Laissez les bons temps rouler! Happy Mardi Gras New Orleans! With the Carnival season in full swing, our city is pulsing at full force this month. Check out these events and other happenings from this month in NOLA below!
Here’s What’s Happening This Month in NOLA (February 2023)
1.) Mardi Gras Parades
Not that you needed reminding, but parade season kicks off on February 4th with Krewe du Vieux in the French Quarter. Over the next month, the Krewes of Cleopatra, Muses, D’Etat, Hermes, Endymion, Bacchus, and many more will roll throughout the city of New Orleans. Check out the full parade schedule at NewOrleans.com. Laissez less bons temps rouler, baby!
dates & locations vary
Featured photo credit: Carol Highsmith / Library of Congress via Flickr
2.) St. Anne Walking Parade
The Society of St. Anne takes over the streets on Mardi Gras morning in elaborate costumes. This walking krewe is mainly made up of homemade creations. Join the group in the Marigny around 10 am. The corner of Royal St. & Franklin Ave. is a good place to start, with multiple bars that are open early.
February 21 | Royal St. & Franklin Ave. | 10 am
3.) Bourbon Street Awards
Head to Bourbon Street and St. Ann to see the ultimate costume contest. Known for the elaborate drag queen costumes, the Bourbon Street Awards attracts large crowds each year. The contest begins around noon. From there, walk around the Quarter and join in on the revelry.
February 21 | St. Ann St. & Dauphine St.
4.) Carnivoid 2023 at Joy Theater
Krewe du Void and the Joy Theater presents Carnivoid: 2023, on Friday, Feb. 3. This one-night-only Mardi Gras show features The Iceman Special, C’est Funk, and many more. Tickets are $25-$50 each.
5.) Zomboy & MIJA at Republic
Celebrate Mardi Gras weekend with bass and dub at one of NOLA’s premier venues for dance music. On Sunday, Feb. 18 ZOMBOY makes his long-awaited return to Republic NOLA for The 7th Annual Sunday Dubday. On Lundi Gras, the genre-bending queen MIJA is going to keep the party going all night. Limited GA & VIP Mardi Gras Combo tickets to see Zomboy on 2.19 and Mija on 2.20 are now available!
February 19 – 20 | Republic NOLA | 10 pm
6.) Mardi Gras at The Howlin Wolf
Celebrate Mardi Gras at the Howlin’ Wolf with the Bacchus Post Parade Party W/ The Grammy Winning Hot 8 Brass Band on Sunday, Feb. 19, and Party Gras ft. Silk And Mortar, Kayzee Taylor, Toro Y Moi Y Ethan, and Mynthiaon on Monday, Feb. 20. the Sunday show costs $20 and the Monday show costs $10.
February 19 – 20 | The Howlin Wolf | 9 pm
7.) Freedia Gras Featuring Big Freedia
You might as well block out the whole month for Tipitina’s Mardi Gras music madness. There are plenty of shows all month long, but the weekend before Mardi Gras Day is when the back-to-back shows begin. Big Freedia kicks it off on Thursday, Feb. 16 with Freedia Gras ft. Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph with TBC Brass Band. In the days following, catch Dumpstaphunk, Galactic, Anders Osborne’s Bacchus Bash, a Galactic Lundi Gras Sunrise Set, and more.
February 16 | Tipitina’s | 9 pm
8.) 14th Annual Mardi Gras Costume Sale
Carnival culture lovers and creative costume connoisseurs, it’s time to take to the streets in your Tuesday best. Come, revelers one and all, Mardi Gras is upon us and adventures are afoot. Support your local artists and community, grab a cocktail from the bar, and do your costume shopping with us at this long-standing uptown tradition.
9.) Zoolu 29 at The Metropolitan
Zoolu is back and better than ever. Mardi Gras’s biggest dance party is welcoming TWO of dance music’s biggest acts. Deadmau5 will provide fans with a night of nostology on Saturday, February 18, aka Endymion Saturday, while SLANDER will bring all the feels on Lundi Gras, February 20.
February 18 + 20 | Metropolitan | 9 pm
10.) THE VALHALLA BALL
The Space Vikings are throwing a victory celebration, the Valhalla Ball! All Vikings, prospective members, and brethren sub-krewes are welcome to join in on the fun at The Rabbit Hole on February 10th. Plan for face-melting projection mapping and bad-ass battle beats. Valhalla! Featuring music by Sandra Love And The Reason, DJ Crushed Velvet – Space Vikings, DTR – Sharknadeaux, DJ Hollagraham – Moon Pirates, and LUX – Krewe de Lux.
February 10 | The Rabbit Hole | 6 pm
11.) Pygmalion Fest feat. G-Eazy
Each year, The Krewe Of Pygmalion follows their parade with an incredible concert party called “Pygmalion Fest.” This all-night party has become one of the largest celebrations in the Mardi Gras season, both for locals and guests to New Orleans over Carnival. The James Dean of rap and Loyola alumni, G-Eazy, will be Grand Marshall of the 2023 Pygmalion parade this carnival season.
February 11 | The Sugar Mill | 9 pm
12.) Moonlight Gathering
Moonlight Gathering 2023 will include four unique events in different locations all over a 3-day span throughout New Orleans during a Full Moon Mardi Gras Weekend. The lineup includes artists The Librarian, Ott, Entangled Mind, Pretty Nasty, Tristan Dufrene & more. 3-day passes are available now as well as single-day tickets.
February 3 – 5 | times & locations vary
13.) Subtronics at Fillmore NOLA
Following the success of his 2022 FRACTAL Tour, Subtronics turns to the dark side with his newest album ANTIFRACTAL. This tour promises brand-new production and includes 35 shows across the United States. Read more about Subtronics in New Orleans here.
February 9 | Fillmore NOLA | 7 pm
14.) Atlanta Hawks at New Orleans Pelicans
Take a break from parading and cheer on the Pelicans this month in NOLA at Smoothie King Center. But if you want to keep your costume on, we totally support you.
February 7 | Smoothie King Center | 6:30 pm
15.) Riverwalk’s 34th Annual Lundi Gras
The 34th Annual Lundi Gras at Riverwalk’s Spanish Plaza is a New Orleans tradition, taking place the day before Fat Tuesday. The 2023 celebration is particularly special as Lundi Gras also marks the official re-opening of the renovated Spanish Plaza. This free event features live music from some of New Orleans’ favorite performers, local food and drink, and a fireworks display on the river. The event culminates with the arrival of Rex, King of Carnival, and his entourage aboard elegantly decorated vintage railroad cars.
February 20 | Riverwalk’s Spanish Plaza | 12:00 pm
16.) The Pure Way Ball
Pure Intentions Entertainment cordially invites you to their 2nd annual Mardi Gras ball, The Pure Way Ball. This year’s theme is Cosmic Carnival and will be held at the marvelous Toulouse Theatre in the French Quarter. True to their reputation, they will deck out the space to the theme, with installations and circus props from Slide Show Props. They have an incredible show lined up featuring some of New Orleans’ hottest DJs and some circus acts such as stilt walkers, sword jugglers, unicyclists, clowns, aerialists, and much more.
February 17 | Toulouse Theatre | 10 pm
17.) Valentine’s Day at the Virgin Hotel
Grab your gal pals and head to Commons Club Saturday, February 11 for a very special Galentine’s Day brunch! Enjoy a chic brunch experience with live music by DJ Rusty Lazer and various local pop-ups. And on Valentine’s Day, they’re teaming up with The Meetery to bring together all things LOVE. Head to the 13th-floor rooftop to celebrate yourself and your loved ones with love-themed cocktails, love songs (and some anti-love ones, too!) from a live DJ.
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