2014 Mardi Gras New Orleans In Pictures: Revelry And Celebrations In The French Quarter [PHOTOS]

Despite unusually cold and rainy weather, Mardi Gras festivities continued on Tuesday throughout New Orleans, especially the city's oldest neighborhood, the French Quarter.

The Mardi Gras celebrations and formal parades have been an annual tradition in the city since 1857. The parades, which are organized by various krewes, or organizers behind the various parades during Carnival season, were filled with colorful floats, costumed revelers and of course throws such as the iconic Mardi Gras plastic beads and Mardi Gras-themed doubloons.

This year was somewhat different because of the cold and rain, which kept larger crowds from making their way out for Mardi Gras. But those who braved the cold and wet weather were greeted with the cheerful krewe floats and more intimate crowds, according to a NOLA report.

Even with the poor weather, it was clear that Mardi Gras spirits weren’t going to be dampened.

Revelers continued to party and celebrate throughout the day, until the stroke of midnight, which signaled the end of Mardi Gras, also known as “Fat Tuesday,” and the beginning of Ash Wednesday along with the start of the Lenten season.

Take a look back at 2014 Mardi Gras celebrations throughout New Orleans in these photos.