News On the Positive Side- by Cora Berke

“An American has not seen the United States until he has seen Mardi Gras in New Orleans.” – Mark Twain.

When we think of New Orleans, one of the first things that come to mind is Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday. The first recorded Mardi Gras celebration in the US was in 1699 in Louisiana, celebrated by French explorers, who named their settlement Point du Mardi Gras. Centuries later, Mardi Gras grew in New Orleans, attracting about a million tourists a year today!

With all its famous floats, glitter and beads, Mardi Gras is not the only celebration in New Orleans. Celebrated on Easter Sunday in New Orleans is The Gay Easter Parade. This year on April 5^th., 2026 the Gay Easter Parade celebrated its 25^th. anniversary.