Published by New Orleans-based Visitor Publishing, Mardi Gras Magazine is a comprehensive, outrageously photographed preview of everything Mardi Gras—parades and balls, beads and balconies and partying in the streets all the way to Fat Tuesday’s grand finale in the French Quarter. While other publications of this type focus on the two weeks leading up to Mardi Gras Day, Mardi Gras Magazine covers the entire Mardi Gras season, including Twelfth Night, the oldest (and growing) Mardi Gras tradition of walking parades, the unique and witty canine Krewe of Barkus parade and the over-the-top gay carnival balls.

Every year, the Mardi Gras season begins on Twelfth Night (January 6) with a raucous streetcar ride of masked revelers. In the past, only New Orleans locals knew of the event. But this year, with the launch of Mardi Gras Magazine, everyone can get in step with the courtly cast of merrymakers who kick off the Mardi Gras season.

Published by New Orleans-based Visitor Publishing, Mardi Gras Magazine is a comprehensive, outrageously photographed preview of everything Mardi Gras—parades and balls, beads and balconies and partying in the streets all the way to Fat Tuesday’s grand finale in the French Quarter. While other publications of this type focus on the two weeks leading up to Mardi Gras Day, Mardi Gras Magazine covers the entire Mardi Gras season, including Twelfth Night, the oldest (and growing) Mardi Gras tradition of walking parades, the unique and witty canine Krewe of Barkus parade and the over-the-top gay carnival balls.

The collectible, full-color, glossy magazine tells readers what is going on, when the parades are, what routes they follow, where to go, what is happening on Bourbon Street, what is new, who is who at Mardi Gras and the story behind it all. Mardi Gras Magazine features everything readers need to know and want to see:

·    Outrageous, exclusive photography by top professionals throughout the magazine—no computer-generated artwork
NOTE: A preview of the magazine’s photos can be found at www.bigeasy.com, under the Mardi Gras Magazine link
·    Parade previews with maps, themes, krewe kings, queens and courts and preview photos of this year’s floats
·    Mardi Gras history and traditions
·    Bourbon Street balconies
·    Stories on all types of events: Mardi Gras Indians, walking parades, costuming, Krewe of Barkus
·    Complete Mardi Gras survival information, including parking and safety tips
·    Celebrities at Mardi Gras
·    Profiles of the people who make Mardi Gras, including Mardi Gras float builders, costume makers, one of the city’s parade producers, a Mardi Gras bead and trinket distributor and the inventor of famous souvenir plastic Mardi Gras cup.

The magazine is the result of an exclusive partnership between Visitor Publishing and mardigras.com.

The magazine will be distributed at newsstands nationwide during the Mardi Gras season (January 6-March 4, 2003) by Ingram Periodicals, Newsgroup, Books-A-Million and Express Publishing. Ingram’s distribution includes Borders, Waldenbooks, Hasting’s Books, Tower Records, Barnes & Noble, Virgin Records and Musicland Music Stores. In addition, the magazine will be sold year round on mardigras.com and bigeasy.com, and promoted in Visitor Magazine and travel packages through Destination Management, Inc.

At 164 pages, Mardi Gras Magazine has a cover price of $5, plus $2 for shipping and handling. Magazines can be ordered online
at www.bigeasy.com or by calling toll free 1-866-596-2709.

Visitor Publishing is a full service travel & tourism publishing company. Visitor publishes Visitor Magazine, the Official Program of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Mardi Gras Magazine and the Louisiana Tax Free Shopping Guide. Visitor also offers contract-publishing. Bigeasy.com is Visitor Publishing's Internet connection, offering information and services.