New Orleans Revels on fat tuesday as Parades, Costumes and a Celebrity Arrest Make Headlines
On Fat Tuesday, Feb. 17 (ET), crowds stretched along St. Charles Avenue and the French Quarter for a long-running Carnival climax that mixed pageantry, music and a viral arrest video. Revelers in green, gold and purple traded beads, doubloons and elaborate throws as marching bands and massive floats rolled through the city in a daylong celebration before Ash Wednesday.
Float throws, feathered headdresses and a prized coconut
People began staking out spots as the sun rose, hauling chairs, coolers, grills and ladders to gain the best vantage points. Balconies dripped with onlookers leaning over wrought iron railings, shouting the familiar call, “Throw me something, Mister, ” as krewe floats passed. Each parade delivered its signature throws: plastic beads, candy, stuffed animals, cups, toys and metal doubloons. One of the most coveted items remained the hand-decorated coconut tossed by the Zulu krewe — a glittering prize that drew frantic and jubilant grabs from costumed fans.
Costumes ran the gamut from sequined extravagance to intricate homemade creations. Black masking Indian regalia — beaded and bejeweled outfits topped with towering feather headdresses — mingled with Egyptian-inspired ensembles and whimsical crawfish suits. The music of brass bands and the stomp of feet filled streets and squares, prompting spontaneous dancing and an anything-goes atmosphere that epitomizes Carnival’s final burst of revelry.
Tradition, local flavor and statewide celebrations
For many residents, Fat Tuesday is a ritual as much as a party. Long-time celebrants said the day offers a release before the Lenten season that begins the next morning. One participant, Sue Mennino, described the day as a break from the usual routine: “The world will be here tomorrow, but today is a day off and a time to party. ” She and her husband, both in floor-length costumes, made the rounds through the French Quarter, soaking in the creativity and community spirit that draw people back year after year.
The party extends beyond New Orleans. Across Louisiana, events range from ornate private balls to rural traditions like the Courir de Mardi Gras — a boisterous Fat Tuesday run where costumed participants beg for ingredients and chase live chickens for a communal gumbo. Parades and celebrations also take place in other Gulf Coast cities and abroad, reflecting Carnival’s global reach. Some of the season’s lighter contests survive far from the bayou, including an eccentric international pancake-throwing rivalry between towns in the United States and England that ties back to pre-Lenten food customs.
Viral moments and law enforcement interruptions
Alongside the revelry, Fat Tuesday produced a video circulated widely that showed actor Shia LaBeouf being arrested during the festivities in New Orleans. The clip drew attention amid the usual swirl of arrests, medical calls and crowd-control actions that accompany any major street festival. Officials worked to balance celebration with public safety as thousands packed narrow streets and historic neighborhoods.
Even as authorities handled incidents, the overwhelming image of the day remained one of joy and indulgence. Thousands of people — residents and visitors alike — embraced the last chance to feast, dance and celebrate before Lent’s season of reflection begins.
Fat Tuesday continues to serve as both a cultural touchstone and a communal release: a day when tradition, performance and spontaneity collide, leaving the streets littered with beads and the air echoing with brass for the foreseeable future.
