The Mardi Gras festival features colorful floats and dancers in the streets of New Orleans, showcasing the city’s rich cultural heritage. This vibrant celebration, leading up to Lent, includes elaborate parades where float riders toss beads and trinkets to spectators. The festival highlights local music styles, especially jazz and brass band performances, as well as traditional cuisines like gumbo and king cake. Participants dress in bright costumes, embodying themes of revelry and indulgence, and the atmosphere is filled with music, laughter, and a sense of community, making Mardi Gras a unique cultural event.