Mardi Gras 2015 New Orleans Parades: Schedules, Popular Routes, Parking, Bathrooms And A Map For The Final Two Days

New Orleans' famed Mardi Gras parades have been rolling for the past few weeks, and if partygoers have been exhausted by all the festivities, it doesn’t show in the schedule. Monday has two parades in the evening, while Tuesday's finale of nearly 10 parades in a single day promises to be truly spectacular. Below, find schedules, locations and other helpful tips, such as where to park or find a bathroom.

We came up with a list of the remaining parades in the epic Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) festivities of New Orleans. For routes, click parade names. And for anyone who's wondering, a krewe is a Mardi Gras-specific term that refers to a group of people who celebrate Mardi Gras together, joining to host balls or parades. During parades, krewes often throw things to crowds, like plastic beads, small fake coins, and cheap toys.

Monday, Feb. 16

Proteus: This parade starts uptown at 5:15 p.m. Founded in 1882, the Krewe is older than every other in New Orleans except for the Rex Krewe. It was once known as the stingiest krewe, distributing little in the way of throws to parade watchers, but that has changed.

Orpheus: Starting at 6 p.m. uptown, this parade, named for the musical legend in ancient Greek mythology, often features celebrity guests.

Tuesday, February 17

Krewe of Zulu: Starts at 8 a.m., uptown. The Zulu Krewe began in 1909 with a group of laborers who had started a club known as The Tramps, although others, including members of the Benevolent Aid Society, may have been a part of the krewe as well.

Rex: Begins uptown at 10 a.m. Rex is a long-standing symbol of and the King of Mardi Gras. He first appeared in 1872, decked out in purple, green and gold riding a horse in the street, launching the very idea of day parades. Today’s krewe is all male, and its parade is one of New Orleans’ most celebrated, with over 600 people riding its floats. Following the Krewe of Rex is Elks Orleanians, a truck parade, which is followed by the Krewe of Crescent City, also a truck parade. This krewe has no particular theme, but it does include 3,000 people and generally represents the beginning of the end of Carnival.

Grela: Starting at 10 a.m., this krewe was the first to stage a parade on Westbank of Jefferson Parish.

Argus: This family oriented parade starts at 10 a.m. in Metairie. It’s named for the 100-eyed god in Greek mythology whose eyes, as a punishment for watching Zeus, the king of the gods, cheat on his wife, were placed on a peacock. And so the Krewe of Argus has a peacock for its logo. Following Argus is the truck parade by Krewe of Jefferson, which is followed by the truck parade of Elks Jeffersonians.

Lyra: Starts at 10 a.m. in Covington. This krewe was originally all female. Its mission is to help the mentally ill, and the krewe works with the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Of course, all parade-goers, no matter how devoted, have certain human needs. Here’s a highly practical map where you can find bathroom options and parking throughout the days of festivities.