We asked on Facebook: What’s your favorite Mardi Gras tradition?
The island’s vibe during Mardi Gras is electric! The parades, beads, parties, food! My favorite Mardi Gras party is the San Luis Salute! It is the party of the year.
Allison Schoenvogel
The San Luis Salute.
Jim Rosenfeld
Waiting downtown for the marching bands in the parades to come and blow our socks off! The sound of them reverberating between the buildings and the lights, and the people just makes my heart smile!
Sarah Moore Click
Riding in many parades, I try to find people that are far away, upstairs in a window or on a deck, in the back of a crowd, and see if I can reach them with my beads. If I miss, I keep trying until I’m successful. Sometimes, those standing around my target end up with lots of beads.
Jay Carnes
On Saturday before Fat Tuesday, I make a huge pot of gumbo and jambalaya — complete with cornbread. Friends and family come to visit, eat and enjoy the music and my decorated home.
Forest Riggs

Purple, gold and green king cake is a popular Mardi Gras treat. Photo by Kevin M. Cox
The junk-food junkie in me says king cake.
Chris Crowder Sr.
Marching bands and king cakes from Maceo Spice and Import Company.
Erica Peace
King Cake.
Michelle Aycoth
Love Fat Tuesday and people-watching at its finest.
Nita Andrews Reid
Voodoo king cakes from
Rao’s bakery!
Concetta Maceo-Sims
Cutting the king cake and finding out who gets the baby.
Leroy Naschke III
Going to the crew of Aquarius Barn Bash.
Patti Abschneider
Love watching people and how many beads they have! Getting on a balcony and throwing beads into the crowd. Also, king cake!
Teresa LeBoeuf Roberts
Fat Tuesday downtown parade.
David Bowers
The day parade on the seawall. It’s families and clean fun.
Elizabeth Urbani Kinard
Going to Nick’s on seawall for dinner and a Hurricane then to Fat Tuesday parade.
Carla Davis McLaughlin
Fat Tuesday, it’s for the locals!
Mike Hightower
Walking with “The Hitch” leading the Gambrinus Parade.
Mike McAfee
The balls, followed closely by balcony parties to watch the parades. Oh yeah, and king cake.
Bobbey White
We have taken our RV to the seawall for about 25 years. Love it.
Janice Hallisey
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