Ten Things Not To Miss At Mardi Gras

It would be hard to miss Mardi Gras. But there is more to Mardi Gras than meets the eye. Some of the traditions go back to the early 1800s. Others are recent additions to carnival. But many customs may go unnoticed or unexplained as some of the grander spectacles soak up visitors' attentions.

Here are some of the facets of Mardi Gras that you don't want to miss:

Masking. Costuming is a big part of Mardi Gras day in the French Quarter. It's something everyone can do to add to the party. Some people hide only their faces behind simple feather masks while others show everything off. There is no end to the variations in-between, from lavish period costumes to drag queen extravaganzas. There are a couple of costume contests as well. Be sure to check out the costumes in the heart of the French Quarter on Fat Tuesday.

King Connection. Traditionally, the king of Rex arrived by boat on Lundi Gras, or Fat Monday, to meet revelers. The tradition has been revived and the king lands at the Riverfront near the French Quarter at 6pm. The Riverwalk Marketplace hosts the landing at Spanish Plaza where the mayor symbolically turns the city over to the king of Rex for the duration of Mardi Gras.

When Zulu was founded early in the 20th century, its king lampooned the king of Rex by carrying a banana stalk scepter, a crown made from a lard can and arrived by barge along a canal. As time passed, that has changed. Zulu's king also arrives at the Riverfront on Lundi Gras and the Zulus celebrate publicly in Woldenberg Park on the afternoon before Fat Tuesday. The meeting of the two kings is now customary and widely celebrated.

Mardi Gras Indians. Completely unique to New Orleans, the Mardi Gras Indians debut their new feathers on Fat Tuesday. Each tribe is grounded in a particular neighborhood. It's an African-American tradition that recalls a kinship between escaped slaves who sought refuge with Louisiana's native Americans. How exactly the tradition developed and who deserves credit are matters of great debate. But you don't need a final answer to appreciate the feathers.

Big chiefs of the most active tribes spend an entire year sewing new beaded and feathered costumes for each coming Mardi Gras. Where each chief comes out is a secret but they congregate by the end of the afternoon on Fat Tuesday to compare feathers and strut their stuff. Many of the downtown Indians go to Hunter's Field near Claiborne Avenue and Elysian Fields. Many of the uptown Indians go to Shakespeare Park at Washington Avenue and Freret Street.

King Cake. The Mardi Gras season begins in January as soon as Christmas ends. In the months leading up to Fat Tuesday, New Orleanians get ready for carnival by sharing "king cakes." The cakes are typically large rings sugar-coated in purple, green and gold. They may be plain or filled with cream cheese or fruit or but they always have a tiny plastic baby inside. Whoever draws the piece with the baby provides the king cake for the next party. The babies used to be made of porcelain but are now made of plastic. The local tradition goes back to 1870 when the Twelfth Night Revelers offered cake to young, unmarried women at...