Fat Tuesday revelry starts early in New Orleans. Here’s what we saw on the parade route.

Fat Tuesday starts early — really early — in New Orleans. 

The Northside Skull and Bones gang wakes up the Treme at 5 a.m., and Zulu Social Aide and Pleasure Club kicks off float parades at 8 a.m. 

By that time, thousands of costumed revelers are getting weird in the Marigny and Bywater for Sainte Anne. 

But an early start to the height of the Carnival season doesn’t deter New Orleans from taking part in Fat Tuesday. 

Here’s what we saw on Mardi Gras morning in the Crescent City.

The kids are alright and ready for Mardi Gras

Tammy Pringthe wrapped up her 1-year-old twin boys in blankets Tuesday morning and strolled them to the parade route downtown. Along with her 5-month-old nephew, the children were sleeping with binkies just behind the barricade near Harmony Circle.

Tammy Pringthe, second from left, lined up near Harmony Circle with family on the parade route. Her twins and nephew were bundled up with bink…

“We went to (a parade) Thursday to do a test run, and they were excited,” Pringthe said. “I was like ‘okay, I think y’all are ready.’”

A tribute to Pete Fountain

As Pete Fountain’s Half-Fast Walking Club led the Baby Dolls marching group at the beginning of Zulu just before 9 a.m., all the children on the downtown route woke up. Mardi Gras day had begun.

Mariah Cubie celebrates her birthday with her daughter, 4-year-old Aminah Gilbert. Aminah’s favorite part of Mardi Gras is dancing.

Aminah Gilbert, 4, danced in front her family’s grill on the sidewalk, twirling rhythmically to the music coming out of the speakers another reveler had set up on the block. It was her mother’s birthday, the first time the holiday fell on Mariah Cubie’s big day.

“It feels good,” Cubie said. “Coming out early and getting everybody together … and seeing everybody enjoying themselves.”

On the street, Benny Harrell sang into a microphone on a float that immediately followed Pete Fountain’s marching club. As Fountain’s son-in-law, the ride for Harrell was commemorative.

Benny Harrell, Pete Fountain’s son-in-law, smiles from his float on Mardi Gras day. Harrell is a part of the Pete Fountain’s half fast walking…

“This was him,” Harrell said. “He wanted to be in the streets with the people, and we’re going to carry on his tradition.”

‘A big party’ and a Fat Tuesday food tradition

Percy Robinson, Jr. was another paradegoer on the sidewalk Tuesday morning, preparing ribs, hamburgers and hotdogs for family and friends on his grill.

“He tries,” his wife, Marijohn Robinson, said. “We’re from Kansas City, so it’s in our blood.”

The Robinsons were among dozens of families set up with spreads of food, set to feed their families on the route.

Percy Robinson, Jr. displays his spread of ribs and hamburgers he grills on the sidewalk Mardi Gras morning. His family was among dozens ready…

Irvin Stewart set up his Mardi Gras spot Monday at 10:30 p.m., carrying on his deceased father’s tradition of a sprawling affair with three tents, grills, chairs and a private portable toilet, prompted by a hesitation to cross the street to the public portable toilets.

And his grills were prepped more than just ribs and hamburgers. Two sacks of shucked oysters sat in his ice chest, ready to be charbroiled.

“It’s like a big party for us,” he said.