temps rouler
Laissez les bons temps rouler! It's Mardi Gras in New Orleans - the annual all-day party in which revelers bare all, masked costumers run the streets, and parades roll down the avenues across the city.
PICTURES: Mardi Gras 2011
The pre-Lent party kicks off nearly as soon as the sun rises, with two of the parade "Krewes" rolling across town - the Krewe of Zulu and the Krewe of Rex, king of Mardi Gras.
Packed crowds line the streets to watch the floats and bands march by. Masked revelers toss out beads by the handfuls to the frenzied crowd. It's difficult to overestimate lengths people will go to for a string of plastic beads. If you don't feel like baring some skin, stick to the traditional call of "Throw me somethin' mister!"
The historic French Quarter in downtown will be packed all day and night with tourists, locals and spring breakers. Party-goers pack the centuries-old streets in some of the most colorful - and scandalous - costumes imaginable.
The celebrations go until the stroke of midnight, when a brigade of New Orleans police symbolically march down Bourbon Street announcing the end of Carnival and the beginning of Lent. Of course, the party ramps right back up for a few more precious hours.
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