New Orleans' Carnival season approaches its climax with Fat Tuesday, featuring parades led by celebrities and rooted in deeply held traditions.

New Orleans’ annual Mardi Gras celebration, highlighted by the Fat Tuesday festivities, is reaching its peak with celebrity participation including Harry Connick Jr. and Neil Patrick Harris. The celebrations feature parades like those of Rex, King of Carnival, and the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, alongside continuous street parties, underscore the city’s rich traditions and provide a significant boost to its tourism economy. Additionally, the meeting between the kings of Carnival and the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club symbolizes a step towards overcoming social and racial barriers, echoing the deep cultural significance of these events not only in New Orleans but across the Gulf Coast.