Family Fun at Mardi Gras: Tips for a Memorable Experience Together!

As a Mardi Gras-loving family, we’ve discovered that celebrating this festive tradition together is one of our favorite annual traditions. While it does become more manageable as the kids grow, we’ve proven that it’s entirely possible to enjoy the revelry even with little ones in tow – our youngest joined us at just four months old! Drawing from our experiences, I’ve compiled a list of tried-and-true practices, highlighting what works and what doesn’t. My hope is that sharing these insights will help make your Mardi Gras celebrations both smoother and more enjoyable.

We’ve fully embraced the Mardi Gras spirit, evolving as a family with each passing year. With the kids growing older, navigating parades has become a breeze – they’re more self-sufficient and eager to lend a hand, like carrying bead bags. This dynamic shift has undoubtedly enhanced our parade experience, making it smoother and more enjoyable than ever before.

As seasoned Mardi Gras enthusiasts, we’ve refined our approach to a science over the past few years. So, I’m revisiting this post (originally shared in 2018) to sprinkle in a few additional tips and tricks, ensuring everyone’s ready for this year’s parade season!

First THINGS FIRST, , YOU CANNOT PARK ON THE NEUTRAL GROUD EVEN IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING IT!  They will give you a ticket, tow your car or boot you sometimes.  Don’t do it.  Just bite the bullet and pay to park.  Trust me.

Second, Download the parade tracker app.

Food and Drinks. It’s a no-brainer when attending events with kids, but packing food and drinks is essential. I never leave home without snacks, usually including PB&J sandwiches for a quick and easy option. It’s crucial to have provisions not just for the kids but also for us adults; once the parade kicks off, sneaking away for refreshments isn’t always feasible. Carrying a small ice chest or a rolling one can be a game-changer if you have a free hand to manage it. Our go-to strategy involves bringing a wagon, loading it with the ice chest and the baby, while the older kids walk alongside.

Bags.  It’s a recurring oversight for us – never having the right bags for collecting beads and other goodies. I’m not sure why it continues to be a challenge. However, this year, I’m ahead of the game. Update: We discovered a brilliant solution last year: asking floats for bags! As krewes toss their treasures, they often have extra bags to spare. Don’t hesitate to request one – they’ll usually toss them down to you!

Bathroom.  Unlike festivals like French Quarter Festival or Jazz Fest, the bathroom situation during Mardi Gras can be tricky. While there are port-o-potties along the parade routes, their locations aren’t always clear. To mitigate this, we aim to position ourselves near one or choose a business willing to let us use their facilities in exchange for patronage. Many friends who spend all day at parades like Endymion or Super Sunday adopt this strategy. Update: Last year, we discovered a restaurant offering restroom access if you dined there and kept your receipt—a game-changer!

Who’s riding.  Make sure to get float numbers, sides, and position numbers from your friends who are riding. Recognizing them amidst the parade can be surprisingly difficult, especially with masks. Let them know your precise location along the route; this not only makes it easier for them to spot you but also ensures you’re in prime position to catch all the goodies they toss your way.

Entering and Exit Strategy.  We make it a habit to plan our entry and exit strategy for any major event we attend. Knowing our options for getting in and out is crucial, especially in case of emergencies or if one of the kids needs to leave early. Questions like whether we can cross the parade route or if our parking spot allows for easy exit are essential considerations. Having a clear plan in mind prevents aimless driving and ensures a smooth departure if needed. Additionally, discussing emergency plans with both our spouse and companions is vital. Establishing a designated meetup spot in case of a major emergency is key, and it’s a conversation we involve the kids in as well.

Emergency Personnel.  This is an important point to consider. As a mom, I’m always on the lookout for authority figures at events like Mardi Gras. I make it a point to show my boys where the police officers are stationed and emphasize that if they ever get separated from us or encounter an emergency, their first step should be to seek out a police officer. While some may view this as paranoia or overprotectiveness, the reality is that educating our kids and equipping them with knowledge empowers them to act confidently in challenging situations. Update: Last year, during the New Orleans parades we attended, I took the boys to greet the officers. This simple act helped alleviate some of the fear associated with encountering police officers, and I was pleasantly surprised by how approachable and friendly they truly were along the parade routes.

To ladder or not to ladder.  It’s crucial to decide early whether bringing a ladder to the parade route is necessary. If your kids won’t use it, there’s no point in lugging it along. We have specific rules for night parades, requiring the kids to sit in the ladder, but for day parades, we often opt to forgo it altogether. Not having a ladder certainly makes maneuvering through the crowd much easier.

Rules.  Parades are fun but they can also be dangerous for kids.  You need to set ground rules for them if this is their first time going or if they are little.  Truth is if someone on a float throws them a bouncy ball they are going to go after it no matter what so you need to prepare them before they get hit by a float.  Obviously we are always around them but we talk to the kids before each parade.

1. The floats can and will hit you so you are to keep a safe distance.
2. Move back on the curb when the bands are coming.  They need room and they will also run over you.
3. The streets will be crowded so you are to stay close to mom and dad at all times.
4. Don’t fight over beads, there is enough for everyone.

Enjoy your carnival season!

XO,

Tiffany

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