Hundreds of thousands of people are jamming the streets of New Orleans as Mardi Gras builds to Fat Tuesday celebrations. Rainy conditions haven’t stopped the party.
A weekend downpour rescheduled some of the major parades, but revelers continue to crowd the routes throughout New Orleans. Police have been enforcing a new 8 p.m. curfew in the French Quarter for those 16 years old and under who aren’t accompanied by adults. The annual celebration builds to an all-day street party ending in the French Quarter at midnight, marking Ash Wednesday and the start of fasting and penitence of Lent in the Christian calendar.