officially begins on the Saturday before Fat Tuesday, and basically continues non-stop until midnight on Fat Tuesday, when - if you’re partying in the Quarter and happen to be stumbling around the streets - you’ll be spotted like Cinderella at midnight with her carriage turning into a pumpkin…you’ll want to get yourself inside an establishment QUICKLY, as the police and clean-up crew line up on each street and a whistle blows, signaling them to move forward and brush all pedestrians aside off the street - “Mardi Gras is OVER. Move OFF the street NOW!”. It’s almost a shock to the system to experience this eerie, sober interlude after you’ve been partying for hours (days, even). It’s a true Gotham City moment - one you try to include in your Mardi Gras repertoire of experiences, if possible.