Just got back from the Chewbacchus parade here in NOLA

[Girard442]

Low-budget amateur parade with a sci-fi theme. Enormous energy and creativity and big turnout.

This is the real America — diverse, multicultural, exuberant, irreverent. Those evil little men with their shriveled and twisted souls can kiss our asses.

And so far, not one stinkin’ MAGA hat seen anywhere.

[Docreed2003]

1. Love all the smaller funky Krewes

And yes, if anyone wants to see the real America, the true melting pot, go check out some of the great parades during this season in New Orleans!

[NightWatcher]

2. I miss some of the weirdness from that place.

I only lived there about a year but I got to see and do so much. Anybody know a good mail order King Cake place?

[lunasun]

6. we did this one year wasnt cheap but you get a party package box with the cake. It was large too

https://www.haydelbakery.com/King-of-Carnival--Traditional-
The Hardy guide included is nice to set the mood in you are not in NOLA at the time, lists all the years parade and krewes etc.
Haydel's Bakery
4037 Jefferson Highway
New Orleans, LA 70121

Chicago(yes IL) has so many good bakeries making the traditional King Cakes now we just buy it local

.....or do Paczkis
https://www.eater.com/2015/2/17/8055779/paczki-freakout-mania-fat-tuesday-detroit-chicago

Urban centers with large Polish and Polish-American populations like Detroit and Chicago have been bracing themselves for Fat Tuesday, aka Paczki Day, a celebration of the delectable fried treat in preparation for the coming Lenten traditions. Depending on where you are, Fat Thursday is also a time to celebrate with a hot paczki

so many sweets to pick from yummy

[lunasun]

4. Awesome it's that time of year ! Enjoy the parades & Laissez les bon temps roulez!

[TomSlick]

5. Yah, know.

I've been noticing that I'm not seeing MAGA hats in southern Arkansas lately. I was in the Houston airport a week ago and made it a point to look for MAGA hats - couldn't find one.

I don't suspect it means anything but it was a fun game.

[babylonsister]

7. I love your synopsis, and love NOLA! nt

[world wide wally]

8. I last be in a small, mountain party town in Colorado.

Next weekend we have our own version of Mardi Gras. There will be funky parade that lasts about 20 minutes with a crowd that triples the size of town from about 5000 to 15,000. Then all the bars (5 of them) have live music. Needless to say, it is a very liberal small town.
Great time!

[Susan Calvin]

9. Personal question.

I would like to visit NOLA, but I am concerned as a single female who likes to just wander around. I do it in Houston without serious concern, but I know Houston. Could I reasonably safely do that in NOLA if I knew a few ground rules? Thanks.

[Initech]

10. Sounds fun!

RrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRrrrrrrrRrrr!

[BigmanPigman]

11. I've been to Carnival in Salvador, Brazille and

Nice, France and San Diego but never Venice, Italy or New Orleans. I love how each celebration is the same in a way but entirely different too.

[Behind the Aegis]

12. I miss Barkus!

I so enjoyed that!