As the sun rose in New Orleans, rows of parade-goers already lined the street. People set up chairs, coolers, grills and ladders — offering a higher vantage point to catch the eye of float riders throwing glimmering plastic beads to revelers.

The Fat Tuesday parties kick off before the sun rises and continue throughout the day across the city, especially in the French Quarter.

'The Terminator' actress tells PEOPLE she would spend her perfect day off with family and member of her local coffee club

Krewe of Elks Orleans rolls past Gallier Hall, following Krewe of Zulu and Rex in the Mardi Gras lineup. Get caught up on this morning’s news: Three holidays may converge today, remembering Jesse Jackson and Robert Duvall and more in today’s edition of The Yodel

Moreno calls participating in Mardi Gras tradition “one of the greatest honors of my life”.

For the first time ever, I rode in New Orleans parade with a Mardi Gras krewe. About a year ago, I reached out to an officer with the Krewe of Iris to see if I could join more than 3,500 women on the route. It’s the oldest and largest all-female krewe in Carnival — and this year, I was lucky enough to ride as a guest.

Fat Tuesday is here, and one local distillery is putting its own spin on a sweet Mardi Gras tradition. Luminary Distilling in Erie celebrated by selling fresh pączki, bringing a taste of New Orleans,