The sun was shining and the people were smiling at the Bud Light Grand Parade in Soulard on Saturday.
St. Louis' biggest Mardi Gras party of the year always draws a crowd, but this year the people gathered seemed downright jubilant. They wore costumes, beads, masks and more as they roamed the streets of Soulard and happily posed for our photographer, Braden McMakin.
See more photos from Mardi Gras: Mardi Gras in St. Louis Was More Wild Than Ever in 2023 [PHOTOS NSFW]
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media1.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513263/mardigras23-web-67.jpg?cb=1676908189)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media1.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513265/mardigras23-web-69.jpg?cb=1676908190)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media1.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513260/mardigras23-web-64.jpg?cb=1676908190)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media1.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513270/mardigras23-web-74.jpg?cb=1676908190)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media1.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513282/mardigras23-web-86.jpg?cb=1676908190)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media1.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513248/mardigras23-web-51.jpg?cb=1676908190)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media1.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513251/mardigras23-web-54.jpg?cb=1676908190)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media1.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513228/mardigras23-web-31.jpg?cb=1676908190)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media2.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513259/mardigras23-web-63.jpg?cb=1676908190)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media2.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513226/mardigras23-web-28.jpg?cb=1676908190)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media2.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513245/mardigras23-web-48.jpg?cb=1676908191)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media2.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513203/mardigras23-web-5.jpg?cb=1676908191)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media2.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513200/mardigras23-web-2.jpg?cb=1676908191)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media1.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513201/mardigras23-web-3.jpg?cb=1676908191)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media1.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513202/mardigras23-web-4.jpg?cb=1676908191)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media1.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513204/mardigras23-web-6.jpg?cb=1676908191)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media1.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513205/mardigras23-web-7.jpg?cb=1676908191)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media1.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513206/mardigras23-web-8.jpg?cb=1676908191)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media2.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513207/mardigras23-web-9.jpg?cb=1676908191)
![Everybody We Saw at Mardi Gras in St. Louis' Soulard Neighborhood [PHOTOS]](https://media2.riverfronttimes.com/riverfronttimes/imager/new-slideshow/u/zoom/39513208/mardigras23-web-10.jpg?cb=1676908192)
