Biz, U.S.: Mardi Gras worth a heckuva lot more than beads to New Orleans
- $140 million one estimate as to how much economic impact Mardi Gras has on the New Orleans area each year
- $500 million another estimate; “There’s no way to know for sure because we don’t sell tickets,” a historian says source
- » A massive party with a massive impact: “There are a lot of municipalities all over the world that want to copy what we do here in New Orleans because it drives tourism,” claims Barry Kern, whose float-building studio is busy year-round getting designs ready for the event and other similar events elsewhere. And with good reason, too. While the party itself is free, the 100,000 people riding the floats each year can spend as much as $2,000 to $3,000 on costumes, throws and fees. Then when you throw in the thousands of others who spend money on parties, king cakes and other revelry, and the financial impact adds up fast each year.