New Orleans Mardi Gras

New Orleans turns the last revel before Lent into a city festival that lasts an entire season. Enormous floats glide beneath the oaks of St. Charles Avenue, masked riders fling beads, doubloons and hand-painted coconuts into the crowd, and brass bands blare on every corner. There are no tickets and no fences: raise your hands and shout "Throw me something, mister!" and you are part of the party.