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 anything else like it, you should travel in February. The biggest celebration is Mardi Gras, a carnival full of traditions worth experiencing.

If you travel to New Orleans during these dates, you won't be bored at any time. In addition to the carnival, you can take advantage to participate in 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. No doubt you will have a great time when you visit this city in Louisiana, United States.

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 usually varies from year to year, but it is not unusual for many parades and parties to take place in February. This activity is undoubtedly one of the best things to do at night in New Orleans.

During the main weeks of this celebration there are parades such as the Krewe Zulu, which begins in the center of the city and starts early in the morning. At that time the streets are filled 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 going 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 don't miss any detail. This is the best neighborhood to experience this party, as Mardi Gras is a derivation of the city's French-speaking heritage.

During this festivity there are more parades than in many parts of the city. Everything is organized 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 is held in the suburb of Metairie, near downtown or across from Lakeside Mall on Veterans Memorial Boulevard.

Year after year about 80 thousand people visit the city to see 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.

In addition to enjoying the colorful 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 that 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 favorites. These include jambalaya, pizza, crawfish pasta, among others.

If you are interested in local food, you should take a gastronomic tour of New Orleans to enjoy the best Cajun and Creole food.

King Cake is a traditional Mardi Gras dish in New Orleans. It is a baked cinnamon roll in which a small plastic baby is hidden inside, although years ago it used to be made of gold or porcelain. It was also used 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 usually done at family reunions, office parties or at school.

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

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 flavor and in many forms.

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 is made up of a warehouse of about 37 square kilometers.

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 carnival parades are made.

This warehouse has existed for more than 70 years, making it a popular destination for tourists. Although you can visit it 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.

The facilities of this attraction 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 it.

Practical information

• Location: 1380 Port of New Orleans Pl, 70130
• When to go: any time of the 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 seniors over 65 and children between 2 and 11 years old.
• 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 Mardi Gras, everything you see here will come alive. Get ready to learn about the history behind this popular holiday.

Inside the museum you will appreciate the 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 the Indians made with beads and feathers, plus the Social Aid and Pleasure Club attire. Other eye-catching costumes include those worn by the Krewe Tableau during their dances, among others.

While at the museum, you can take pictures of yourself wearing the cost umes in the interactive costume closet. The kids will love this part of the tour as much as you will.

Practical Info

• Location: 1010 Conti St 70112
• When to go: any time of the year, but in February Mardi Gras is celebrated and the museum develops new activities
• Price: less than 15 euros for general admission, children under 3 years free
• Hours: Thursday to Monday, between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.

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

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

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

Many of them ended up mixing with African Americans in the context of racial segregation and since the 20th century, parades have been organized 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 is worth learning more about them by visiting the museum.

Practical Info

• Location: 1116 Henriette Delille St 70116
• When to go: any time of the year
• Price: less than 20 ¤ for general admission, children under 3 years get in for free, about 15 ¤ for seniors, locals and veterans and about 10 ¤ for children under 12 years old
• Schedule: 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 14 they show it to everyone who visits. One of the main plans is a romantic cruise on the Mississippi River.

Generally the cruises depart from the French Quarter, a place with a very romantic atmosphere. You can choose different themes of cruises as some are during 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 that offer live jazz. Without a doubt this plan is 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 is certainly 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. Do not hesitate and travel with your partner to this city.

City Park is one of the favorite 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, as well as 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 for being 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 some lodging where you can spend a romantic night. Maybe you can get a good deal and take a tour bus, which can also give you a romantic tour.

You are probably wondering why celebrate the Vietnamese New Year in New Orleans. This 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 is governed by the lunar calendar, so the New Year usually varies between the end of January and the beginning of 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 the city's inhabitants and its tourists. Do not 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 appreciate the night dragon dance and watch the fireworks.

Practical Information

• Location: the church is located on Dwyer Boulevard.
• When to go: late January or 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 sites you should visit is Congo Square. At the end of the 17th century this square used to be a wasteland where slaves were allowed to dance and make music.

Over the years it became an emblematic site for African Americans. It is 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 much more. You can go to universities like Dillard and Xavier University to participate in the activities they celebrate in the community. You can also visit the Backstreet Cultural Museum to learn more about the culture and history of this celebration.

On the official website of Black History Month you can check out the activities that are being held nationwide.

February in New Orleans is usually cool, although it only gets really cold on some days. Temperatures usually range from 11°C to 21°C. The coldest day can reach 3°C and the hottest day can reach 26°C. In this climate you can comfortably go for a walk anywhere.

On the other hand, the sky remains cloudy most of the month. Thanks to this, you will not be hit by the sun as directly when you go for a walk 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 bit longer compared to winter. Sunrise is at 7 am and sunset is around 6 pm. This gives you the opportunity to explore the sites under the sun light and not miss any detail.

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

When you travel to New Orleans in February you should pack comfortable clothes that protect you from the cold. As I mentioned before, it is not the coldest month, but temperatures can drop as low as 3°C (14°F). I recommend taking long pants and long sleeve flannels or sweaters 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. That is why it is necessary that you wear a pair of ergonomic shoes that allow you to explore as much as you want without any problem. I advise you to bring another pair in case of an emergency.

On the other hand, in these festivals you will also try a different type of food than you are used to. That's why I recommend you to take pills for stomach pain, 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 some simple costume that you can carry in your suitcase. If it makes you uncomfortable, no problem: you will still feel the festive spirit as you watch the colorful parades.