Not much makes me miss New Orleans more like Mardi Gras season and considering it just kicked off, it seems like no better time than to bring you my travel guide to Mardi Gras in New Orleans! I hope this guide either has you excited for an upcoming trip or inspires you to plan one. Mardi Gras is magical and an amazing experience with kids. While it gets the reputation for being a wild party on Bourbon Street, there is so much more to offer. But hey, if “Bourbon Street wild” is what you are looking for, I say you do you, I’m not judging!
What is King’s Day?
In New Orleans, the official start of the Mardi Gras season is on January 6th, King’s Day. King’s day, also known as Epiphany, is when the 3 Wise Men (often referred to as the 3 Kings) visit Jesus 12 days after his birth. Hence, why it is also called the twelfth night. The celebration of King’s Day has certainly evolved over the centuries and over time the people of New Orleans began celebrating the occasion and honoring the 3 Kings by baking a King Cake.
King Cakes, hidden baby and all, are a very personal thing. Bakeries have all taken their own creative license to the delicacy and every family has their favorite and there’s not much you can do to sway their opinion. Our personal favorite, like many others, is Manny Randazzo. From the moment they open their doors for the season, the line wraps around the building and when they sell out for the day, they sell out. If you are not traveling to the city but still want to get a taste of the action, you can order one here or from another local favorite bakery here. Oh and as for the baby, if you are the one to get the hidden baby, the next cake is on you.
What is a Krewe?
You can’t have a beginner’s guide to Mardi Gras in New Orleans without mentioning krewes. Pronounced like “crew”, a Krewe is an organization that puts together a parade. Each Krewe has its own parade and they host those parades on various days and nights throughout the season leading up to Mardi Gras day.
What is a Super Krewe?
As you get closer to Fat Tuesday, mainly the weekend before, the Super Krewes ride. Super Krewes have an astounding number of members, some even as many as 3,000, and put on parades that will absolutely blow your mind. The 3 main super krewes are, Endymion, Bacchus, and Orpheus. Endymion rides on Saturday, Bacchus Sunday, and Orpheus Monday. Often times the super krewes have a celebrity Grand Marshall at the helm of the parade.
Guide To Mardi Gras in New Orleans-Traveling to Mardi Gras with kids
Is traveling to Mardi Gras with kids a good idea? Yes! 100 times over, yes! Kids from all over the city line the streets donned in their best Mardi Gras attire, floating in the air, on ladders made with toolboxes constructed by dads and grandpas everywhere. Yes, it’s as bizarre and charming as it sounds. If you are traveling to Mardi Gras with kids, Uptown is the place for you. When planning your visit, download the parade tracker app. The app breaks down every parade, route, float count, and if there are any delays. Spoiler alert, there are always delays.
My advice when going with kids, if they are younger, try and be at the beginning of the parade route. The crowds are less sparse and parking can be a bit easier.
Parking for Mardi Gras parades
Some schools and churches along the parade route offer paid parking. St Stephens sells both parking passes and wristbands for tables in their cafeteria. When you purchase a table, you get access to the bathrooms. This brings me to my next point. Bathrooms. It’s really the trickiest part about traveling to Mardi Gras with kids. There are porta-potties in various places but the lines are very long so plan accordingly. Some independent people sell wristbands to access a bathroom but I would reserve that for a last-ditch effort. Know going in, the restrooms will be closed in Walgreens and other ordinarily accessible public bathrooms.
All in all, traveling to Mardi Gras with kids is so worth it. The parades are truly something to marvel at. The Mardi Gras Indians, the flambeaux walkers, the floats, and the marching bands are wonderful. Of course, as in doing anything with kids, make sure to bring plenty of snacks and if you are in it for the long haul bringing your own lunch or dinner isn’t a terrible idea. Oh and hold the beads, stuffed animals, and random trinkets when packing, you will leave with more than you bargained for.
What to pack for the Mardi Gras parades
Guide to Mardi Gras in New Orleans – Most popular events.
The Weekend before Mardi Gras
The Krewe of Muses, an all-female krewe, really kicks off Mardi Gras weekend. They roll on Thursday night in Uptown and throw shoes designed and decorated by their krewe members. Believe it or not, these shoes are one of the most coveted of New Orleans Mardi Gras throws.
If you are in the French Quarter Friday afternoon, stop by The Royal Sonesta Hotel for the famous greasing of the poles. What started as a way to keep parade-goers from climbing the hotel poles for a better view has become an annual tradition and evolved into a judged competition. Friday night, the party continues Uptown with D’Etat and Morpheus.
For a quieter Saturday (relatively speaking), Iris and Tucks ride Uptown. Later that night, Endymion lights up Midcity and ends with their ball at the Superdome. With ball gowns and tuxes, you can actually purchase tickets to the Endymion Extravaganza! The parade rolls through the Superdome and the Extravaganza includes famous bands and of course food and drink. If going to the parade, be prepared to arrive early for a place to park and stand.
Sunday Thoth and Bacchus run the party Uptown. Like Endymion, Bacchus gets very busy. I read somewhere to plan on about 4 hours before the start of the busier parades and I think that is a fair assessment. Sunday has always been my favorite day.
Lundi Gras & Mardi Gras
Monday, Orpheus, which was started by Harry Conick Jr, rolls Uptown. Their famous Smokey Mary float is remarkable and carries hundreds of riders through the famous tree-covered streets.
Believe it not, after all of that, we are just now to actual Mardi Gras day. Both the Krewe of Rex and the Krewe of Zulu fill the day with their activities. The King of Rex is the reigning King of all of Mardi Gras. Since 1872 he has extended his Royal Invitation to all near and far to gather in New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras. On Monday night, the King of Rex and the King of Zulu arrive by boat where the mayor of New Orleans hands the King of Rex the keys to the city for he is King of the city for Mardi Gras.
Both parades roll uptown where the King of Rex stops in front of 2525 St. Charles Ave. for a toast. The home has become known as the “Rex Mansion” and since 1907, every King of Rex has stopped to toast the family and all past Kings who have done the same before them. Sadly, the house burned in a fire in 2019.
The pageantry lasts until the last minute and at exactly midnight, horse-mounted police marks the end of carnival season by closing down Bourbon Street. While it has just been another Tuesday for the rest of the world, the people of New Orleans are reminded yet again that “There are a lot of places I like, but I like New Orleans better” (-Bob Dylan).
And on Ash Wednesday, the following day, the crowds shift to the pews of their church to embrace New Orleans’ version of New Years Day.
To that I say, today we eat drink and be merry…for tomorrow we fast. Happy Mardi Gras y’all.
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