10 Things to Do in New Orleans in February

When you're planning things to see and do in New Orleans you should also consider the time of year. If you like parades, parties, music, dancing and everything in between, you'll want to travel in February. The biggest celebration is Mardi Gras, a carnival full of traditions worth experiencing.

If you travel to New Orleans at this time of year, you won't be bored at all. In addition to the carnival, you can take advantage of other celebrations of the month such as the day of love and friendship. You can also go to places that are much more special at the beginning of the year. You will definitely have a great time when you visit this city in Louisiana, USA.

Mardi Gras is the name of the carnival celebrated in New Orleans and comes from the French meaning "Fat Tuesday" or "Fat Tuesday".

The date of this celebration varies from year to year, but it is not uncommon for many parades and parties to take place in February. This activity is definitely one of the best things to do at night in New Orleans.

During the main weeks of the celebration, parades such as the Krewe Zulu take place, starting in the city centre and beginning early in the morning. At that time the streets fill with people in ingenious costumes. This celebration is so important that some of its museums tell part of its history.

If you want to experience a real carnival atmosphere, I recommend you to go to the French Quarter where everyone shares the festive spirit.

Although you can go on your own, you can always book a guided tour of the French Quarter so you won't miss any details. This is the best neighbourhood to experience this party, as Mardi Gras is an offshoot of the city's French-speaking heritage.

During this festival, there are more parades than in many parts of the city. It's all organised by groups of people known as Krewes, who elect a king and queen year after year. Isn't it great?

New Orleans Carnival is one of the things you can do with your kids if you take them to the city. Family Gras is a totally free celebration held two weekends before Mardi Gras Day.

It's held in the suburb of Metairie, near downtown or across from Lakeside Mall on Veterans Memorial Boulevard.

Year after year around 80,000 people visit the city to watch this parade. The shows are performed by different groups, including Krewe of Excalibur, Krewe of Symphony, Magic Krewe of MadHatters, Krewe of Centurions and Krewe of Atlas.

As well as enjoying the colourful parades that these groups offer to the public, you can enjoy the local art. Visit the Art Market during the festival and head to the children's playground which offers a variety of paintings and interactive games.

As part of the celebration, you can also enjoy outdoor concerts featuring artists from Louisiana and around the country.

If you or the kids get hungry during the celebration, no problem. Head over to one of the yard vendors and enjoy carnival favourites. These include jambalaya, pizza, crawfish pasta and more.

If you're interested in local food, you should take a food tour of New Orleans for some of the best Cajun and Creole food.

King Cake is a traditional Mardi Gras dish in New Orleans. It is a baked cinnamon roll with a small plastic baby hidden inside, although years ago it used to be made of gold or porcelain. It was also customary to hide a pea or a nut, but the custom changed over time.

The tradition is that during the distribution of the cake one must be attentive to whoever gets a piece with the baby. The person who finds it will be in charge of bringing the cake at the next celebration. However, this activity is often done at family gatherings, office parties or at school.

Although the special time to eat this cake is in January, it is still very much present at festivals during February celebrations.

Its popularity is so great that many bakeries have adapted the original recipe to make other types of cakes. You can find them with fruit filling, cream cheese flavour and in many shapes.

You can visit a local bakery and have a King Cake with your family. A good tradition could be to bake one at home following the instructions. The ingredients are readily available and it is generally easy to prepare.

You're going to love this: Mardi Gras World is a tourist attraction located in New Orleans and consists of a warehouse of about 37 square kilometres.

You will surely love to visit this place on the eve of Mardi Gras or before going to the festival. This is where the floats for the Mardi Gras parades are made.

This warehouse has been in existence for over 70 years, making it a popular destination for tourists. Although you can visit in other months of the year, February is the ideal time as the celebration is in full swing. Here you can discover the history of the carnival and visit the studios where the magic is created.

This attraction's facilities are located near the Mississippi River. This makes it a good excuse to take a boat ride on one of New Orleans' rivers on your way out. Nearby is also the Morial Convention Center, should you wish to visit.

Practical information

• Location: 1380 Port of New Orleans Pl, 70130
• When to go: Any time of year, but in February the activities are in tune with the rest of the city.
• Price: less than €20 for general admission, but there are reduced options for over 65s and children aged 2-11.
• Opening hours: 9:00 h -17:30 h

The Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes and Culture is open to the public most of the year, but February is a special time.

In the spirit of carnival, everything you see here will come alive. Get ready to learn about the history behind this popular holiday.

Inside the museum you'll see a private collection of costumes designed by Carl Mack, a famous artist and designer known as the Xylophone Man. Each costume helps you understand how the Carnival season is celebrated in New Orleans. The costumes also provide a tour of the activities and other forms of celebration.

Among the costumes you'll find are those of the Carnival King and Queen, as well as beaded and feathered Indians and the Social Aid and Pleasure Club attire. Other eye-catching costumes include those worn by the Krewe Tableau during their dances, among others.

During your time at the museum you can take photos of yourself wearing the cost umes in the interactive costume wardrobe. The kids will love this part of the tour as much as you will.

Practical information

• Location: 1010 Conti St 70112
• When to go: Any time of year, but February is Mardi Gras and the museum has new activities.
• Price: less than €15 general admission, children under 3 years free
• Hours: Thursday to Monday, between 11am and 3pm.

The Backstreet Cultural Museum is located in the Treme district of New Orleans and focuses on exhibiting details related to the city's African-American culture.

It's ideal to visit in February during the Mardi Gras celebration as they have a section dedicated to the Mardi Gras Indians. Don't hesitate to book your ticket and stop by before you go.

Mardi Gras Indians, also known as Black Masked Indians, are people belonging to around 38 tribes.

Many of them eventually mixed with African-Americans in the context of racial segregation and since the 20th century, parades have been organised and held during various times of the year. During these events they dress in Native American ceremonial clothing, especially during Carnival.

Originally the tribes only paraded during St. Joseph's Day and Super Sunday. However, they began making more appearances when the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival hired them to appear at other festivals. This is a strong expression of their culture, so it's worth learning more about them by visiting the museum.

Practical information

• Location: 1116 Henriette Delille St 70116
• When to go: Any time of the year
• Price: less than 20 € general admission, children under 3 years free, about 15 € for seniors, locals and veterans and about 10 € for children under 12 years.
• Opening hours: 10:00 h - 16:00 h

Carnival is not the only celebration that takes place in New Orleans. This city is also known as the city of love and during February 14th they show it to everyone who visits. One of the main plans is a romantic cruise on the Mississippi River.

Cruises usually depart from the French Quarter, a place with a very romantic atmosphere. You can choose from different cruise themes as some cruises are midday and evening cruises. The latter include dinner and sometimes an open bar.

You can also choose the romantic cruise you want depending on the music. The most popular are those featuring live jazz. This is definitely one of the best cruises you can take in New Orleans.
If you are interested in learning more about New Orleans, you can always take different tours.

Some consist of walking tours, others provide a bus and others allow you to take a helicopter tour. It's definitely a different way to get to know a city.

New Orleans is an ideal city to celebrate love. Although for many the main attraction is the cruises due to its romantic atmosphere, this place is full of other options and tours that will surely make you fall in love. Don't hesitate any longer and travel with your partner to this city.

City Park is one of the favourite destinations if you love open spaces and nature. It is even bigger than New York's Central Park and has oak trees, bridges, large and beautiful gardens and many canal areas.

The whole place looks like something out of a fairy tale, so it's sure to be a great plan for Valentine's Day.

Strolling through the French Quarter is perhaps one of the most romantic activities. France is known to be a special country for romance and in New Orleans you will find a little bit of that country.

There you can enjoy restaurants, art galleries, museums, nightclubs and bars with a Valentine's Day theme. New Orleans is full of interesting places to see.

Remember that all businesses have some kind of promotion during this day. I recommend that you look for a place to stay for a romantic night out. You might be able to get a good deal and take a tour bus, which can also give you a romantic tour.

You may wonder why celebrate Vietnamese New Year in New Orleans. The city is home to the Mary Queen of Vietnam Church, where the large population of Vietnamese residents of New Orleans celebrate their traditions.

Their year follows the lunar calendar, so New Year's Day usually falls between late January and early February.

This celebration is also known as Têt, Têt Nguyên and Spring Festival and is the most important in Vietnamese culture. Although it includes family traditions, the Vietnamese open their doors to locals and tourists. Don't hesitate to enjoy the events held by the community in the city, because they are beautiful.

Usually the festival they hold offers free admission. You can participate and watch traditional dances, listen to live music and taste authentic Vietnamese food. During the night you can see the night dragon dance and watch the fireworks.

Practical information

• Location: the church is located on Dwyer Boulevard.
• When to go: late January/early February
• Price: Free.

Black History Month is celebrated year after year during February across the country. This month celebrates the legacy of African American activists, leaders and individuals who played an important role in history. If you are in New Orleans, you will see that many streets and tourist sites are related to African American culture and history.

One of the places you should visit is Congo Square. In the late 17th century this square used to be a wasteland where slaves were allowed to dance and make music.

Over the years it became an iconic site for African Americans. It's a good historical site to add to your list of things to see if you visit the city for at least four days.

During this month there are film screenings, art exhibits and more. You can head to universities such as Dillard and Xavier University to take part in their community activities. You can also visit the Backstreet Cultural Museum to learn more about the culture and history of Backstreet.

Check out the official Black History Month website to see what's happening nationwide.

February in New Orleans tends to be cool, although it only gets really cold on some days. Temperatures tend to range from 11°C to 21°C (52°F to 70°F). The coldest day can be as low as 3°C and the hottest day can reach 26°C. In this climate, you can comfortably walk anywhere.

On the other hand, the sky remains cloudy for most of the month. This means you won't get as much direct sunlight when you're out and about in the streets of New Orleans. It doesn't rain often during this month, although you may see light drizzle on some days.

Another interesting fact is that the days during February are a little longer compared to winter. Sunrise is at 7am and sunset is around 6pm. This gives you the opportunity to explore the sites in the sunlight and not miss any details.

Traveller Tip
Remember to bring your sunscreen. Even if the skies are cloudy, your skin is still very sensitive to the sun's ultraviolet rays. Also stay hydrated, especially when walking around town.

When you travel to New Orleans in February, you should pack comfortable clothing that provides some protection from the cold. As I mentioned earlier, it's not the coldest month, but temperatures can drop to as low as 3°C (36°F). I recommend taking long trousers and long-sleeved shirts or jumpers to wear when you get a little chilly.

Most of the activities you can do in this month require you to walk long distances or stand for long periods of time. This is why it is necessary to wear a pair of ergonomic shoes that will allow you to explore as much as you want without any problems. I advise you to bring an extra pair in case of an emergency.

On the other hand, at these festivals you will also taste a different type of food than you are used to. That's why I recommend that you take stomach ache pills, just in case you don't react well to new foods.

As you may have noticed, the most important celebration this month is Carnival. This is your chance to wear a simple costume that you can pack in your suitcase. If it makes you uncomfortable, no problem: you will still feel the festive spirit as you watch the colourful parades.