Mardi Gras parades take different routes through the city of New Orleans but most of the big parades travel a "uptown" route that takes them across the city and to the edge of the French Quarter, Canal Street. Do an internet search for "mardi gras parade routes" make sure the map is for your year.
In the video below you see the Krewe Of Tucks parade moving down Canal Street. Here the public is kept back from the parade with police barricades as the float riders toss "throws". On other streets you can walk right up to the edge of the floats and beg for beads, cups, stuffed animals and doubloons. The theme of this parade was TUCKS FACES REALITY, each float spoofed reality TV. Here is the Jimmy Kimmel Live and the Biggest Loser floats.
Additional Parade Videos can be found on my Vimeo site.
Some of the best catches are of items imprinted with the name of the parades Krewe, or organizers. Several krewes tossed 3-4 foot spears into the crowd. Most were wooden, I guess liability isn't an issue. Orpheus tossed soft fabric spears. I also caught a rubber ducky on a necklace.
This is one of my favorites, a Tucks Faces Reality 2010 medal showing a family sitting around their TV set.
Beads, Beads, Beads! "Toss Me Somethin' Mister" is the normal plea that parade watchers shout to get the attention of the bead tossers on the floats. This year it was different, it was the Superbowl winning New Orleans Saints chant, "WHO DAT".
Parade Tips:
- Blocked Sidewalks. If your parade watching in Canal Street area, note that they will block the sidewalks with police barricades and you will not be able to easily cross Canal Street. In my case crossing the street from the JW Marriott to the Bourbon Street / French Quarter could be a difficult task if a parade is going by. I gave myself a 30 minute buffer Sunday evening to cross the street from the JW to the Palace Cafe for dinner. And it took about that long to get to a restaurant located directly across Canal Street from the JW Marriott!
- BEWARE of flying beads and other stuff. It is amazing the force behind flying beads. I saw people with eye protection goggles like you would see in a wood shop. Float riders would sometimes throw bags of beads, or they would rip the plastic bag off the beads and toss them in mass at you. A couple pounds being thrown from a big guy 16-18 feet above you on the top of a float can pack a big punch. But in most cases the beads were tossed one strand at a time gently to the crowd, especially when directed at small children.
- Watch your step. With open containers and inexperienced drinkers near bye. You never know what will show up on the sidewalk. I always made a point of checking my shoes before I entered my hotel room. I didn't want to track some smelly combination of beer, piss and vomit into the room. I did get beer spilled on my only jacket, as I wanted 2 days for the delayed luggage, so I hung it overnight in the bathroom near the air exhaust vent after cleaning it the best I could.
- Fire Walkers... I'm not sure what to call them... These guys were in the after dark parades carrying large flaming propane lanterns. In the old days they would carry torches to illuminate the floats. It is considered good luck to give them a few bucks as the pass by. So bring some bills with you, coins don't cut it when your carry around an open flame and a LP gas tank strapped to your back.
- Eat and drink. Plenty of food and drink vendors are set-up along the parade route. Portable toilets are also available in limited numbers. Many party goers bring stocked ice chests not just for food and drink but to stand on.
- Day and Night. The crowds at the daytime parades seemed a little more sober than in the evening. I didn't see any conflicts or problems at any of the parades I saw on Canal Street. Police presence was high and they were very helpful, they were also very considerate of basic "errors" made by the party goers.
- Don't' throw things at the floats. In the old days it wasn't unusual for spectators to toss items at the float riders. Don't Do It! It is an arrestable offense.
- Have Fun. If someone snatches a string of beads out of the air just before it hits your hands, don't dispare, more will be coming. If it happens repeatedly, relocate to an area where your height isn't an issue. Same thing if your spot along the route becomes over crowded.
- Bead Bag. Bring a bag for beads. They can get heavy around your neck.
- Comfortable Shoes. Goes without saying you may be standing for a while. And due to the beer spillage factor you may want them to be old shoes.
Let me know if you have any suggestions for this tips list. Contact All photos and video are Copyright The Travel Blogger.
