Mardi Gras Unmasked's mission is to showcase the true spirit of Mardi Gras as expressed through a remarkable spectrum of homegrown customs and traditions. We strive to stimulate and deepen the public's appreciation of New Orleans Mardi Gras as a multifaceted cultural attraction, in an online environment that not only is fun, engaging and free of commercial clutter, but also compatible with tablet computers and mobile devices.
Mardi Gras Calendar
Carnival 101
Colorful Characters
Eye Candy
Local Color and Customs
Mardi Gras Music
The real Mardi Gras is about creative costuming and krewes staging processions that are a feast for the senses — with floats that bemuse and entertain; rollicking bands full of joyful noise; inspired dance troupes and showers of baubles that stoke an exhilarating feeding frenzy. Can't you almost feel the boom of dat big bass drum? 
Seasoned advice on parade etiquette, reaping throw booty, balcony and grandstand access, how to catch a ride in a parade and much more, including answers to the most-asked Mardi Gras questions of all time — where to find a place to pee. 
Mardi Gras Tips and Tricks
Finding Toilets During Mardi Gras
Taking care of important business
Mardi Gras porta potty
Access to facilities is no trivial matter at The Greatest Free Show on Earth.
As memorialized in the Benny Grunch song “Ain’t No Place to Pee on Mardi Gras Day,” lavatory logistics can be a definite challenge during the festivities. For imbeciles and drunks, the wall, alleyway, parking lot or space between parked cars are obvious solutions.
But consider this statistic: As reported by the New Orleans Times-Picayune in 2002, more than 90 percent of arrests along the parade routes and throughout the French Quarter were for public urination.
Most businesses close their facilities to everyone but paying customers, although some will allow non-patrons to purchase access. A single visit might cost $1 or $2, whereas an all-day pass can set you back $10. For churches and schools in the vicinity of parade routes, selling “potty passes” is a popular fund-raiser.
Don’t count on hotel bathrooms; during Mardi Gras, most hotels only allow in guests with room keys. But if you’re in the French Quarter and you buy a drink from a to-go window or stand, you’re entitled by law to use that establishment’s restroom.
If you’re going to be drinking, always factor restrooms into your Carnival game plan. It’s a good idea to scope out accessible facilities before deciding where to watch a parade; you don’t want to be scrambling around at the last minute. And be sure to get in line for the potty before you really have to go. Hopefully by the time you’re crossing your legs, you’ll be at the front! When you’re patronizing a restaurant or bar, use the facilities before leaving.
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