Born in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge, Fat Tuesday has unsurprisingly been a part of my life since year one. Parades, King Cakes and beads were annual staples growing up, so by the time I graduated high school and moved to New Orleans to attend UNO in 2006 I was a little burned out. I’d overdosed on the revelry and I’d had it with the traffic. All four years I was in college I virtually boycotted Mardi Gras. I was more into studying than parading (nerd alert!) and it didn’t help that I worked in a hotel downtown for some time. Imagine trying to get to work when it’s on a parade route and you have to work on Mardi Gras because hotels never close. I had to leave home two hours early (I lived twenty minutes away) in order to get to work on time because of the horrendous traffic. I remember a day during Carnival when I sat in the same spot in traffic for over an hour. I was helpless, unmoving and only a block away from work. I was so close that I could see the building, but there was nothing I could do. I was seething. Needless to say, I was a little angry at Mardi Gras for a while and we had a falling out.

However, after I graduated from college in 2010 I begin to feel more lax. I missed my old friend. I began to remember all the good Mardi Gras does – bringing tourists and revenue to our city, getting youngsters out of school and oldsters off work, bringing friends together and exposing our wild sides. By the time my first post-college Mardi Gras arrived in 2011 I was ready to take Mardi Gras back with open arms.

Since it was my first Mardi Gras as an adult the event was a little crazier than what I grew up experiencing. Some friends from out of town came to stay with me starting the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. From that morning until Tuesday night there wasn’t a single sober moment among us. Here are a list of things we did to celebrate what is now undoubtedly my favorite holiday:

  • Shotgunned any beer we could get our hands on
  • Went to Burbon Street (I couldn’t help it, we were with tourists!)
  • Ate lots of amazing local food, including po’boys at Sammy’s and pizza at Angeli’s
  • Visited Brother’s Chicken, which is open 24 hours, at every available opportunity (We went to the one in Gentilly, which is where I lived at the time. You guys, it’s the best fried chicken in town. If you’ve never been, shame on you!)
  • Played in a fountain
  • Consumed way too much King Cake
  • Watched parades
  • Participated in impromptu dance parties
  • Attached a cup holder to my friend’s crutches (Yes, she was on crutches during Mardi Gras. Yes, it was as ridiculous as it sounds.)
  • Eventually gave up on cups altogether and drank straight liquor from the bottle
  • Dared each other to flash for beads (which is an abominable action, especially considering all you get is cheap plastic. Ladies and gentlemen, retain your dignity!)
  • Forgot everything else that happened, which may be for the best
Mardi Gras 2011
Becky, the girl who was on crutches, and I on Burbon last year

I’m positive that after all our shenanigans last year that I more than made up for the four Mardi Gras I missed out on. Since I won’t be hosting any out of towners this year (or hopefully ever again) I don’t think that 2012 will be quite as ridiculous. However, I’m already totally immersing myself in the Carnival season by parading and binge King Cake eating and I don’t plan to stop until Ash Wednesday. The point I want you to take away is this, my friends – Mardi Gras is a time to be with those whose company you enjoy and to let go of your worries and cares. Whether that means using that time off to relax or revel is up to each individual. No matter how you do it, Mardi Gras is about having fun, not about complaining about the traffic. Be safe and enjoy!

What are you doing for Mardi Gras this year? Post your plans and traditions in the comments!
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Brooke Larsen is a performer, photographer, and writer from New Orleans, LA. She has a Bachelors degree in History from the University of New Orleans where she now works full-time. Brooke loves comedy – she is in an improv troupe – and fashion – she has a fashion blog and attempts to dress well daily. Her goals are to excel as an artist and to one day work in historic preservation. For more intrigue, visit hellobrookelarsen.com or her blog.