I've not been, but I've heard it's a great time, so I'm going with some girlfriends. Here's the press release on it:
NEW ORLEANS, LA. (Dec. 10, 2004) The organizers of the
> New Orleans event "Pardi Gras" like to refer to it as
> "the combination of a Jimmy Buffett concert, and Mardi
> Gras, all rolled into one party". Though not
> officially affiliated with Buffett or his
> Margaritaville© empire, the 9th annual event attracts
> Parrot Heads© from all over the country. "It's the
> ultimate French Quarter party" said Jerry Diaz,
> president of Sail Away Promotions, which presents the
> annual event. "We're expecting between 375 and 500
> folks to attend this year. We'll have Parrot Heads
> from at least 30 different states here in the
> Quarter."
>
> Pardi Gras features a combination of great live
> entertainment (mostly Buffett-influenced) plus some
> other fun organized activities. While the event is
> open to people of all ages, most of it is what Diaz
> calls "R rated". For instance, one of the most popular
> activities of the weekend is the "Bourbon Street Pub
> Crawl", which takes place on Friday evening. According
> to Pub Crawl captain Wayne Williamson, "even on
> Bourbon Street, it creates quite a stir when 250+
> folks show up to a bar simultaneously looking for
> Margaritas and Corona beers. We carry a bull horn to
> help keep everyone herded together and moving. By the
> time we reach the Tropical Isle though, everyone is
> already primed for some rowdy live music."
>
> In addition to the Pub Crawl, there is a parade from
> Bourbon Street to the Margaritaville Café on Friday
> night. A horse-drawn carriage transports the freshly
> crowned "King and Queen of Pardi Gras", while Parrot
> Heads trail behind, throwing beads to onlookers. And
> earlier in the day, Radio Margaritaville broadcasts
> "live" on the Internet for a full hour, from the
> Margaritaville Café on Decatur Street. It's a chance
> for DJ Greg Dumas to interview some of the
> entertainers who are in town for the event, as well as
> speak with some of the fans who came to see them.
> "It's a drinking crowd, that's for sure", said Dumas.
>
> Saturday afternoon features a "beach party" at Papa
> Joe's Beach Club on Bourbon Street, where folks are
> encouraged to wear their grass skirts and coconut
> bras, even though the temperature outside sometimes
> gets into the 30's and 40's. "Nobody feels the cold
> down here, I promise you" says Rick Eichmann, who
> operates the Bead Pirate retail store inside Papa
> Joe's. "And if it does get cold, there's plenty of
> liquor, and plenty of other willing bodies to keep you
> warm here."
>
> And lest we forget, there are some great entertainers,
> most of whom are very popular in the "Parrot Head
> nation", performing at the event. According to Don
> Walker, stage manager for Pardi Gras, "it's a great,
> great line-up of musicians. You've got Larry Joe
> Taylor, Kelly McGuire, and Hanna's Reef from Texas,
> Sunny Jim and Eric Stone from Florida, Latitude from
> South Carolina, John Reno and Wes Loper from Alabama,
> Jim Hoehn from Wisconsin, and course, the local boys,
> Joe Bennett, and Late as Usual. The amount of talent
> here rivals any Parrot Head event in the country."
>
> Garry Vedros, president of the New Orleans Parrot Head
> chapter, points out that in addition to being a lot of
> fun, Pardi Gras also raises money for some local
> charities. "We'll have a silent auction during the
> event, and the money raised from it will be donated to
> various local charities of our choosing. We have an
> ongoing commitment to "Cops 8", and we pick other
> organizations to donate to every year. This event is a
> party with a purpose"
>
> Pardi Gras 2005 takes place from Jan. 13-16, 2005. The
> event requires registration before Jan. 8, 2005.
> Registration is $50 per person, and includes an
> all-access badge to the live shows, the Pub Crawl and
> all other Pardi Gras events, a souvenir t-shirt, and
> various discounts at local retailers. Registration can
> be completed on-line, at the website
www.jerrydiaz.com
>
>
> According to Plugga Gros, from Baton Rouge, "this is
> one party you sure don't want to miss"
