Mardi Gras celebrations are underway for Fat Tuesday. NBC’s Liz McLaughlin has the story from New Orleans.
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In the French Quarter, crowds have been enormous and are expected to grow with each hour of the day.
Just blocks away from the traditional routes of the big parades with their giant super floats, the New Orleans French Quarter has been packed with wall-to-wall party people. Spectators know to wear costumes or at least dress in purple, green, and gold, and adorn themselves with long beads.