NEED TO KNOW
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras season always begins on January 6th, however the duration of Carnival Season and Fat Tuesday (the grand finale of Mardi Gras) change each year, as this is dependent on the Lenten calendar. Fat Tuesday is the final day of Mardi Gras, and can fall anywhere from early February to early March.
2. What day does Fat Tuesday fall on?
List of Fat Tuesday Dates for the Next 10 Years:
2027: February 9
2028: February 29
2029: February 13
2030: March 5
2031: February 25
2032: February 10
2033: March 1
2034: February 21
2035: February 6
2036: February 26
3. What is the weather like during Mardi Gras?
New Orleans weather during Mardi Gras is generally beautiful! Daytime Temperatures usually range from the high 60’s to the low 80’s. A wonderful change for our guests coming from snowy destinations! The evenings can get a big colder, ranging from the 40’s to the high 60’s, so for this reason, we always recommend bringing a warm jacket for evening parade viewing. Also, a passing rain shower is always a possibility during Mardi Gras. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the weather forecast, as New Orleans weather can turn on a dime. Temperatures can swing 30 degrees from one day to the next. Likewise, one week it might be lovely, the next week it might be freezing. The year that Mardi Gras was cancelled due to COVID, temperatures on Fat Tuesday were record-breaking cold – in the 30’s! This is highly unusual, and we’ve never had weather like this in the nearly 15 years we’ve been hosting this tour. But again, keep an eye on that forecast, as anything can happen!
4. Where is the best place to celebrate Mardi Gras?
New Orleans, of course! There are many places that celebrate Mardi Gras throughout America and the world. Brazil and Venice celebrate Carnival, for example, but nobody celebrates Mardi Gras like New Orleans, Louisiana! New Orleans hosts the biggest parades and celebrations all month long! This is a true “bucket list” event!
5. When is the best time to go to Mardi Gras?
The final weekend of Carnival Season through Fat Tuesday. A 5-night stay is ideal, arriving the final Friday of Mardi Gras and leaving the day after Fat Tuesday. This is when all of the biggest and best parades roll, and when Mardi Gras is in full swing! This is exactly when we host our tour, so our guests get to experience all the best Mardi Gras parades, celebrations and fun!
6. Are the parades free?
Yes! All Mardi Gras parades are free for anybody to attend! Most people that go to Mardi Gras watch the parades for free from the street, and look forward to catching beads, and all kinds of fun “thows” like stuffed animals, doubloons, themed cups, led items, bouncy balls, frisbees, hats, bags, snacks, candy, and even custom-made items created by parade “krewe” members. These are the most coveted “throws” of all! You can also purchase tickets for grandstand seating for the parades, which give attendees a front row view of the parades, and also a place to sit for the duration – and access to bathrooms. Our Mardi Gras package includes one Grandstand Parade ticket to a full evening of parades, and our Grandstands are the best on the parade route!
7. Where is the best place to watch Mardi Gras parades?
Most parades follow the same route (with a few exceptions) traveling down Saint Charles Ave. and Canal Street. The biggest crowds are along these streets. Most of the grandstands are located on St. Charles Ave. in the Downtown area (also called the Central Business District). Canal Street borders the French Quarter, and as this is where most people stay during Mardi Gras, this section of the parade route is always very crowded, an iconic and electric place to watch the parades. Canal Street is all standing room, and is a great place to catch beads and throws, and to see the huge floats in all their glory! Finally, watching the parades on Tchoupitoulas Street is a true Insider tip! This street is at the bottom of Canal Street, and is the last stretch of the parade route for most parades (not all). This offers a more “neighborhoody” feel, and this is where most Downtown/French Quarter locals and many families watch the parades. Whereas there are barricades protecting the crowds from the floats along the main parade routes of St. Charles Ave. and Canal Street, there are no barricades along this street, so parade-goers can cross the parade route here easily and get very close to the floats, and even be handed beads and throws by float riders. Because there are no barricades here protecting the crowd from the floats, it is very important to exercise caution when watching parades from this location.
8. Are bathrooms hard to find during Mardi Gras?
No! Bathrooms are easily accessible during Mardi Gras. Along the parade route (where our guests see the parades which is in the Downtown area and border of the French Quarter) there are ample bathrooms available – banks of well-attended port-o-potties, and you can always pop into a hotel or restaurant and use their restroom as well. Bathrooms can be an issue on more local, “neighborhoody” stretches of the parade route, but bathrooms are generally very accessible for tourists and guests of the city who are watching the parades from the Downtown/French Quarter area.
9. How long (length) is the parade route?
Most of the headlining parade routes are 4 – 6 miles long. All travel along the same main stretch along St. Charles Ave. and Canal Street. For our guests, the parades we watch are the UPTOWN parades. We also watch one parade from MID-CITY on Saturday night, this is the Krewe of Endymion parade.
10. How long (time-wise/duration) is each parade?
Parades usually take 2 – 4 hours to pass a single viewing spot. The entire parade (from first float to last clearing the route) can take 5 – 8 hours, depending on the size of the parade. Some parading “krewes” are smaller whereas some of the “Super Krewe” parades have over 30 floats and thousands of riders, as well as marching bands, dance groups, mounted riders, and other various local clubs showcasing their Mardi Gras best.
11. Where can I find a complete schedule of parades?
On our website page, HERE. Parades are listed by day, time and location. Our parades begin from “Uptown New Orleans” and “Mid-City.” Disregard all other parades/starting locations.
12. Is there a way to track parades in real time?
Yes, we recommend downloading a New Orleans parade tracker app. The first float in each parade carries a beacon sending a signal to this app, letting all know where the parade is on their journey down the 4-6 mile parade route. This app is incredibly helpful for tracking the parades to make sure you don’t miss a second of parade action!
13. Is Mardi Gras family-friendly?
Yes, Mardi Gras is very family friendly! All of the parades are a blast for kids to attend, and kids get absolutely showered with beads, stuffed animals and all kinds of throws! There are certain aspects that aren’t so kid friendly – we don’t recommend a family stroll down Bourbon Street at night, for example (boobs, crowds, noise, etc.) but enjoying the French Quarter, Jackson Square, beignets at Café du Monde, the live music throughout town, the French Market, the art and of course, the parades, are all super fun and wonderfully engaging for kids of all ages!
14. What should I wear during Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras truly is an “anything goes” kind of event. Every day you are in New Orleans, you will see people dressed in everything from normal, casual clothing all the way to full-blown outrageous costumes! While our Insider Guides love to dress up for many of our tour events, we want you to dress however you feel the most comfortable. That said, costumes are always a fun idea during Mardi Gras, and if you are on the fence about whether to bring a crazy wig or tutu, or even a favorite Halloween costume, we say: GO FOR IT! If you haven’t packed any costume gear but are feeling festive when you arrive, there are tons of shops in the French Quarter where you can purchase bits of Mardi Gras flair to spruce up your attire. From boas to funky hats to miles and miles of beads, colorful Mardi Gras embellishments are always close at hand.
15. What shoes should I wear during Mardi Gras?
Dress for comfort and wear comfortable shoes. While it can be tempting to wear high heels to match your perfect Mardi Gras outfit, DON’T DO IT! The streets in the French Quarter are uneven, with sidewalks that are hundreds of years old, and riddled with potholes and missing stones. Furthermore, you will be doing a lot of walking while in New Orleans, so set yourself up for success and wear sneakers or boots in place of anything open-toed or strappy. Locals know! They always rock dresses and costumes with sneakers and boots. It’s a “look!”
16. Do I need Restaurant Reservations during Mardi Gras?
New Orleans is a culinary destination, known the world over for its unique Cajun and Creole cuisine! Gumbo, jambalaya, fresh oysters, muffulettas, po-boys, red beans and rice, gator sausage, bananas foster and beignets are all on the menu during Mardi Gras – and don’t even get us started on the cocktails and King Cake! There are so many restaurants throughout the French Quarter, and eating well and fairly quickly is never ever a problem, even during Mardi Gras! You can grab a quick bite at many cafes and even a slice of pizza from one of the many options on Bourbon Street. You do not need a reservation at most restaurants, however if you do want to make a reservation or two at one of the French Quarter’s classic eateries or hotspots, this is a good idea. Many New Orleans restaurants can be found on opentable.com, where you can make a reservation online. Some restaurants do not take reservations during Mardi Gras, but will rather take your name upon arrival or have you line up outside the restaurant. If there is a wait, it usually isn’t longer than 20 – 30 minutes.
17. What is a Mardi Gras “Krewe” and how are they involved in Mardi Gras?
A Mardi Gras krewe is a private social club or organization that organizes parades, lavish masquerade balls, and year-round festivities during the Carnival season. Best known in New Orleans, these groups are the backbone of Mardi Gras, operating much like exclusive, highly structured teams of community celebrators. Each Mardi Gras parade is hosted by a different Krewe. For example, on the final/big weekend of Mardi Gras leading up to Fat Tuesday, Saturday night’s headlining parade is simply referred to as Endymion. This refers to the Krewe of Endymion, the Krewe that is hosting the parade for that evening. They have their own exclusive membership and host events throughout the year, and of course the main event of the year is the parade that they host that Saturday night. Krewe members work all year long decorating each float, preparing for their roll in the parade, and organizing the details of the parade, including booking marching bands and different local dance troops and social clubs to perform, march, walk or roll in their parade. The members who choose to ride on a Mardi Gras parade float pay a premium and also bring with them a bead and “throw” haul which they toss from the float to excited parade-goers. All Krewes have branded items that they toss out embossed with the Krewe name, and many decorate and hand-make “throws” such as the Krewe of Muses, who decorate high heel shoes. These custom hand-made throws are coveted and it is very exciting to catch something like this! Many locals will display a Muses high-heel shoe in their home as if it is a fine piece of art, up on a pedestal or in a viewing case!
18. Are only beads tossed from parade floats?
Oh my goodness, so many things are thrown from the parade floats! Beads, of course yes! To begin, there are all kinds of beads tossed, different colors and sizes, many with LED medallions, and many custom beads that are created by each Krewe, like the Krewe of Iris, who create beautiful flower-themed beaded necklaces – and these change every year! But so many more things are thrown from the parade floats as well, including stuffed animals (my daughter through the years has caught tons of stuffies, including giant stuffies: a one-eyed bunny unicorn stuffie, a winking shrimp sushi stuffie, and endless gators, teddies, etc). Also tossed are bouncy balls, frisbees, trucker hats, fanny packs, socks, LED crowns, LED wands and swords, Krewe-branded custom collectible cups, custom Krewe doubloons or coins, Christmas ornaments, tooth brushes, bags of chips, Ramen packets, moon pies, candy, party hats, hand-decorated specialty items, face glitter, footballs … the list is really endless, you never know what you’re going to catch at a Mardi Gras parade!
19. How can I get the attention of the float riders?
You can create a sign, dress in sequins, dress in costume, carry a kid with you (float riders always shower kids in beads and throws) and yell, “Throw me somethin’, Mister” to the float riders – it’s a Mardi Gras tradition!
20. Can I ride on a parade float during Mardi Gras?
Most of the parading Krewes allow only members to ride, and they must pay a premium to do this and also provide a certain amount of beads and throws to toss out of the float during the parade, all is designated by their Krewe. However, there are some Krewes that allow for outside/non-members to come aboard and take part in the fun! This costs upwards of $2,500 per person – please call or email us for details on this.
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