Mardi Graphic!

It’s officially Mardi Gras season in New Orleans! We have been to a few Mardi Gras in New Orleans over the years. However, this time around we are attending the parades as “locals” (albeit very newly minted ones)!

There are some 12 days of solid parading going around town this next week, with more than one parade happening at all times during each day! We have some 44 different parades marked down on our calendar at home!! We hope to catch as many as possible, helped out by the fact that many of the larger ones will be passing by our street. Can’t talk about parades without mentioning BEADS!! They throw them and you catch them! I know it sounds simple, but trust me even if you start off not caring about getting any, by the time the parade is half over and the kid next to you just scored a cool throw you’ll be yelling “throw me something, mister!” as well. And here’s a little breakdown showing where the beads come from.

The Traveling Treasures

We’ll be posting photos, and now that we’ve finally gotten ourselves a little video camera you might even be subjected to some clips as well. Just thought I should put that warning out there that 1.) Camera is NEW so will be just learning it while at the parades 2.) There will be drinking at said parades 3.) Combine 1+2…just saying you have been warned!

Depending on your age, style, and location where you choose to view the parades the whole experience can be quite different. For example this year we will be either sticking it close to the St. Charles parades as we live right around the corner, and popping down to Marigny for their parades and its funky fun atmosphere.

Years and years ago for our first Mardi Gras experience, back in the good ‘ol college days, we came down to New Orleans with a “great plan” and little money. We watched the parades, even walked through Bourbon Street, and hung out all night. Not only was hanging out all night a fun thing to do but it also saved us from having to pay for a hotel room during peak season. In the other city that never sleeps it’s not as hard as one would imagine to stay active all night in New Orleans. Though trying to wait in line at a McDonalds at three a.m. to use the bathroom and there are 20 people in front of you is NOT fun. We knew we would have to sleep before heading home though, we were never that reckless, and we had a plan. This is where the “great plan” finally kicks in. As the sun rose we headed uptown and towards Audubon park. Having fought to keep our selves active and awake the last few hours by walking around, the lush green grass and giant oak trees were as inviting as any down comforter. We grabbed our picknick blanket and found a shady spot under a century old oak tree and blissfully fell asleep to the chirping of the birds.

In years since we’ve watched the parades from different perspectives, neighborhoods, and from changing levels of maturity(still in progress). The magic of Mardi Gras is that you can tailor it to fit you. Unlike the videos that you may have seen online, it’s generally a family friendly event. Most of the rowdy behavior is centralize on one street, and if seen elsewhere will most likely be hauled off by the NOPD. The police force of New Orleans have to get kudos for their ability to handle large crowds too, some 1,000,000 people pour into the city of only 350,000 during Mardi Gras. Yet last year only some 1,200 arrests were made, most for minor crimes such as public urination. Keep that in mind, you know you’re going to have to sooner or later, so have a plan! Alcohol will be flowing but most people will expect you to handle it. You are allowed to drink in public but only in an open container and not in a glass or can. Just catch one of the many commemorative “go-cups” that they will be throwing off the floats!

To simplify the Mardi Gras experience for you, specially if you have never been and would like to come, just use the nifty Mardi Graphics below to find out your best “fit”. we’ve created some handy visual references for you to pick your viewing neighborhoods with. For true locals we know we’ve omitted other great parade watching neighborhoods, but it’s our first time being locals so we could only illustrate what we’ve actually seen/done ourselves! Next year I imagine the map to be more inclusive!!

Map of New Orleans

Along St. Charles St. is the most family friendly place to watch the parades.

If you’re young, inebriated, and also a tourist that wants to see things to tell your buddies back home… then you might as well hit up Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. But be aware, unlike in Vegas what happens here can end up on camera and spread everywhere!

The kick off starts here with the satirical and creative Krewe du Vieux parade. Already a creative neighborhood, it’s a great place to not only watch the parade but to see the costumes that people wear as well!