Missed out on Mardi Gras? It's Not too late to PARTY!

For many people, Mardi Gras came and went before they even noticed and now Easter is only about two weeks away! So, if you are feeling like you missed out on the Cajun party of the year - its not too late! Besides the fact that you can throw your own Mardi Gras themed party any time or any day, there is the Mardi Gras celebration at Universal Studios Orlando! It runs all the way through April 19, 2008, so "Let the Good Times Roll!"

Mardi Gras comes alive at Universal Studios! The streets are filled with beads, live bands, and a rocking parade—but that's just the start. Every Saturday, legendary party bands are taking the stage to turn your night into a party of historic proportions! And no Mardi Gras party would be complete without all the cuisine and music that's made The Big Easy famous.

The Universal Studios web site says that vacation getaway packages start at $79. So for a little but of dough, you can have a lot of fun in the Florida sun! With sunny days as warm as 75 - 80 degrees and nights in the 60's, its a great escape!

Celebrities in New Orleans for Carnival

According to an article on Mardi Gras at the MercuryNews.com, stars will be flocking to New Orleans for Mardi Gras festivities:

For parade goers, celebrity watching will be as fun as grabbing the throws tossed from the floats as Carnival goes into high gear this weekend with Fat Tuesday just days away.

They include actor/director Kevin Costner as grand marshal of the Krewe of Endymion, one of the largest and glitziest parades. He'll be joined by the Doobie Brothers and Belinda Carlisle, former lead singer of the Go-Gos.

On Sunday, wrestler and reality TV star Hulk Hogan will reign as king of the Krewe of Bacchus. NBC's "Today" morning talk show correspondent Hoda Kotb and weatherman Al Roker will be grand marshals of the Krewe of Argus on Fat Tuesday in suburban Metairie. Also on Mardi Gras (which means Fat Tuesday), clarinetist Pete Fountain will lead a cadre of locals and celebrities for the annual trek of the Half-Fast Marching Club.

Orpheus, the glittery parade founded in 1993 by singer Harry Connick Jr., has one of the longest list of celebs. Besides Salt-N-Pepa, Lance Bass and Kevin Meaney—stars of the Broadway musical "Hairspray"—daytime television star Christian LeBlanc and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves will ride.

Among them Monday night will be Bridget Marquardt, Holly Madison and Kendra Wilkinson, stars of E! cable network's Playboy-based reality show "The Girls Next Door." They'll be throwing a fundraiser on Lundi Gras, or Mardi Gras eve, for actor Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation at the House of Blues in the French Quarter. Pitt's charity is rebuilding homes in the Lower 9th Ward destroyed by Katrina in 2005.

But celebrities didn't become a regular highlight until the first Bacchus parade in 1969, when dancer/actor Danny Kaye reigned.

Since then, dozens have gotten into the spirit. "Sopranos" star James Gandolfini, for example, was last year's king of Bacchus and followed in the footsteps of such big names as Bob Hope and Ron Howard. John Goodman, Chuck Norris, Jason Alexander, Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd have served as past grand marshals for Endymion, and Glenn Close, Sandra Bullock, Forest Whitaker and Whoopi Goldberg are among those who've ridden in Orpheus.

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Get in on the fun of Mardis Gras this year! Check out the huge selection of Mardi Gras costumes and masks at mardigrascostumes.com.

Mardi Gras Cams - Watch the Parades & Celebrate New Orleans Style

Check out the Mardi Gras cams set up on www.MardiGras.com. They show the action on St. Charles Avenue from Fat Harry's.

Watch the Parades & Celebrate Mardi Gras New Orleans Style!

You can prepare for Mardi Gras with the fabulous masks and beads available at MardiGrasCostumes.com/beads.htm

Cakes, Krewes & Beads--Are you ready for Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras is coming up soon (February 5th)!

Are you ready?

Here’s a great website with all kinds of useful and fascinating information about Mardi Gras—its history, traditions, customs, activities and more.

Learn all about King Cakes, Krewes, beads, how to build a float, and just about everything else you’d need to know to make the most of your Mardi Gras experience.

When Fat Tuesday has finally come, there’s no better place to be than Bourbon Street, but make sure you have a great costume and mask! For a huge selection, check out mardigrascostumes.com.

Today is King's Day!

Happy King's Day (a.k.a. Three King's Day) to those of you who celebrate it today. For us here is the costume world, King's Day - January 6th represents the start of Mardi Gras celebrations. This year's celebrations are shortened a bit with the early arrival of Fat Tuesday/ Mardi Gras, but all the more reason to party harder, whether it is in preparation for lent, or just a good reason to throw a party - let the celebrations begin!

Mardi Gras is Coming - FAST!

Mardi Gras arrives very early this year.

February 5, 2008 is Fat Tuesday.

Make plans to celebrate before Mardi Gras passes you by.

Why is Mardi Gras on a different date every year? MardiGrasCostumes.com has the answer for you.

5 Ways Extreme Halloween Helps You With Your New Years Resolutions!

1. Save Money!

I bet most people can count "Save Money" on their New Years Resolutions lists today, so Extreme Halloween has got you covered! We are extending our After Christmas Sale - 25% off of Christmas Costumes and Santa Suits and End of the Year Sale - Up to 60% off Select Costumes until January 10, 2007. That is on top of our already low prices!

2. Be prepared!

Everyone likes to be prepared and no one likes the stress involved in waiting until the last minute. So, here is fair warning, Mardi Gras and Easter come very early this year! Mardi Gras is February 5, 2008. (That's right, only 35 days away!) And Easter Sunday is March 23, 2008. See our Holiday Costume Page for more suggestions on how to celebrate in costume in 2008!

3. Travel More!

Make plans to celebrate your vacations in costume this year. Not only are there domestic based costumed events for you to celebrate, but there are plenty of holidays celebrated around the world:

- Fasching in Germany
- Carnaval in different parts of Europe
- Carnaval in Latin America
- El Dia De Los Muertos in Mexico
- Fantasy Fest in Key West, FL

There are also Renaissance Faires and Festivals all over the country - check out information on anywhere you are traveling to and plan to have even more fun in costume!

4. Embrace Technology!

Check out Extreme Halloween videos on YouTube.
Join the Costume Lovers - AnniesCostumes.com Group on FaceBook
Visit Annies Costumes' MySpace Page
Stay tuned to AnniesCostumes.com and The Extreme Halloween Network for exciting changes in early 2008!

5. Have more fun!

We always say: It's More Fun in Costume!