More cops than confetti are expected to be prevalent on parade routes when Mardi Gras goes into full swing in New Orleans this weekend.

New Orleans' efforts to reduce Mardi Gras waste and reuse beads and throws have been ongoing for decades and involve a complicated web of community groups, leaders and businesses. Carnival lasts just a few months each year, but collecting, sorting and reselling beads is a year-round endeavor.

Paradegoers catch throws during Mardi Gras celebrations on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. A number of parades scheduled to take place in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 23 were postponed due to the rain. Most were rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 25. The Barkus parade will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 9.

Mardi Gras is less than a week away and security surrounding this year’s Fat Tuesday celebrations, marking the end of Carnival season in New Orleans, will be heightened following the deadly New Year’s Day terror attack on Bourbon Street.

Given Mardi Gras is relatively late in the calendar this year, this new chart provides useful context as you figure out whether to bring a jacket or not.

It’s time to let the good times roll! As parades continue and the city prepares for the last few days of carnival, here are the parades rolling in New Orleans on Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras. The following parades will roll in New Orleans on Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras Day: According to NOLA Ready,

Walt Leger, President and CEO of New Orleans and Company, says if you’re going by the numbers, it should still be elbow-to-elbow on the parade route.