On the eve of The Big E, we thought we’d share this 1939 Mardi Gras poster, which perfectly captures the level of excitement, anticipation, and romance in the air surrounding the 1939 Mardi Gras celebration. The Big E Mardi Gras Parade features eight floats straight from the heart of New Orleans and runs each day of the 17-day fair, offering a bit of Mardi Gras fun a few months before the actual New Orleans festivities begin.

FUN FACT #1: In 1918 and 1919, Mardi Gras celebrations were canceled because of World War I.

FUN FACT #2: 1939 marked the year that the first “Colored Carnival Association” formed in Mobile Alabama, a destination also known (although less so) for its Mardi Gras celebrations. The association later became Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association (MAMGA). (Source: Mobile Mardi Gras Museum)