AP News, February 17th, 2007
From costumed men on horseback riding rural roads to an "American Idol" and bead-throwing marchers, there are events in the weekend leading up to Mardi Gras to please almost anyone.
Cars began streaming into the city Friday, choking highway traffic, as grocery stores filled with people stocking up for weekend parties.
In the New Orleans area, no fewer than three parades a day will be held in the lead-up to Fat Tuesday.
The Krewe of Endymion, one of Carnival's best known groups, was set to make its annual march through the city streets on Saturday, with "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks leading it.
Hicks was given a standing ovation when he appeared at a Bourbon Street restaurant Friday, as elated diners waved their napkins to a brass band's beat.
"It's amazing to me what a difference a year makes," said the 30-year-old singer, who was expected to perform with Al Green and Journey at Endymion's ball Saturday evening.
Celebrities like actor James Gandolfini and members of the New Orleans Saints football team were linked to other parades.
Some revelers were already jockeying for viewing spots along the parade route on Friday.
"We are here to stay," said John Hayes, 28, of Houston. "We won't miss anything this way."
But Carnival isn't limited to Bourbon Street, and it's not just about boozing. It's also a family affair celebrated throughout the state and an important part of Louisiana's cultural fabric.
In rural Elton, in the southwest of the state, men and boys were to ride horses or wagons along rural roads on Saturday, stopping at houses to dance and gather ingredients for gumbo as part of the Courir de Mardi Gras, or Running of Mardi Gras. Some riders don satirical attire or pajama-like getups with hats or masks. The ride traditionally begins with a prayer, and, for the older riders, a swig of whiskey, organizer David Bertrand said.
New Orleans is slowly recovering from Katrina, the signs of which are still obvious in swaths of the city but largely unnoticeable to those who stay in the touristy French Quarter and central business district.
Tourism and city officials are hopeful Mardi Gras provides an economic boost and sends a message that the tourist-dependent city is open for business.
Before the storm, about a million people visited New Orleans over the four days culminating on Fat Tuesday, bringing about $250 million to the city, said Kelly Schulz, a spokeswoman for the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Last year, the first Carnival since Katrina, about 700,000 people visited, she said. Organizers are hoping for a big boost this year.
Schulz said some hotels in and near the French Quarter were booked through Tuesday but that rooms elsewhere in the city were available.
"We still get questions about whether New Orleans is ready for visitors," Schulz said. "This shows we are capable of hosting very large crowds of people here to participate in this great cultural event."
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Associated Press writers Janet McConnaughey and Mary Foster contributed to this report.
