Arrive in New Orleans, collect your bags, and make your way to your hotel to find your base for the days of street parties and parades ahead.

Mardi Gras kicks off on Twelfth Night in January and runs right through to midnight on Shrove Tuesday, culminating in the final celebrations on ‘Fat Tuesday’, which marks both the last day of the season and the start of Lent.

Mardi Gras krewes put on parades with creative themes and signature throws, and with over 40 krewes across the city, each responsible for its own parade, there’s always something rolling through the streets. Over Mardi Gras’s final days, expect masked riders, signature throws to catch (from the bedazzled shoes of Muses to the sought after coconuts at Zulu), live music, and non-stop revelry.

Settle in this afternoon and get ready to dive straight into it, with Mardi Gras final weekend now underway, you may even catch the Krewe of Endymion parading through the city this evening, known for having the largest parade and some of the most extravagant floats of the season.

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Spend today catching one of the many krewe parades rolling through the city. Today’s headline parade is the Krewe of Bacchus, famous for its celebrity monarchs and signature bead throws, one of the most anticipated parades of the whole season. You may still feel the buzz from the night before too, with the Krewe of Endymion having rolled through the city last night.

Stake out a spot early along a route such as St Charles Avenue for the best view of the elaborate floats, marching bands and the all important beads and trinkets thrown from above. In between parades, explore the Garden District, known for its grand mansions and oak lined streets, a quieter contrast to the French Quarter. As evening falls, head back into the thick of it for more live music and the buzz of costumed crowds filling the streets.

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Today is Lundi Gras, an electric prelude to Fat Tuesday. Take a break from the crowds with a visit to Mardi Gras World, where you can see the elaborate floats being built and learn about the history and traditions behind Carnival season.

Spend the rest of the day soaking up the Mardi Gras atmosphere. Look out for the Krewe of Red Beans Parade, a unique, artistic community walking parade featuring handmade costumes decorated with red beans.

As evening falls, secure a spot at Spanish Plaza or the adjacent Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park to watch the arrival and meeting of Rex, King of Carnival, and the King of Zulu,. See the Kings arrive by boat, watch them toast on stage, and enjoy the ceremonial riverfront fireworks display. Once you’ve enjoyed the fireworks, head towards Canal Street to watch the ‘super-krewe parades’ of Proteus and Orpheus, co-founded by Harry Connick, Jr.

Don’t forget to try King Cake before Mardi Gras wraps up. This official food of the season, eaten throughout the parades, is a cinnamon flavoured cake topped with purple, green and gold icing representing the three kings who visited baby Jesus. Hidden inside is a small plastic baby, and tradition says whoever finds it has to buy the next king cake!

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New Orleans Mardi Gras reaches its peak on ‘Fat Tuesday’, a name coined from the fatty, rich foods eaten before Lent begins the next day. Prepare yourself for a full day of parades and celebration, as the streets can come alive as early as 8am and won’t quiet down until midnight, when police and street sweepers formally clear the streets to signal the end of Carnival and the arrival of Ash Wednesday.

You can enjoy iconic morning and daytime parades, including the historic Krewe of Zulu, famous for throwing the sought after Zulu Coconut, also known as the “Golden Nugget”, and the Krewe of Rex, the “King of Carnival”, who set the standard for classic parade throws with traditional, high quality collectibles. Look out too for the colourful truck parades that roll through the city, adding even more spectacle to your day.

This is your day to fully embrace the carnival atmosphere, so make the most of the energy, the food, the music and the sheer scale of the celebrations before the season ends.

Once the daytime parades have wrapped up, head to the French Quarter for the street partying. Make your way to Bourbon Street, which fills completely with crowds celebrating the final hours of indulgence, so show off your costume, collect beads from balconies, and pack into local bars along with everyone else.

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With Fat Tuesday behind you, enjoy a relaxed final morning. Grab breakfast somewhere local, pick up any last minute souvenirs, and reflect on a whirlwind few days before heading to the airport for your flight home.