( CNN ) -- The sad state of the economy does n't appear to be affecting the festive mood in New Orleans , Louisiana . A crowd of people try to catch beads on Bourbon Street on Fat Tuesday last year . `` Things are sort of buzzing down here right now , and it feels good , '' said Michael Valentino , a local businessman who owns three hotels in the French Quarter . `` Did n't know what to expect this year , but it appears that interest is high and people are acting on that decision in order to make Carnival part of their travel plans . '' Hotel bookings are on pace with last year , and the city is anticipating between 700,000 and 800,000 Mardi Gras visitors this year -- at least as many as 2008 . Some tourism officials and business owners expect this year 's attendance to top last year 's numbers because Fat Tuesday , on February 24 this year , falls nearly three weeks later , giving visitors more time to plan and budget for the trip after the winter holidays . As of Thursday , Valentino 's Place d'Armes Hotel was about 96 percent booked for Mardi Gras ' busiest weekend , in line with the Greater New Orleans Hotel and Lodging Association 's indications for Saturday bookings , the season 's peak night . iReport.com : Send your travel photos of New Orleans . Other early indicators also are promising . Crowds for last Friday night 's Pygmalion and Oshun parades were as thick as Valentino has ever seen them . He operates bleachers along St. Charles Avenue and is on the street every year . Typically the early , smaller-scale parades do n't draw much attention , he said . `` It just appears that people feel the need to relax and celebrate , and Mardi Gras is an opportunity to step back from what they 're dealing with every day and spend a little time in a mellower , less threatening , more carefree type of an environment . '' Despite high expectations for Mardi Gras , the city 's tourism industry has n't completely dodged the economic downturn . Valentino has seen a dip in corporate and meeting inquiries at his hotels and less interest from leisure travelers during times that do n't surround special events . Still , visitation levels for the first quarter of 2009 have remained strong , according to the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau , which spokeswoman Kelly Schulz attributes to meetings and conventions , Mardi Gras and marketing efforts to promote the city as a value destination compared with other popular American cities . New Orleans ' sparkling culinary reputation is part of its unique draw , and Patois , an Uptown restaurant away from the throngs of revelers in the French Quarter , is looking forward to a strong weekend . By Thursday afternoon , the 60-seat restaurant had 90 people on the books for Saturday night . Chef-owner Aaron Burgau said business has been better since the beginning of the year . Patois is closing Sunday , when the restaurant usually is open for brunch , and Burgau plans to ride in the Bacchus parade for the first time Sunday night . The ride comes at no small cost : Burgau estimated he spent about $ 2,500 on beads , krewe dues , a float assessment and other expenses . Orders from krewes for beads and other throws are up this year , according to Daryl Fletchinger , owner of retail store Mardi Gras Spot and a wholesale business . `` Interestingly , everybody wants to put all of the sad , pessimistic , negative news out of their minds and do something that 's very normal for New Orleanians , and that is put on the greatest free show on earth . ''
Mardi Gras ' attendance expected to meet or exceed Saturday numbers . Hotel occupancy rates near about 96 percent for Saturday afternoon . Supplier of parade throws says sales are up 2008 .