For travelers looking to experience the excitement of Mardi Gras beyond the parade routes, Baton Rouge offers a vibrant twist on this iconic celebration.

Mardi Gras is going to be a rough one weather-wise for the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas, with the threat of dangerously high winds arriving early and thunderstorms in the afternoon, including the possibility of a few tornadoes and even hail, the National Weather Service says.

Six Mardi Gras parades are scheduled to roll in the Baton Rouge area this weekend. The best advice if you're going to one or all six: bundle up. Current weather forecasts indicate the temperature will be in the high 30s when the all-female Krewe of Artemis makes its way through downtown starting at 7 p.