The Mardi Gras Carnival in New Orleans is the highlight of the year, and rivals the Rio Carnival for the title of world's biggest street party. Parades fill the streets, and the whole population gets down and dances in the streets. For two weeks leading up the main Mardi Gras carnival in New Orleans, there are a huge number of parties and balls that go on, and the weekend from Thursday through until the big day itself are a period filled with excitement and fun. Although many of the balls are private affairs, there are also public balls that you can pay a fee to join in, and combining the glamour and mystique of a bygone era, they are a real highlight of a trip to New Orleans that should not be missed out on.
