Photo essay special: Despite pre-Carnival anxiety, Mardi Gras 2025 was a joyous release for New Orleans
- Text by Isaac Muk
- Photography by Tom “TBow” Bowden
A city celebrates — Following a horrific New Year’s Day terror attack and forecasts for extreme weather, the Louisiana city’s marquee celebration was pre-marked with doubt. But the festival found a city in a jubilant mood, with TBow Bowden there to capture it.
This year, 2025, has jumped between extremes in New Orleans, Louisiana. It began with horror, when on New Year’s Day, a terror attack saw a man drive a pickup truck into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street, killing 15 people and injuring a further 57. February flipped the script, with the city’s Caesars Superdome hosting Super Bowl LIX – and a Halftime Show performance for the ages by Kendrick Lamar.
It set the stage for an edition of Mardi Gras pre-tinged with an underlying hum of anxiety, which was compounded by early forecasts of extreme winds and weather, which led to the rescheduling and early kick off for the parades.
Dating right back to the birth of New Orleans’ establishment at the turn of the 18th century, Mardi Gras (which translates to Fat Tuesday, traditionally kicking off the retrenchment of Lent) is commonly understood to be the world’s largest free party, as well as the crowning jewel of the city’s calendar. Over one million people attend each year, taking part in oddball traditions, such as the throws – where trinket gifts ranging from beads to shoes to children’s toys, and even toilet plungers, are chucked at parades – while dressing up in outfits that range from the sublime to the bonkers.
The January 1 terror attack saw a hugely increased, and far more visible, security presence at this year’s Carnival. The New York Times reported that round 600 police officers, or two-thirds of the city’s force were assigned to the parades, along with an additional 100 plain clothes officers. In addition, a strong army presence was brought in.
Yet despite the pre-Carnival question marks, the day turned out to be a joyous celebration – floats moved without a hitch, attendees partied with jubilance, while a Tesla Cybertruck was forced to leave the parade early after receiving boos, while being bombarded with beads and trash.
Huck photographer Tom “TBow” Bowden was there to capture the Carnival carnage, and its colourful cast of attendees, in all of its vivid, joyous glory. Scroll through to hear what they had to say about the day, and click through the slider at the bottom of the page to the see full sized, uncropped images.
Soldiers
“We are all Citizen Soldiers on a special mission for Mardi Gras.”
Everyone I interviewed during Mardi Gras was relieved and felt more relaxed with the Soldiers offering protection.
One Hotel Security Guard told me: “We should have had these Soldiers here 10 fucking years ago.”
Kim
“We are all human and we all live here at the same time – we should do it without killing each other.”
Jessica
“I’m a seafood platter.”
“I put a lot of love into this costume.”
Tracks and Jade
“It’s Jade’s first Mardi Gras.”
“Jade saved my life and she’s the most beautiful person in the world.”
Hell Fire
The religious right protesters make their annual appearance at Mardi Gras with signs and bullhorns.
Their “hate” and anger is met with more anger from most Mardi Gras participants.
Christians protesting in front of Pat O’Brien’s, one of the most famous bars in New Orleans.
“The reason we come here is the fact that most of these people who are celebrating are going to Hell and it’s our duty to warn them.”
Leo
He lives in a small town in Kentucky
“I came to Mardi Gras because it’s a colorful event and I’m colorful.”
BUDs
“We belong to the Blow Up Dolls Krewe. As BUDs we believe that any hole will do.”
Ruby Bell, poet
Ruby wrote a poem for me.
“Mardi Gras is the year round embroidering of community.”
“An underground of resistance to the monetary monarchs, because we are artists dreaming into reality everything that money can’t buy.”
“With unified intention: Love wins.”
Star
Star is experiencing homelessness, living on the streets of the French Quarter.
I asked him what advice he had for all the people celebrating Mardi Gras.
“I want to tell people to just behave! Many people come here on vacation and leave on probation.”
January 1st Victims’ Memorial Wall, Bourbon Street
I met a man in front of the memorial, who said his name was MIW.
He told me: “The whole terror event was a conspiracy. The Military captured the driver of that truck and gave him so much fentanyl. Then they told him to drive down Bourbon Street.”
Hulk on Bourbon Street
Cathy and friends
“I love my breasts and I feel so free at Mardi Gras when I can show them.”
Professor Nicholas and Jasmine Nervoza
“Introducing the love of my life to this eclectic and unusual city during Mardi Gras is a honour and a experience I will never forget.”
Dr Frank and his creature
“I create my creatures and I love everyone of them.”
TBow
I always do a camera check in the hotel bathroom mirror.
This was taken on my birthday. When it’s your birthday in New Orleans, everyone, especially strangers, pin money on you.
This is just one of my favorite traditions in this incredible city.
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