ST. LOUIS – The 2024 Mardi Gras season has officially come to an end, and the season of Lent is upon us. St. Louisans soaked up their final Fat Tuesday celebrations and prepared for the start of Lent.

In the Soulard neighborhood, the post-party clean-up continued Tuesday, and things were much calmer following another lively year of Mardi Gras celebrations. 

Over at the International Tap House on Ninth Street in the heart of Soulard, it was evident that things had slowed down. Local resident Chris Faerber said he’s one of many still recovering from the festivities.

“People are recovering; I know I am. My liver definitely got the message that it needs to stop barking back,” Faerber said.

Faerber said he and his dog, Dexter, wanted to get one last drink in before the start of Lent.

“This one’s wicked Catholic, so he lives in dread of the next month. So, we’re really going to blow it out tonight,” he said.

People in the area say Fat Tuesday used to be more of a party in St. Louis. But now, that’s not the case.

“I don’t even know what Fat Tuesday is,” Venice Café bartender Zack Sloan joked. “It’s like, a Catholic thing?”

Sloan believes that Soulard’s busy weekend and subsequent Super Bowl celebrations had an impact on the town’s patrons.

“People are resting up,” Sloan said. “They’ve got to nurse their wounds.”

Down at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church in south County, Lent preparations were well underway Tuesday. Eric Treptow is leading the group’s efforts this year.

“We’re getting ready for the big fish fry on Ash Wednesday,” Treptow said. 

The church’s fish fry is a decades-old tradition, which is a local hit. They expect as many as 800 people could show up Wednesday for their special, ‘God’s Cod.’

And how better to spend your Valentine’s Day dinner than eating fried fish?

“I told people in the parish, if they call me, I’ll have a little candle for them and a little tablecloth. So far, nobody’s called me,” Treptow joked.

The parish’s fish fry runs from 4–7 p.m. on Ash Wednesday.

If you’re hungry, FOX 2 has compiled a 2024 fish fry finder here.