Make plans now to attend Mardi Gras 2009.  Most visitors want to arrive for the big weekend prior to Fat Tuesday which means you would want to arrive by Friday, February 20, 2009.  While the nightly parades actually begin two weekends before Mardi Gras Day, the long carnival weekend just prior to the big day includes the Super krewes such as the Krewe of Endymion, Krewe of Bacchus, Krewe of Orpheus and, of course, the Krewe of Zulu and the Krewe of Rex on Mardi Gras Day.

If you are ever confused as to “when is Mardi Gras” or “why is Mardi Gras on a different day each year”, just keep in mind that Fat Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday…the first day of Lent…47 days prior to Easter Sunday.