Mardi Gras 2025 comes to a close with highs and lows
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A family watches Endymion. Skip Bolen/WireImage
We marched, we danced and we saw how pretty we are during Mardi Gras 2025 in New Orleans.
- Let's take stock of what was so great — and could have been better — in this lengthy Carnival season.
🔥 Carriers of the torch: The Joan of Arc procession along with other Kings Day parades lighted the way for revelers looking to heal and find beauty after the Jan. 1 terror attack on Bourbon Street. Go deeper.
✊🏾 Most meaningful history-makers: The Krewe of ALLA, who took over Nyx's spot with their first Black king and queen — and brought a second-line club along for the fun. Go deeper.
♻️ Most hopeful sign: More krewes moving toward reusable throws. Crowd favorites: Cleo shirts, Freret fanny packs, Sparta light-up gliders and Bacchus socks. Go deeper.
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🧈 Greasiest go-getter: Lauren Haydel of Fleurty Girl, who won Greasing of the Poles. She's also an Axios New Orleans reader. Woohoo!
- Shoutout to the Royal Sonesta for helping Chelsea knock out this bucket list item. Even better that she went home with the People's Choice award. Go deeper.
🧐 Most painfully accurate meme: This one about sidewalk versus neutral ground. Try to argue with it, but you can't.
🤯 Mind blowing-est fact: We hosted a Super Bowl during this Carnival season.
- An! Entire! Super! Bowl! During Mardi Gras!
- And we kept the lights on for the full game. Redemption!
🪑 Best seats in the house: The Chaissez Ladies, Les Bonnes Vivantes and Laissez Boys.
❤️🩹 Tiniest tribute you shouldn't miss: This 'tit Rex tip of the cap to Frankie Beverly, who died last year.
☁️ Teenage dream come true: Katy Perry, who got a key to the city from New Orleans Councilmember Helena Moreno when the star performed at the Endymion ball. Go deeper.
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🐕 Most parade appearances without ever leaving home: Scrim. Was there a single krewe who didn't refer to the renegade pup?
⚜️ Most likely to become a New Orleans ambassador: Jameis Winston, whose love affair with the city continued as he played catch with Shaq on the Bacchus route.
🤩 Best treats: King cake remains undefeated. Here's to the classics and newcomers we tried this year: Hubig's, Bywater Bakery's pineapple passionfruit, Pretty Funky Treats' créme brulée and Dong Phuong's king cake flight.
☔️ Biggest bummer: The weather, which caused nearly unprecedented cancellations and shifted parade schedules for Mardi Gras.
- Yes, but: It was mostly glorious until then.
🫣 Creepiest encounter: King Cake Baby popping up at the St. Roch Market for an Axios New Orleans happy hour.
- Thankfully, he's going back into hibernation ASAP.
🪳 Most likely to survive the apocalypse: The Krewe of Chads.
🚗 Silliest moment: Driving like "Mario Kart" around the barricades on St. Charles Avenue. Go deeper.
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🤔 Priciest question left unanswered (so far): How did our hospitality industry fare this Carnival season?
- We've heard a couple rumors about hotel rooms being less in demand, but the final numbers will tell us what really happened.
🏆 The real MVPs: The cleaning krewes who follow behind every parade.
- We really, honestly, truly could not do this without you. Thank you.
🚮 Our next stop: The ARC donation bin after we sort through our loot. Drop-off locations.
🙏 Biggest sigh of relief: We were on high alert this season and we made it through without any major safety scares. Thank goodness.
- Officials are still making plans for what security will look like in the French Quarter going forward.
😆 Most likely to do it all again: Us!
- Mardi Gras 2026 is Feb. 17.
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