One of the best things about New Orleans and Mardi Gras are the parades. The parades are organized by Krewes and the routes vary, but the biggest ones usually take place Uptown. They also start in the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras, so there is plenty of entertainment. If it’s your first time attending a parade and not sure what to expect, here are some basic tips to keep in mind:
1. Arrive Early: It can get very busy with the popular parade routes, so make sure you arrive 15-30 minutes prior to the start of the floats to secure your spot.
2. Come Equipped: The temperature can be all over the place so bring some rain gear and cold weather clothing as it gets cool as the night sets in. I also recommend bringing some snacks, because it can get long waiting for the floats to arrive.
3. Don’t be Self-Concious: Let’s face it, if you want some loot you may have to do some screaming and jumping around to attract attention. So don’t be too concerned what you look like doing it, because you are not the only one!
4. Keep your Shirt on: Enough said.
5. Bring Bags: Parades are madness and aside from getting tons and tons of beaded necklaces some parades throw really neat objects like toilet paper, stuffed animals, hair pieces, and frisbees. To make it easier, bring some re-usable grocery bags or backpacks to store all your loots.
6. Download a Parade Tracker App: Having one of these apps on your phone is super handy to see where the parade is at. Inevitably some floats will breakdown causing delays and other unexpected things do happen, a parade tracker will keep you informed. My recommendation is the WDSU Parade Tracker available for both Android and Apple Users.
7. Beware of Children: While kids are cute and the parades are a family event, they can also be quite pesky by getting all the fun loots off the floats. I was dying to get a spear from one of the parades but I was standing next to a family of kids, so everything kept being thrown at them. Not cool 😉 Finally I managed to snag my spear (which is proudly displayed in my room!) but it was hard work. So if you are feeling competitive pick your spot strategically.
8. Location location location: One of the most difficult decision I had to make was where along the parade route was the best spot to get a good view of the floats AND catch the most stuff. For some parades I went near the start in the more residential areas, while others I headed near Canal St. I noticed that by the end of the route the throws were much more generous than at the start. However, it was packed!!!! So you need to do more work to hold your ground… sounds like a sport, non?
9. Watch for Celebrities: Most Krewes select someone famous to act as the ‘King’ or ‘Queens’ of their parades, so you will likely spot a celebrity or two!
Have you attended a parade before? What are your tips to having a great time?
