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Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

That iconic event is just around the corner. Maybe you've always thought about going, but it sounded a little too wild. Or, things looked too chaotic for you in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. But the city is on the mend, and we've got a guide to help you make the most of the festival, should you choose to go this time around.

The city of New Orleans is gearing up for the big event, which falls on Feb. 5 this year. In fact, the good times have already starting rolling in this citywide party of parades that run night and day, featuring eye-popping surrealistic floats that team with masked elaborately costumed people who throw a variety of gifts -- beads, doubloons, coconuts and more -- to excited crowds.

It's the ultimate extravaganza in a city that has long known exactly how to live it up any day of the week. Fat Tuesday is earlier this year than usual -- the last time that Mardi Gras was this early was in 1983, and it won't come so soon again for a while.

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	Rex Krewe Float

	Photo: Alison Stein Wellner

If you've been curious about what's been going on in New Orleans lately, or have always wanted to check out Mardi Gras, the early arrival of this celebration makes it a great year to plan a last-minute trip to check out this big show. Since this year's party doesn't coincide with spring break, the number of college student attendees will be down, and the number of travelers from afar will likely be down as well, as many are still contending with their holiday shopping bills.

At the same time, going on three years past Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is fully up to hosting a full Mardi Gras. (While many residential neighborhoods are still recovering, the parts of the city that travelers are likely to visit are pretty well recovered.)

Most importantly from a last-minute traveler's perspective, hotel capacity is near or at prestorm levels. Old favorites that sustained damage during the storm have long-since reopened, such as the elegant, old-world Windsor Court. At the same time, new hotels have opened: Harrah's (HET) recently opened a 26-story hotel adjacent to its casino with 450 well-appointed rooms. Many still have rooms available for the long Mardi Gras weekend; look here for more info on accommodations.

Parade Preview

Mardi Gras parades are run by "krewes," or clubs, which select a theme for their parade, build or have floats built, populate the floats and select a king or queen. Each krewe funds their own parade, either out of their own pockets or through fundraisers. The parade routes run inside the city (although not in the French Quarter), but also in the suburbs, during the day and at night. During the 12 days before Mardi Gras, any visitor to the metro area would have a hard time not running across a parade.

	Lots of Rex Krewe Floats

	Photo: Alison Stein Wellner

While all the parades are thrilling in their own way, take special note of these:

Feb. 2, 12:00 p.m.
Tucks, noted for its cheekiness, is approaching its 40th anniversary, hence the theme "Tucks Tops Faughty and Still Naughty" as its theme for its 28 floats. Special guest at the parade is Peter Mayhew, the actor that played Chewbacca the Wookie in Star Wars.

Feb. 2, 4:00 p.m.
Endymion is the largest krewe in Mardi Gras history. The theme for its 25 floats, including the biggest float in Carnival, is a salute to Rudyard Kipling, and Kevin Costner is the grand marshal.

Feb. 3, 5:15 p.m.
Bacchus, founded in 1968 over brunch at Brennan's, was the first of the "super-krewes" that pumped up the whole concept of the Mardi Gras parade, including the largest floats ever assembled, and the introduction of celebrities as its monarchs. This year, its 30 floats will be led by Hulk Hogan.

Feb. 5, 8:00 a.m.
On Fat Tuesday itself, Zulu, the historic African American krewe, will have 27 floats themed "The World of Legends, Heroes and Folklores." Among the "throws" in this parade are its famous painted and glittered coconuts.

Feb 5, 10:00 a.m.
The krewe that started the concept of daytime parades in 1872 is Rex, whose theme this year for its 33 floats is "Royal Rivers."

Tips

Learn more about the history of Mardi Gras at Presbytere (part of the Louisiana State Museum) next to St. Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square, in its exhibit "Mardi Gras: It's Carnival Time in Louisiana."

For parade maps and more information about all the parades, pick up a copy of Arthur Hardy's Mardi Gras Guide. Also don't miss New Orleans Carnival expert's Errol Laborde's picks for the top 25 parades, in the January 2008 New Orleans Magazine.

It's really hard to have a bad meal in New Orleans -- Cajun and Creole food is so tasty and abundant that you'd do well to stash a pair of stretchy pants in your suitcase. You will need to pick your battles, though, so arm yourself with Moon's post-Katrina update of its New Orleans guidebook, published last year, which includes essential info on don't-miss eats. Also, check this site out for the latest New Orleans food news and reviews.