The French Quarter Fest got off to a great start this morning with the annual second line parade down Bourbon Street and into Jackson Square.

Brass bands, marching groups, second line dancers, and an assortment of colorful French Quarter characters all helped officially kick off French Quarter Fest 2014 in grand style.

Hundreds of tourists and locals lined both sides of Bourbon for the length of the parade route, dancing in the streets and catching Mardi Gras Beads. Check out some pictures from the parade.

All photos by Stephen Maloney.

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