What's Mardi Gras like?

[stlrod]

We had a great time New Year's weekend and manged to take bumps on the way home so we have free airline tickets. We are thinking about returning for Mardi Gras the weekend of 2/8. What's the Mardi Gras celebration like? Is there are anything special at IOA?

[rocketman23]

Nothing special at IOA.

Mardi Gras is included at admission and is a good extra, but nothing spectacular. It begans around sundown with cajun food for dinner. Asides from the food nothing really occurs until the parade, there are stage acts before the parade, but nothing fancy. There's about 15 floats and lots of beads. Street performers of various types also take part in the parade. Afterward the concert takes place which can sometimes be fun depending on who is there.