Mardi Gras revelers make their merry way down Massachusetts Street

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

Revelers paraded through sunny downtown Lawrence Tuesday to celebrate Mardi Gras, the traditional last hurrah before the Lenten season begins.

Dozens of colorfully dressed people, many playing horns, drums or other instruments, gleefully danced down Massachusetts Street, stopping in at various businesses to play a few New Orleans-style tunes before making their way north again.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

Tuesday’s unseasonably warm weather — right around 60 degrees — contributed to the turnout as the parade line collected downtown shoppers and restaurant-goers along the way, handing them festive strings of purple, green and gold beads.

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, precedes Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, which is the approximately six-week period leading up to Easter, during which Christians traditionally pray, fast and do charitable works.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

A young Mardi Gras reveler celebrates on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate at Love Garden on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate at Love Garden on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate at Love Garden on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

Mardi Gras revelers celebrate on Massachusetts Street Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

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