Dee O'Shello, right, braces for impact as a pile of beads come her way from a float in the Krewe of Okeanos Parade in New Orleans, La., Feb. 22, 2004. The parade is part of the city's Carnival season, a heavy tourist draw, that peaks with Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday," Feb. 24, 2004.
New Orleans
Elijah Woods, who played Frodo Baggins in the "Lord of the Rings" movies, reigns as this year's Bacchus, the god of wine and mirth, as the Mardi Gras krewe rolls down St. Charles Avenue, Feb. 22, 2004, in New Orleans.
New Orleans
John Gairens Sr. catches a giant fake toothbrush from a float in the Krewe of Iris Parade in New Orleans, Feb. 21, 2004. The theme for this year's Iris parade was "A Touch of Class."
New Orleans
The "Pirates of Penzance" float, left, leads the "Wonder Woman" float in the Krewe of Okeanos Parade in New Orleans, La., Feb. 22, 2004. The theme of this year's Okeanos parade was "Heroes and Villains."
New Orleans
The title float for the Krewe of Endymion parade turns a corner in New Orleans, Feb. 21, 2004. The parade rolled with floats based on the theme "Saturday Night at the Movies."
New Orleans
Singer LeAnn Rimes, Grand Marshal in the Krewe of Endymion, throws a pair of beads to the crowd from her float in New Orleans, Feb. 21, 2004.
New Orleans
Annette Dorko, left, of New Orleans, enjoys the Thoth parade with her husband George, Feb. 22, 2004. "Nothing would keep me from Mardi Gras," she said.
New Orleans
Betty Greer holds up her dog Gullie to attract more beads from passing floats in the Krewe of Okeanos Parade in New Orleans, Feb. 22, 2004.
Houma, La.
Jamie Ezell, of the Krewe of Cleopatra, holds down a tarp protecting a float from rain in Houma, La., Feb. 23, 2004. The Krewe of Cleopatra Mardi Gras Parade was canceled in 2003 because of bad weather. It rolled "Fat Tuesday," after the Krewe of Houmas and the Krewe of Kajuns, making it the longest parade in the history of Terrebonne Parish Mardi Gras celebrations.
Houma, La.
Dressed as Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne and Ozzy's nurse, from left, Melissa, Carl, and Cherae Eschete walk down the Main Street parade route before the start of the Krewe of Terreanians Mardi Gras Parade, Feb. 22, 2004, in Houma, La.
Fresno, Calif.
A Mardi Gras participant parades down Olive Street at the Tower District's Mardi Gras celebration in Fresno, Calif., Feb. 22, 2004.
Shreveport, La.
Amelia Fertitta throws beads from the Krewe of Myne float during the Krewe of Highlands parade, Feb. 22, 2004, in Shreveport, La.
Shreveport, La.
Teto Reeves yells for more beads during the Krewe of Highland Parade, Feb. 22, 2004, in Shreveport, La.
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Olive Marcom, 93, receives beads at the Mardi Gras Parade in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Feb. 22, 2004. She said she only wanted beads in the origional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold.
Mobile, Ala.
A sinister-looking float moves through the streets of Mobile, Ala., in the Krewe de Bienville and Les Femmes Cassettes parade, Feb. 22, 2004.
Mobile, Ala.
A float in the Joe Cain Day Procession heads north on Royal Street, Feb. 22, 2004, in Mobile, Ala. Good weather brought out lots of people to downtown Mobile as the city partied toward Mardi Gras. Cain started a revival of Mardi Gras Day in Mobile after the end of the Civil War.
Galveston, Texas
Spectators reach for beads as the Krewe of Munchkins parade moves along 25th Street in Galveston, Texas, Feb. 22, 2004.
Tampa, Fla.
Tiffinee Holmes, 15, left, Kiara Williams, 11, center, and Jeremiah Green, 10, gather beads during the Knights of Sant' Yago Illuminated Night Parade, Feb. 21, 2004, in Tampa, Fla.
Cloudcroft, N.M.
Kurt Johnson is costumed with facepaint, hat and beads during the annual Mardi Gras Parade, Feb. 21, 2004, in Cloudcroft, N.M.
Shawnee, Kan.
Julie Crain, left, her 1-year-old daughter, Anna Crain, Lynne Pippen (jester hat) and Diana Brassfield take a ride in the second annual Mardi Gras Parade, Feb. 21, 2004, in Shawnee, Kan.