NEW ORLEANS (CNN) -- The streets of New Orleans were full of revelers over the weekend as the parades and parties leading up to Tuesday's climactic Mardi Gras got into full swing. Costumed paraders tossed miles of plastic beads and coins to outstretched hands in the boisterous crowds. Comedian Drew Carey made an appearance Sunday evening as Bacchus in the King of Bacchus parade, while the krewes of Bards, Orpheus and Zeus were set to go later Monday.

The festivities officially began January 6 with the first of the traditional masked balls, but it all comes to an end Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of the austere Lenten season. New Orleans has celebrated Mardi Gras since 1837.

MARDI MOVIES

Take a ride through the Big Easy: 42 sec./1.6Mb QuickTime Movie 42 sec./4.2Mb larger QuickTime Movie

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Related stories:

• Mardi Gras lives up to its billing...again - February 12, 1997
• Chilly Mardi Gras paraders (and watchers) whoop it up - February 11, 1997
• Date with Dionysus: Fat Tuesday a wild time - February 21, 1996

Related sites:

• The Official New Orleans Mardi Gras Web Site
• FatTuesday.com
• BourboCAM -- live picture of Bourbon Street
• The Mardi Gras Web Ring list of links

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