What to Wear to Mardi Gras New Orleans

The practical guide: weather, ground, footwear, bag rules and a full packing checklist for 12 days in New Orleans.

February, 12 daysWhen
19°C / 9°CDay / night
city streetsGround
1,000,000Crowd

What to wear to Mardi Gras New Orleans: New Orleans sits at 19°C (66°F) by day and 9°C (48°F) at night in February, on city streets, with a high chance of rain. That means a light base with one warm layer you can carry, cushioned trainers or a low boot, and a bag small enough for the gate rules. The crowd leans carnival, costume and parade, so a full costume is the norm rather than the exception.

Typical daytime high19°C (66°F)
Typical night low9°C (48°F)
Day–night swing10°C (18°F)
Rain riskHigh
GroundTarmac and pavement
Sun exposureHigh, little natural shade

Assume rain. A packable shell in your bag costs nothing to carry and saves the weekend; a "cute" jacket that soaks through ruins two days.

Everything below follows from those numbers.

What to wear, look by look

Look 01

Carnival Feathers Investment piece

Feathers, sequins, headpiece. The one weekend a year more is more.

It speaks the same language as the line-up (carnival, costume and parade), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor. Made for tarmac and long walks between stages. One catch: it does not like rain, so pack a shell you can throw over it. Nights drop to 9°C (48°F). Add the outer layer to your bag, not your tent.

  • Costumefeather headpiece and wings shop
  • Topssequin bodysuit shop
  • Glitterbody gems and glitter shop
  • Sandalscomfortable dance sandals shop
  • Jewellerystatement earrings shop
  • Makeuplong-wear waterproof makeup shop
Sequin bodysuit Premium
Shop now
Sequin bodysuit Premium
$178.19
sample
Tie-front bandeau Premium
Shop now
Tie-front bandeau Premium
$83.15
sample
Biodegradable glitter gel
Shop now
Biodegradable glitter gel
$88.55
sample
Flat leather sandals
Shop now
Flat leather sandals
$110.15
sample
Save this look
Look 02

Full Costume Investment piece

At these festivals the costume is the ticket. Going plain is the wrong call.

It speaks the same language as the line-up (costume, carnival and parade), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor. One catch: it does not like rain, so pack a shell you can throw over it. Nights drop to 9°C (48°F). Add the outer layer to your bag, not your tent.

  • Costumefull themed costume or wings shop
  • Glitterbody gems, glitter and paint shop
  • Bootsboots you can walk kilometres in shop
  • Hatsheadpiece or mask shop
  • Bagshidden belt bag for essentials shop
  • Makeupsweatproof face paint shop
Sequin bodysuit Premium
Shop now
Sequin bodysuit Premium
$178.19
sample
Biodegradable glitter gel
Shop now
Biodegradable glitter gel
$88.55
sample
Chunky combat boots Premium
Shop now
Chunky combat boots Premium
$70.19
sample
Ball cap
Shop now
Ball cap
$79.91
sample
Save this look
Look 03

Afro Print Statement Mid-range

Bold print, sharp silhouette, sunglasses doing the heavy lifting.

It speaks the same language as the line-up (carnival), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor. Made for tarmac and long walks between stages. At 19°C (66°F) this needs a real layer underneath. Thermal base, not just a jacket. One catch: it does not like rain, so pack a shell you can throw over it. Nights drop to 9°C (48°F). Add the outer layer to your bag, not your tent.

  • Co-ordsprinted co-ord set shop
  • Topsopen shirt or wrap top shop
  • Sandalsleather sandals or slides shop
  • Sunglassescoloured lens shades shop
  • Jewellerybeaded statement jewellery shop
  • Hatshead wrap or bucket hat shop
Cropped tracksuit set Premium
Shop now
Cropped tracksuit set Premium
$152.27
sample
Ribbed crop tank
Shop now
Ribbed crop tank
$62.63$86.18
sample
Water sandals Premium
Shop now
Water sandals Premium
$130.67
sample
Classic tortoiseshell frames Premium
Shop now
Classic tortoiseshell frames Premium
$191.15
sample
Save this look
Look 04

Cyberpunk Utility Investment piece

Technical black with straps and buckles. Berghain queue, but outdoors.

It is the outlier pick here, which is exactly why it photographs well against Mardi Gras New Orleans's usual crowd. Made for tarmac and long walks between stages. It also survives rain, which at this festival is a when, not an if. Nights drop to 9°C (48°F). Add the outer layer to your bag, not your tent.

  • Jacketstechnical vest or shell shop
  • Shortsstrap cargo trousers shop
  • Bootstactical boots shop
  • Sunglassesvisor shades shop
  • Bagschest rig bag shop
  • Earplugsfiltered earplugs shop
Packable windbreaker
Shop now
Packable windbreaker
$15.11
sample
High-waist rave shorts
Shop now
High-waist rave shorts
$123.11
sample
Chunky combat boots Premium
Shop now
Chunky combat boots Premium
$70.19
sample
Round tinted sunglasses
Shop now
Round tinted sunglasses
$19.43$25.70
sample
Save this look
Look 05

Metal Uniform Budget-friendly

Battle jacket, black tee, boots. There is no other correct answer.

It is the outlier pick here, which is exactly why it photographs well against Mardi Gras New Orleans's usual crowd. Made for tarmac and long walks between stages. It also survives rain, which at this festival is a when, not an if. Nights drop to 9°C (48°F). Add the outer layer to your bag, not your tent.

  • Topsblack band tee shop
  • Jacketsdenim battle jacket with patches shop
  • Shortsblack jeans or shorts shop
  • Bootssteel-toe or combat boots shop
  • Earplugsearplugs (front row is loud) shop
  • Bagssmall black backpack shop
Ribbed crop tank
Shop now
Ribbed crop tank
$62.63$86.18
sample
Packable windbreaker Premium
Shop now
Packable windbreaker Premium
$98.27
sample
High-waist rave shorts
Shop now
High-waist rave shorts
$123.11
sample
Chunky combat boots Premium
Shop now
Chunky combat boots Premium
$70.19
sample
Save this look
Look 06

Corset Drama Investment piece

Structured top, soft bottom. The silhouette that owns every front row.

It speaks the same language as the line-up (carnival), so you read as part of the crowd rather than a visitor. One catch: it does not like rain, so pack a shell you can throw over it. Nights drop to 9°C (48°F). Add the outer layer to your bag, not your tent.

  • Topscorset or bustier shop
  • Shortstulle skirt or wide cargos shop
  • Bootslace-up platform boots shop
  • Jewellerylayered chokers shop
  • Makeupgraphic liner shop
  • Bagsmini shoulder bag shop
Tie-front bandeau Premium
Shop now
Tie-front bandeau Premium
$83.15
sample
High-waist rave shorts
Shop now
High-waist rave shorts
$123.11
sample
Chunky combat boots Premium
Shop now
Chunky combat boots Premium
$70.19
sample
Chunky gold hoops Premium
Shop now
Chunky gold hoops Premium
$199.79
sample
Save this look

Festival Style Guide earns a commission on some links. It never changes the price you pay.

Footwear

Best option here: Cushioned trainers or a low boot. You are on concrete for ten hours.

Avoid: brand-new shoes, heels, and anything you have not walked 10 kilometres in.

You will walk between 15.000 and 30.000 steps a day at a festival of this size, repeated over 12 days. Footwear is the only part of a festival outfit that can genuinely end your weekend, so it is the one place to spend money and break things in beforehand.

Bag, glitter and gate rules

  • Bag size. Most festivals of this size cap bags at roughly A4 or require a clear bag at the main stages. A belt bag plus a small crossbody clears almost every policy. Check the official rules before you buy anything bigger.
  • Chains and studs. Long chains, spikes and metal-heavy accessories are refused at some gates. If a piece is central to the look, have a backup.
  • Glitter. Biodegradable only at a growing number of festivals; plastic glitter is banned outright at several. It is also, practically, the hardest thing to remove from a tent.
  • No camping. You are travelling in and out each day, so the outfit has to survive public transport at both ends, and a cloakroom is not guaranteed.
  • Cultural dress. Several festivals in this category explicitly ban headdresses and other appropriated cultural dress. Check the site's own policy. It is usually stated plainly.

The packing checklist

  • Two tops per day (one gets ruined)
  • One layer for the night
  • Earplugs
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Portable charger
  • Sun cream or SPF stick
  • Baby wipes
  • A bag with a zip
  • Packable rain poncho
  • Dry socks, more than you think
  • Costume repair kit: safety pins, glue, spare elastic

What not to wear

  • Anything suede or leather-soled. Wet suede is finished, and a leather sole on wet grass is an accident.
  • Heels of any kind. Grass, gravel and crowd crush. Platform boots give the height with a surface area that works.
  • Brand-new shoes. Ten hours on concrete in unbroken-in soles is the most reliable way to leave early.
  • Your good bag. Beer, mud, being sat on. Take the one you would not mind losing, with a zip.

FAQ

Start with the weather: 19°C (66°F) by day, 9°C (48°F) at night, high rain risk, on city streets. That points to a light base with one warm layer you can carry, plus broken-in trainers or boots. Style-wise the crowd leans carnival costume, full costume and parade.

Typical night lows are around 9°C (48°F), a drop of 10 degrees from the daytime high. That is cold enough to end your night early if you have nothing with sleeves.

Cushioned trainers or a low boot; the site is concrete and gravel. Expect 15.000–30.000 steps a day.

Purple, green and gold, and the more costume the better. Especially on Fat Tuesday itself.

Festivals this size usually limit bags to around A4 size, and some require clear bags at main stages. A belt bag plus a small zipped crossbody clears almost every policy. Always check the official rules for the current edition. They change year to year.

Rain risk is high in February at this location, and the site drains reasonably well. Regulars build the outfit around a packable shell rather than hoping for a dry weekend.

The reliable formula here is a tee, a light overshirt and broken-in trainers, with a beanie and a small crossbody bag. See the full list of men's outfits below.

Yes, but bring biodegradable glitter. Plastic glitter is banned at a growing number of festivals and is close to impossible to get out of a tent, a car or your hair. Face gems are the lower-effort alternative and survive sweat better.

Mardi Gras New Orleans normally takes place in February, running 12 days in New Orleans. Exact dates are announced by the organisers each year at www.mardigrasneworleans.com. Check there before booking anything.