A Celebration of Carnival: Arthur Hardy looks back at 50 years of Mardi Gras in New Orleans

For five decades, Arthur Hardy has been our neighbor, our guide, and the keeper of our Carnival memories. From his Gentilly kitchen table in 1977 to receiving the key to the city in 2024, Hardy transformed himself from a Brother Martin band director into the man all about Mardi Gras. His annual guide has reached over 3 million readers, but for us locals, Arthur is family, the trusted voice who gets it right, who rode with Rex after documenting them for decades, who stood with us through the police strike of ’79, Katrina's aftermath, and every magical moment in between. This 120-page celebration brings together the stories only Arthur could tell, filled with photographs that capture the parades you remember, the krewes you cheered for, and the moments that made you proud to be a part of Mardi Gras.

Open these pages and relive the Carnival seasons that shaped our city through the eyes of the man who chronicled them all. From the female krewe revolution that saw Iris grow larger than Endymion to the emotional 2006 return when parade-goers held signs saying simply “Thank you,” Arthur shares the intimate stories behind five decades of purple, green, and gold. Whether you remember saving throws from the ’80s, bringing your children to their first parade in the ’90s, or celebrating our resilience in recent years, this book honors your memories and the traditions you've passed down. Arthur Hardy has preserved the soul of what makes us New Orleanians, making this the perfect holiday gift for anyone who bleeds the  purple, green, and gold of Mardi Gras.