Looking for culture, entertainment and history all in one place? Grab the family and head to the Big Easy for Carnival Season. Mardi Gras is just as much for the kids, as it is for the adults. Yes, you read that right, Mardi Gras is kid-friendly.
Here are our Mardi Gras recommendations perfect for kids and kids at heart.
Don’t forget to yell, “Throw me something, mister!”
Safety First!
Both locals and tourists love Mardi Gras. This means the parade routes (there are 70 of them in total during the entire Mardi Gras season!) will be crowded.
Designate a meeting spot.
Phones can die. Service can drop. If you do separate from your group, head to that pre-determined meeting spot. You’ll be ever so grateful when your phone’s service bars disappear.
If this is your child’s first Mardi Gras, familiarize them with the crowds.
More than one million people visit the city for Mardi Gras. This number may seem overwhelming, but there is nothing to be scared of. It just takes a little getting used to.
Explain the importance of parade safety.
Watch the parades and marching bands from a safe distance and be aware of riders throwing catches. Don’t worry; your little ones will still catch their fair share of goodies.
Your little ones will have no trouble catching beads, trumpets, MoonPies and more!
Now to the Fun.
Don’t forget the snacks and water.
Parades can last from early in the day until 11 p.m. That’s an entire day of entertainment. Bring enough food and drink to keep you well fed and hydrated. New Orleans has some of the best food in the world –eat it!
Pack for quick changes in weather.
A pop-up rain shower or 15-degree temperature change from daylight to nightfall are commonplace. Don’t be without essentials to keep you comfortable (and dry).
Choose a kid-friendly watch spot.
The larger parades travel down St. Charles Ave. This means the closer to downtown you choose to watch, the later the night will be. We recommend setting-up somewhere near St. Charles Ave. and Napoleon Ave. You are far enough Uptown to both enjoy the parades and leave at a kid-friendly hour.
In New Orleans, the Mardi Gras decorations can even outdo Halloween.
Home again, Home again.
Whether you’re parading all day (and night) or simply watching a select one or two, having the proper pre- and post-parade plans will ensure your trip home will be as painless as possible.
Pick you parking spot wisely.
Want to leave the route early? Be prepared to park far from the action. The closer to the route, the more likely you will be “locked in” until far after the parade ends.
Research pre- and post-parade roadblocks.
Most of the parades run down the city’s main thoroughfares (St. Charles Ave., Canal St., etc.). This means not only will they be barricaded off, but crossing them will be impossible. Learn your side roads, back roads and alternate routes!
Be patient!
This is could be our most important advice. If you think heading back to your hotel or home will be easy, you’re mistaken. There will be setbacks. There will be traffic. But it’s Carnival Season, don’t worry about it!
Lagniappe (that’s “a little something extra”):
- Make you Mardi Gras trip a learning experience for your kids. After the parades have passed, try a walking tour, swamp tour or visit the Audubon Zoo.
- If you traveled to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and don’t want to take back all your parade goodies, donate them to various New Orleans charities. Many hotels will do it for you!