New Orleans, Louisiana (CNN) — If you’ve never been to Mardi Gras, you may think it’s all about beads for boobs.
That’s pretty much what artist Cree McCree expected. But that was before the Crescent City transplant actually experienced it, in true New Orleans style.
“I was completely seduced by the magic of it,” she says.
There’s no doubt about it, the Mardi Gras spirit defines the soul of New Orleans and the event itself is the city’s top tourism draw, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Every year, visitors invade the city on a hunt for beads, brews and the ultimate party. But here’s a reality check: The madness on Bourbon Street is only a microcosm of the Mardi Gras celebration. Speak with the locals and you’ll find most of them never step foot on Bourbon Street on Fat Tuesday.
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