Excitement builds as New Orleans prepares for Mardi Gras

OF COURSE, WE CAN HAVE OUR KING CAKE AND EAT IT TOO AS MARDI GRAS IS PREPARING FOR ONE OF THE MOST EPIC PARADES IN DECADES. THIS MORNING NEW ORLEANS’ MESSAGE IS LOUD AND CLEAR. MARDI GRAS IS BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER. >> THERE IS NOTHING LIKE BEING IN NEW ORLEANS FOR MARDI GRAS. >> Reporter: A MONTH LONG OF CELEBRATIONS LEADING UP TO TODAY’S FAT TUESDAY CELEBRATIONS. A TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO POST-PANDEMIC CROWDS. >> IT DOES FEEL LIKE IT’S BACK. AND PEOPLE ARE HAVING SO MUCH FUN. >> Reporter: CELEBRATING TIME HONORED TRADITIONS. >> WE COOK. WE HAVE

GUMBO AND EVERYBODY SHARES AND EVERYBODY LOOKS OUT FOR EVERYBODY. >> Reporter: TOURISTS EXPERIENCING THEIR FIRST MARDI GRAS. >> I’M 84 YEARS OLD. IT IS MY FIRST EVER MARDI GRAS. I LIKE THAT MUSIC AND I LIKE THAT ENERGY. I’M EXCITED. >> Reporter: IT IS ALL EXPECTED TO BOOST THE NEW ORLEANS ECONOMY BY $900 MILLION, A STAGGERING 300% GROWTH FOR THE MARDI GRAS SEASON SINCE 2009. >> WE KNOW THE HOTELS WERE VIRTUALLY SOLD OUT THIS PAST WEEKEND. WE’RE HEARING FROM OUR RESTAURANTS THEY HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY PACKED. WE KNOW AT ONE POINT THE FRENCH QUARTER HAD TO CLOSE

TO VEHICLE TRAFFIC BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MANY PEOPLE. >> Reporter: ON MONDAY NIGHT, PARADES LIKE THE CREW KICKING PARADES LIKE THE CREW KICKING OFF WITH HARRY CONIC JR. NEAL

PATRICK HARRIS SERVING AS THIS YEAR’S CELEBRITY MONARCH. A ROLE ONCE HELD BY OUR OWN HODA KOTB. THE CITY IS GEARING UP FOR AN EVEN BUSIER 2025, WHEN IT IS SET TO HOST THE SUPER BOWL JUST WEEKING BEFORE MARDI GRAS. >> WE LIKE TO SAY THAT NEW ORLEANS IS BUILT TO HOST. WE KNOW HOW TO DO MARDI GRAS. IT ALSO WHAT WE BELIEVE MAKES US A GREAT CITY

FOR THE SUPER BOWL. >> Reporter: A CITY TRUMPETING ITS CULTURE AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY LIKE ONLY THE BIG EASY CAN. >> IT’S KIND OF LIKE THE ONE TIME OF THE YEAR WHERE EVERYBODY, NO MATTER WHERE THEY’RE FROM, WHAT PART OF NEW ORLEANS, THEY’RE ALL COMING TOGETHER HAVING A GREAT TIME. >> YOU KNOW WHAT’S SO COOL ABOUT MARDI GRAS. IT’S A FAMILY THING. IT IS ACTUALLY A REAL FAMILY AFFAIR, WHICH I LOVE SO MUCH. SO YOU ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PARADE. SO WHAT’S HAPPENING WHERE YOU ARE? >> Reporter: I’M SO HAPPY YOU USED THAT

WORD, HODA, BECAUSE YOU TALK TO ORGANIZERS HERE AND THEY SAY THIS IS ABOUT FAMILIES FIRST AND FOREMOST. WHEN THEY GO DOWN SAINT CHARLES STREET LATER TODAY, YOU WILL SEE ALL THESE FAMILIES LINED UP. IT IS ABOUT FOUR HOURS LONG. FIVE MILES RIGHT DOWN SAINT CHARLES WHICH HAS MAGISTIC OAK TREES AND MANSIONS. AND ALL THE FLOATS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT. WHAT’S SO INTERESTING ABOUT THIS, YOU HAVE SIX ICONIC FLOATS CHANGED EVERY YEAR TO REFLECT NARRATIVES AND MYTHOLOGIES THIS PARTS OF THE CITY. THIS IS MY FAVORITE, THE CUISINE CREOLE. THEY ARE MEANT TO BE ENLIGHTENING AND ENRICHING

AND TO REALLY MAKE PEOPLE FEEL GOOD ABOUT NEW ORLEANS HISTORY. THAT IS WHAT THIS ALL ABOUT, AND THE ACTION JUST STARTS IN A MATTER OF HOURS. >> EVERYONE HAS TO GO TO MARDI GRAS. I WILL INVITE YOU TO COME TO