Mardi Gras 2014: List Of Popular Parade Routes, Schedules From February 28 To March 4

Mardi Gras takes place 46 days before Easter. While some see the celebration as a particular day, for New Orleans locals it is a season that begins in January and culminates on Fat Tuesday in March.

This year, the Big Easy hosted more than 60 parades in neighborhoods across New Orleans. The long weekend from Feb. 28 to March 4 will see a plethora of the most popular parades, where both locals and visitors can join forces in the revelry.

"Mardi Gras is just like Christmas, Mother's Day and Thanksgiving," native New Orleanian Kevin Kelly told USA Today. "It's a chance to get together with friends and family, to enjoy your own traditions of food and drink and all of the spectacle that goes along with the parades and costumes."

A popular time for visitors to join in the Mardi Gras festivities is the weekend before the big day – this year the dates fall from Friday, Feb. 28 through Tuesday, March 4. Some of the largest parades take place during this time.

For those that want to get their party planning in motion, below are a list of popular parades, their times and routes to make sure you don’t miss a beat or bead.

Friday, Feb. 28

Krewe d'Etat, 6:30 p.m., Uptown Route.

The 22-float parade follows the Hermes parade. This year’s theme is kept secret until the parade but it is known to satirize current events. Throws include doubloons, cups and beads.

- The Krewe d'Etat parade will start at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Magazine Street in New Orleans.

- The parade will head east along Magazine to Napoleon Avenue, where the krewe will turn north.

- The Krewe d'Etat will follow Napoleon north until St. Charles Avenue, where the parade will turn east.

- The krewe will follow St. Charles all the way to Lee Circle, around the circle and back on St. Charles northward to Canal Street.

- At Canal, the parade turn left and follow Canal to intersecting with Burgundy Street where they make a U-turn.

- They travel back down Canal Street until reaching Chartres Street, where the parade ends.

Saturday, March 1

Krewe of Endymion, 4:15 p.m., Mid-City Route.

A 27-float parade will carry the theme, "An Evening at the Opera." Throws include medallion necklaces, doubloons and more.

-The Krewe of Endymion parade starts at the intersection of City Park Avenue and Orleans Avenue.

- From there it travels down Orleans Avenue to the intersection with N. Carrolton Avenue.

- They take a right onto Carrollton and take that street until it intersects with Canal Street.

- The Krewe travels down Canal Street through Mid City until they reach St. Charles Avenue.

- At St. Charles Avenue, they take a right and follow it until the intersection with Howard Avenue at Lee Circle.

- They take Howard Avenue until taking a right Loyola Avenue.

- There is a left turn on to Dave Dixon Drive.

- Their next turn is a left on to Liberty Street

- That is followed by a right onto Julia Street.

- They take a right on to Le Rouge Lane.

- There is another right on to Dave Dixon Drive.

- Their last turn is on LaSalle Street and into Champions Sqaure at the Superdome.

Sunday, March 2

Krewe of Bacchus, 5:15 p.m., Uptown Route

Actor Hugh Laurie will lead the superkrewe's 34-float parade that will carry out the theme, "Bacchus Explores Our Sportsman's Paradise." Popular floats include the Bacchagator, the Bacchasaurus and the Bacchawhoppa whale.

- The Krewe of Bacchus parade will start at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas Street and Napoleon Avenue in New Orleans.

- The parade will head along Napoleon Avenue north until St. Charles Street, where the parade will turn east.

- The Krewe of Bacchus will follow St. Charles all the way to Lee Circle, around the circle and back on St. Charles northward to Canal Street.

- At Canal, the parade turn northwest. At the intersection of University Place and Canal Street, the krewe will turn around and head southeast.

- At the intersection of Canal and Tchoupitoulas Street, the parade will turn south down Tchoupitoulas.

- The krewe will proceed south to the intersection of Tchoupitoulas and Julia Street, where the parade will head east until Convention Center Boulevard.

- The parade will end at the intersection of Julia Street and Convention Center Blvd.

Monday, March 3

Krewe of Proteus, 5:15 p.m., Uptown Route.

A 20-float parade that will carry out the theme, "Ancient Elements of Alchemy." Throws include doubloons, and plush tridents and seahorses.

- The Krewe of Proteus parade will start at the intersection of Napoleon Avenue and Magazine Street in New Orleans.

- The parade will head along Napoleon Avenue north until St. Charles Street, where the parade will turn east.

- The Krewe of Proteus will follow St. Charles all the way to Lee Circle, around the circle and back on St. Charles northward to Canal Street.

- At Canal, the parade turns left and travels to Burgundy St.

- At Burgundy St., the parade takes a u-turn and travels back down Canal St. until the intersection of Chartres Street, where the parade will end.

Krewe of Orpheus, 6:00 p.m., Uptown Route.

Quentin Tarantino will lead the 32-float parade that will depict the theme, "Orpheus: The Enchanted World." Signature floats include the Trojan Horse, the Dolly Trolley and the Leviathan. Throws include beads, cups and oversized doubloons.

- The Krewe of Orpheus parade will start at the intersection of Napoleon Avenue and Tchoupitoulas Street in New Orleans.

- The parade will proceed north until St. Charles Street, where the krewe will turn east.

- The Krewe of Tucks will follow St. Charles all the way to Lee Circle, around the circle and back on St. Charles northward to Canal Street.

- At Canal, the parade will turn northwest on Canal and follow the road to Burgundy Street, where the parade will turn around and proceed on the opposite side of Canal Street southeastward.

- The krewe will follow Canal to the intersection of Canal and Tchoupitoulas Street, where the parade will south.

- The Krewe of Orpheus will follow Tchoupitoulas to Julia Street, where it will turn east.

- The parade will end at the intersection of Convention Center Boulevard and Julia Street.

Tuesday March 4

Krewe of Zulu, 8:00 a.m., Uptown Route.

This popular parade will feature more than 50 floats set to the theme, "Zulu Salutes Nelson Mandela." Signature floats include the Big Shot and the Witch Doctor. Throws are the elaborately hand-decorated coconuts that are handed to parade-goers.

- The Krewe of Zulu begin at S. Claiborne and Jackson Avenue.

- They parade down Jackson to St. Charles Avenue where they take a left turn.

- They follow St. Charles Avenue around Lee Circle and then continue back down St. Charles to Canal Street.

- At Canal Street, the Krewe takes a left turn.

- They follow Canal until Basin Street where they take a right turn.

- The continue on Basin Street to where it becomes Orleans Avenue.

- The parade follows Orleans Avenue until it concludes at Broad Street.

Krewe of Rex, 10:00 a.m, Uptown Route.

An almost 30-float parade set to the theme, "Gods of All the Ages." Signature floats include the King's Float and the Boeuf Gras. Throws include doubloons and medallion necklaces.

- The Krewe of Rex parade will start at the intersection of Napoleon Avenue and S. Claiborne Ave. (Highway 90) in New Orleans.

- The parade will proceed south until St. Charles Avenue, where the krewe will turn east.

- The Krewe of Rex will follow St. Charles all the way to Lee Circle, around the circle and back on St. Charles northward to Canal Street.

- At Canal, the parade will turn southeast follow the road to the intersection of Canal and South Peters Street where the parade will end.