A celebration made by its people
In Louisiana, Mardi Gras is far more than a single parade or a set of colors. Communities create their own ways to gather, costume, perform, and make room for one another. The artistry can be exuberant, but it also carries memory and meaning.
New Orleans' Black masking traditions show how celebration can honor ancestors and express joy, strength, and identity. The National Park Service describes traditions that have lived in neighborhoods for generations, including the Northside Skull and Bone Gang's Mardi Gras morning rounds.
Parti Gras in Paris takes inspiration from that spirit of welcome and expression. It offers a Louisiana-flavored beginning to a weekend of new conversations, while the traditions themselves remain rooted in the communities that carry them.
This cultural story offers context for the celebration; it is not a schedule of performances.