Mardi Gras in New Orleans is pure, joyous chaos. The legendary Krewe of Endymion drives this. Their biggest parade ends in the biggest party: the spectacular Endymion Extravaganza, one of the world’s largest indoor events, with 20,000 attendees.
The Carnival season builds into a roaring river of parades. Dive into the fun headfirst, mixing time-honored tradition with the pure fun we embody. This was our fourth Mardi Gras, our first attending the amazing Endymion Extravaganza. Read on to get the scoop on the event and how to get tickets.
The Extravaganza Details
- Date & Time: Samedi Gras, Saturday, March 1, 2025, from 6:30 PM to 3:30 AM.
- Location: The Caesar’s Superdome.
- The Vibe/Dress Code: This is a black-tie event. Time to shine! Formal attire is required for all attendees—tuxedos for men and ankle length gowns for women.
- The Party: The black-tie ball takes place inside the Superdome after the massive Endymion parade rolls through the city.
- The Entertainment: This year’s featured musical act was none other than global superstar Katy Perry and Train! A spectacular show keeping the party going all night.
Ticket Options
Although, there are two ticket options for the general public to attend the Endymion Extravaganza we knew which tickets were for us. The main difference between a General Admission (Plaza) ticket and a VIP Ticket (Lodge) is how food and drink are handled.
General Admission (Plaza)
At $260 pp, includes entry to the ball, bar “set ups”, and access to the main entertainment and dance floor. These tables are on the floor of the Super Dome, some are directly on the parade route. “Set-ups” (ice, cups, and assorted mixers) are included at the table, but food and liquor are BYO or ordered in advanced from the in house catering. This would be ideal if you had a large group and could fill an entire table of 12.
VIP Access (Lodge)
Obviously our choice, VIP tickets, priced at $300 pp, include entry to the ball, VIP section access with premium seating, private bars, and an elevated VIP-only food and drink menu. As a group of four, it was easy to order mixed drinks and food at the bars. We don’t believe we could access the floor level, but we accessed viewing platforms and stadium seats in the upper level. We quite enjoyed dancing above the throngs of the crowd below. Note: this section is outside of bead-catching range from the floats.
How to Buy Tickets
To purchases either ticket, requires reaching out to the Krewe of Endymion through their website and requesting a ticket order form. The form needs to be filled out with a check or credit card information and mailed to the Endymion Den to be processed. The process took a while, and we were understandably nervous about sending our credit card information. I mailed the form in mid-December, and it was processed on January 29th. The wristbands arrived via 2-day FedEx on February 18th, just a few days before our trip.
An alternative was to drive to the Endymion Den, which is a 20-minute drive from the French Quarter without traffic. During Mardi Gras this could take over an hour and a half each way with parade road closures.
If you are planning your own trip to experience the Mardi Gras magic, and you like to dress up, do yourself a favor and buy tickets to the Endymion Extravaganza and prepare to yell, “Throw me something, mister!”
Cheers, Amy
Planning more Crescent City adventures? Explore all of our New Orleans travel guides on The Tipsy Terrier, including our takes on Mardi Gras balcony parties on Bourbon Street, Bloody Mary Ghost Tours , best place to stay in the French Quarter, classic New Orleans restaurants, and our insider experience with the Krewe of Orpheus.