Mardi Gras made a full return to New Orleans for the first time since 2020 due to Covid-19.

The celebrations and parades that attract people wearing purple, gold and green along with the tradition of throwing beads, started taking over the streets a week and a half ago, continuing through March 1, which is Fat Tuesday. Celebrations officially began however on January 6.

“It's Mardi Gras Day in New Orleans. Parades are rolling, costumes are on display in the French Quarter and drinks are flowing for the Carnival season's finale” Nola.com reported on Tuesday.

The French Quarter is used to being taken over by this holiday, but the parties were put on hold for the past two years, as New Orleans has taken Covid-19 protocols very seriously during the pandemic. It continues to be one of the major big cities to enforce a vaccine card or a negative Covid-19 PCR test to enter public spaces.

In 2020, Mardi Gras was restricted due to two people that were killed by getting hit by floats a week before actual Mardi Gras, which led to the mayor suspending the use of floats hitched behind one trailer. In 2021, it was canceled due to the fear of it becoming a “super spreader” event.

But the wait was worth it for many, as Bourbon street has been flowing with people excited to celebrate “the biggest party in the world” this year.

Thomas Houston, bar manager at Superior Seafood and Oyster Bar located in Uptown New Orleans told the Associated Press that the crowd on Sunday, “was a record for us in the 10 years we’ve been open.”