Mardi Gras revelers went to The Wharf Feb. 11 for an early celebration, ahead of the actual holiday on the following Tuesday.

Mardi Gras is the last day of Carnival, a Christian festival of indulgence that ends the day before Lent, a period of penitence and fasting. Washington, D.C., is 65% Christian, according to Pew Research Center. 

The festivities covered a boardwalk on an inlet of the Potomac River, within view of the Washington Monument and a short drive from the National Mall. 

The event was promoted by the Wharf Community Association, which is registered in Delaware, according to CorpOnline. It is described by the Wharf website as: “responsible for the management, beautification, and safety of the common areas at The Wharf–including parks, piers, paths, roads, and the water.”

Mardi Gras was one of seven seasonal celebrations planned on The Wharf’s 2024 event page at the time of the event. Other Mardi Gras celebrations around the district were held in Wards 1, 2 and 8, according to a Washingtonian article. The Wharf is in Ward 6.