Mardi Gras, in the city of New Orleans, is more than just beads and boobs. New Orleans is home to half-a-dozen cultures and dialects, and this all-inclusive event has something for everyone, from colorful, family-friendly parades and jazz-inspired music to uninhibited parties, utterly whimsical costumery, and time-honored traditions.

Parades are the best way for local municipalities or communities to represent what they're about. The official parade route on Fat Tuesday, the biggest and most famous of them all, is actually stunningly regimented. Various krewes or parade congregations present floats and costumes that keep with their theme. Krewe of Isis, for example, is a group of women with an Egyptian-themed parade. The oldest krewe, Rex, whose origins date back to the Civil War, is so named because it’s the King of the Carnival and features epic regal floats, one of which carries that year’s crowned king. So-called super krewes, such as the Krewe of Bacchus, feature the latest in cutting-edge technology; their animated super float includes a giant, illuminated mechanized crocodile with more than two-dozen riders. There is even the Mystic Krewe of Barkus, the only krewe dedicated to canines.

Below, check out some of the wildest scenes from this year's Mardi Gras festivities and various themed parades (which ran from Feb 9-13, 2018), all captured by photographer Linka Odom.

Bacchus Parade

Barkus Game of Bones Dog Parade

Box of Wine Parade

Dead Beans Parade

Muses Parade

Spaceball Krewe de Lune's 10 Year Anniversary Ball

Fat Tuesday