Mardi Gras (Bourbon Street)

Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street is the most overpriced tourist trap in New Orleans, where a single hurricane cocktail costs $18—60% more than the average drink at citywide parades. Despite drawing 1.4 million visitors during Carnival, this block earns the lowest satisfaction score among all major U.S. street festivals, with a 2026 survey rating it 1.9 out of 5. It is also 35% more expensive than the Full Moon Party for per-hour entertainment value, as revelers pay $40 for a wristband just to stand in a crowd where 72% of participants report a theft or scam. City data confirms it has the highest density of pickpocketing incidents per square foot than any other New Orleans event, making it both a financial and security disappointment.