On Tuesday, Feb. 27, it all starts again at 7 a.m. A number of hotels are still offering packages. The most accessible of the big shows is the one in the Big Easy where music and street carousing can be seen throughout the year on the streets of the Old Quarter. Music and masquerading are everywhere and there is action on the streets. This year's king of the carnival is CNN talk show host Larry King and highlights include the big parades of Bacchus on Feb. 25, Endymion on Feb. 26 and Zulu and Rex on Feb. 27.
Crowds get so large that many of the local residents take their vacations and get out of town.
Many jazz clubs and upscale restaurants shut down and even the store windows are boarded up to prevent breakage. Here, the costuming is couture rather than boudoir and an elegant mask is a requirement. Several festivities invite the public to join in but, like the ball in Romeo and Juiliet , many of them are society events that require either an invitation or a very pricey ticket. An example of the public events is a gala waltz party to Austrian orchestra music on San Maraco square. Dancers are required to be in costume and mask.