Carnival revelers streamed into New Orleans this weekend as Mardi Gras organizers hoped to throw such a fantastic party that visitors would vow to return to the tourist-dependent city again.<br />
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Tourism officials expect at least 700,000 visitors to come for the annual celebration. It is the second time the event has been held since Hurricane Katrina sucked the life out of Louisiana.<br />
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James Gandolfini was crowned Bacchus XXXIX, and will ride in Sunday night’s parade and rule at the Carnival Krewe’s ball.<br />
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Carnival officially begins in New Orleans on the Feast of Epiphany–Jan 6–and continues until the midnight of Fat Tuesday–Mardi Gras–the day before Ash Wednesday.<br />
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It’s a common misperception that Mardi Gras is the start of a heavy couple of weeks of parading and partying. That’s backward. Mardi Gras is the END of the partying, with Feb 16 thru the 20th being the peak this year.<br />
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Laissez les bons temps rouler!
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