Twenty-one parades will be rolling in Orleans Parish between now and Fat Tuesday and the hotel and restaurant business will be working overtime to accommodate guests who are in town for the weekend before Mardi Gras.
How busy will it be this weekend in New Orleans?
"We're going to be in the high 90s for occupancy through the weekend," said President and CEO of New Orleans Tourism and Marketing Corporation, Mark Romig. "There are still rooms available but for the most part hotels are going to be very busy."
Romig adds that restaurants and entertainment outlets should do very well, too.
"It should be a good weekend for restaurants as well as our many attractions, great retail, not only downtown but up Magazine, in the Bywater and Mid-City," Romig said.
And after the parades, many will be using Uber, Lyft and taxis to get back to their hotel or home in other parts of the area.