When I saw the list of Mardi Gras parades, I had no idea that many of them looked like this.
I’ve already mentioned how I had only experienced a sliver of Mardi Gras on my previous trips as a tourist. This year, I dug into the parade schedule to get an idea of the full list of parades, the routes and the timing so that I could figure out how to see a lot of different parades from different places, and yet somehow still survive Mardi Gras as a local.
St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA
But I had no idea that many of the parades looked like this: semis, pulling decorated trailers, blasting music and honking horns, a combination creating a vastly different experience from the other parades featuring decorated, themed floats pulled by tractors, marching bands and dance troupes.
St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA
It’s a side of Mardi Gras I didn’t know existed. And while it’s not my cup of tea, it’s an experience many obviously enjoy, because the streets were packed, people were grilling, the ladders were still there, and people were still yelling for beads, engaging with the riders, and celebrating Mardi Gras.
I have to admit I was a little apprehensive about bringing my family to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, LA.
All my fears were put to rest after we attended our first night parade, Endymion. We sat in the grandstands where there were tons of families, beads and fun. It was a great introduction and made me realize Mardi Gras was not what I expected.
The next day I really got a taste of “Family Gras” when we spent the day tailgating on St. Charles. This is where families camp out and spend the day eating, watching the parades, playing football and over all having a great time. We also experienced the ladders and how apparent this part of Mardi Gras was all about the kids.
Finally on our last day (Lundi Gras), we experienced the Orpheusparade in a whole new way from a balcony on St. Charles. Thanks to Kevin Kelly from Houmas House.
Whether from a grandstand, on the ground or from a balcony, each of our Mardi Gras experiences wereamazing and totally family-friendly.
Not once during our 3 day adventure did I see anything inappropriate, and I’m being absolutely honest and not sugar coating any part of the trip. I also felt completely safe walking the streets of New Orleans. Many props to the New Orleans police department for being active and present at every corner of the event…we didn’t even see a single altercation.
We knew that most of the debauchery that is portrayed at Mardi Gras is pretty much secluded to Bourbon Street. Knowing this we simply stayed away and had no less of a good time because of it. It’s also important to know when to leave, as where not to go. We headed back to the hotel as soon as the parades were over, about 10pm. Common sense really plays a big role when bringing children to an event such as this.
For us, Mardi Gras was about spending time together as a family, enjoying great food, fabulous company and just experiencing first hand the magic and excitement of the parades, floats, beads, masks and other festival treats.
I’m so confident that Mardi Gras can be a family-friendly experience that we are already planning a trip back next year.
I encourage all families to see it for themselves at least once. It’s truly an experience you will never forget!
An alarm clock is just a clock if you don’t set it. I learned that the hard way early Fat Tuesday morning.
The night before heading out to the New Orleans Arena to ride in Zulu, I rode on Orpheus. It was my first time and it showed: I had too few beads, didn’t get enough sleep the night before and got to the convention center just in time for the parade. It was an amazing experience, as I’ve been looking up at floats for my entire life, so the hiccups didn’t slow me down.
Judging by my experience riding in Zulu, though, I didn’t learn much. Instead of having too few beads, I only had 12 beads and three sacks of coconuts. I was working on an hour and a half of sleep because I got home from the Bacchus Ball around 3 a.m., and I (thought) I had to be at the New Orleans Arena for Zulu just two hours later. I would have slept through that deadline if it weren’t for my dog slobbering all over my face on the couch. So at 5:45 a.m. I bolted out my door to try and make the beginning, which was set for 45 minutes from then, and get onto the float.
Fortunately, after running for what felt like a mile after parking, I was able to make it in time and the Zulu krewe was more than obliged to get me situated.
When I showed up everyone was already set and ready to go, complete with blackface makeup and afro-wigs, the traditional garb for the krewe. I had to have one of the members fix my makeup since I showed up so late:
The crowds were huge to start. It’s a unique route that goes south on Jackson Avenue instead of north on Napoleon Avenue, like a lot of other superkrewes do.
Then we arrived at St. Charles Avenue with Rex, the other huge parade on Fat Tuesday, hot on our tail. We’d head all the way down to Canal Street, much like last night at Orpheus, but this time we’d go further north to Broad Street.
Along the way we passed by the WWL-TV stand at Gallier Hall where, from left, photographer Paul Corcoran, meteorologist Carl Arrendondo and anchor Angela Hill were watching the parade.
Even though I had no beads at this point, I was loaded up with coconuts. Here’s my mother after I tossed three of them at her:
After reaching Canal, we were met by an insane amount of parade-goers until the very end.
I’ve been in two parades in the last 24 hours. I rode for 15 hours of it and slept for a little under two. It was, to say the least, not a way of easing into the experience. But after hovering over tens of thousands of voracious screamers and having them all stare the coconut in my hand down, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Sure felt good for once to look down, not up, during Mardi Gras.
What a day! Mardi Gras celebrations roll on and the entire My Mardi Gras experience team of bloggers were invited to spend Sunday’s festivities, parades and enjoyment with Tom Martin and his family, and their friends and their families and then their friends and their families on the neutral ground near Jackson Street. A mix of ages from grandparents to kids, a mix of activities from throwing the football in between parades to grilling up BBQ chicken and grasshoppers (ask Tom for the recipe, amazing) and getting to know each other.
As day rolled into night, the crowds thickened in preparation for one of the Super Krewes, Krewe of Bacchus. This quick video was shot right before Bacchus began and the crowds started going wild – and not just because Drew Brees was named King of Bacchus!
Why Bacchus? Here’s a brief history:
Bacchus, The God of Wine and Vegetation
Bacchus, in Greek mythology, was the god of wine and vegetation. He showed mortals how to cultivate grapevines and make wine.
As the son of Zeus, Bacchus is usually characterized in one of two ways:
First, as the god of vegetation specifically of the fruit of the trees. Eventually, he became the popular Greek god of wine and cheer, and wine miracles were reputedly performed at certain of his festivals. According to tradition, Bacchus died each winter and was reborn in the spring. To his followers, this cyclical revival, accompanied by the seasonal renewal of the fruits of the earth, embodied the promise of the resurrection of the dead.
The yearly rites in honor of the resurrection of Bacchus gradually evolved into the structured form of the Greek drama, and important festivals were held in honor of the god, during which great dramatic competitions were conducted.
Since this is my first Mardi Gras too, I’ve been asking a lot of questions about the different parades and what’s behind them. I found out Bacchus celebrated 40 years in 2008 and look at some of their incredible milestones:
1968
» Bacchus Parade Founded
1969
» Bacchus’ First Parade
» First Krewe to Parade Super-floats Through the French Quarter
» First Krewe to Parade Through the Rivergate (Now the Harrah’s Casino)
1972
» Bacchus Introduces Its First Two Signature Floats: King Kong and Bacchasaurus
1973
» Bacchus Parade is Nationally Televised as a Part of Bob Hope’s Reign
» Bacchus Introduces Its Third Signature Float: Queen Kong
1979
» Bacchus Parade Canceled Due To New Orleans Police Department Strike
1982
» Bacchus Introduces Its Fourth Signature Float: Baby Kong
1986
» Bacchus Introduces Its Fifth Signature Float: The Green Bacchagator
» The Bacchus Parade Introduced The Aquarium/Mermaid Float
1990
» Bacchus Moves Its Annual Rendezvous To The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center From The Rivergate
1991
» Bacchus Introduces Its Sixth Signature Float: The Bacchawhoppa (Whale)
» Bacchus Re-Introduces Flambeaux Carriers To The Bacchus Parade
1993
» Bacchus Celebrates Its Silver Anniversary
1997
» Bacchus Modifies The Green Bacchagator Float To Resemble The Rare White “Leucisitic” Alligator, A Beloved Attraction At The New Orleans Aquarium Of The Americas
1999
» Bacchus Launches It First Internet Site On The World Wide Web
2000
» Bacchus Introduces The First “Mass Quantity” Hand-Painted Medallion Bead To Mardi Gras
2001
» Bacchus Introduces The First “Talking” Medallion Bead To Mardi Gras
» Bacchus Parade Is Nationally Televised As A Part Of Larry King’s Reign As Bacchus XXXIII
2005
» The Bacchagator Float Returns To Its Original Green Color
2006
» Bacchus & Endymion Parade Back-To-Back On The Same Night, Creating The Largest Single Night Of Super-Krewe Parades In Mardi Gras History
2008
» Bacchus Celebrates its 40th Anniversary
Thank you Krewe of Bacchus for one of my favorite parades of the entire Mardi Gras!
I had a goal of riding in two parades, back to back: Orpheus on Lundi Gras and Zulu on Fat Tuesday. No one said it would be easy, but everyone said it would be fun.
One parade in, they were right.
The two parades are about as close together as you can get, with just a few early morning hours separating the two. Orpheus runs around 6 p.m. Monday and ends around 12 a.m. Zulu begins at 8 a.m. and ends anywhere between 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Usually about three to four hours before the parade begins, riders sign in and buy any last beads before boarding up onto the float. This shot was taken just before the floats left the convention center in New Orleans.
Once on the float, there’s pretty much no room. It’s jammed with people jostling for spots to put their beads — or throws, as the locals often call them.
After leaving the convention center, there’s an hour-long ride to the beginning of the route. There riders try and get situated, and after nearing Napoleon, they’re all let out into the street, where food and drinks are shared before the long ride.
Here I am on the left with my friend, Will, who was riding along with me on this little experience. As you can see, they let us walk around before the ride truly begins.
Here’s a picture of the man leading the Mandarin Cheesecake float, which is where Will and I rode for the trip. Doesn’t he look peaceful? He was about the only one. All the riders were pumped and ready to go.
…And we’re off. It didn’t take long to see Saints fans. The Ying Yang Twins were blaring from the crowd almost from start to finish.
The last four pictures were taken on the early stretch of the St. Charles route. It’s where many of the locals go during Mardi Gras, and where you’ll see a huge mix of young and old. There will be college kids partying alongside those collecting their pensions and retirement checks. Here parade-goers will stake out a spot hours and hours before the parade even begins, sometimes days. Grilling and tents pop up along this section of the route.
Here are some more shots from St. Charles Avenue up until Lee Circle:
Roughly half way through the route, we come up on Lee Circle.
Lee Circle, the only roundabout in New Orleans, marks the bridge between Uptown (the St. Charles route) and Downtown. From here on out you’ll see a lot less camping and a condensed amount of people. You’ll also see them on rafters and rooftops, since the parade is often going down a more narrow street than before.
U.S. Attorney Jim Letten catches a throw from yours truly.
Around 11:45 p.m. we arrived in the Orpheus Ball. It’s like a fancy, indoors Mardi Gras where all the floats come in one-by-one and throngs of formally attired parade-goers greet them. Then krewe then parks, gets out and enjoys the ball.
And that’s that. As of my typing this, it is 1:15 a.m. Smashmouth is playing after coach Sean Payton greeted the crowd. I’m a little tired and a little overstimulated, but it was an experience of a lifetime.
I’m all ready to do it over again in just a few hours when I’ll be riding in Zulu. I’ll keep you posted.
New Orleans has always had a soft spot in my heart. I come from a family that plans their next meal, during the meal that precedes it – and New Orleans is foodie paradise. Add to that, some of the friendliest, most open people you’ll meet, great music and a “laissez les bon temps rouler” vibe and you’ve got yourself a great town.
I have visited my beloved NOLA many times, but always avoided Mardi Gras due to my proclivity for keeping my clothes on and aversion to thick crowds. But this year, I made an exception.
Fresh off the Super Bowl victory and the election of a new mayor, the town feels even more electric than visits past. Yesterday, I parked it Uptown with countless families who had staked out their traditional parade viewing/picnicking spot along the grassy street car tracks on St. Charles Ave. We whiled the day away chatting, people watching and noshing nonstop on amazing food, breaking only to hop up on a ladder to watch one of five parades pass by. Got the throws to prove it! I ate some of the best jambalaya (cooked in a cauldron right there), discovered the Cajun Grasshopper (cream cheese stuffed jalapeno topped with flank steak wrapped in bacon- yum), and tasted some great mini muffeletas and slivers of king cake. Kids (mostly in Brees #9 jerseys) were everywhere – tossing around the nerf football or plush toy animal throws they had caught in the last parade.
At the end of the day, my perception has changed. Away from Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras IS a family-friendly event. And the only breasts I saw yesterday were those in the Popeye’s chicken bucket next family over.
Ok, today was about Bacchus and Beads and Brees, but if you ask me, Mardi Gras, the way the locals celebrate, is all about the food.
This morning we headed to our outpost on St. Charles to catch as many parades as we could. I caught about three and have the beads to prove it. But I also got a taste of King Cake. This one was from one of the many Randazzo bakeries.
I also got a bowl of jambalaya and while I make mine from a Paul Prudhomme recipe, I swear, jambalaya tastes different in NOLA than anywhere else. Also, how impressive is it to make a delicious batch in such a big cauldron?
Finally I learned a grasshopper is not always a terrestrial plant-eating insect with hind legs adapted for leaping or even a cocktail made of creme de menthe and cream. No at Mardi Gras a grasshopper is a jalapeno, stuffed with cream cheese, topped with a slice of flank steak and wrapped in, yes, bacon. Grilled to perfection I’d say.
Happy Mardi Gras y’all and Bon Appetite!
I’m not yet in full costume. Wig only. The rest of the costume is coming in future videos and photos! But one thing was required – a blue wig. So here I am, getting ready to walk into Mardi Gras World and pre-party and prep for Krewe of Muses to parade and ride through Uptown and into the CBD and downtown to Canal Street.
The one day delay did not dampen the crowds of the spirit of the riders. Here I talk about what I’m most looking forward to and take a moment to thank the sponsors, without whom, none of this would have been possible.
Krewe of Muses was postponed one night during this year’s Mardi Gras due to chilling temperatures and threat of sleet and (gasp) snow. So the normal ritual of loading the floats, pre-pary, parade ride and then party were changed slightly. All would go as planned, but with the party the same night and all the rest on Friday instead of the traditional Thursday.
The above video shows me on my float the night before the ride talking about Muses the next night and, what I thought, was in store. If that all would be true, would be better or different than I thought, well none of that I knew at the time. You’ll have to stay tuned for more videos featuring the rest.
I should start with an admission. Hello, my name is Sloane Berrent and I am madly in love with New Orleans. And as of December 1, 2009, I now live in New Orleans. Yet for all my hooting and hollering to friends about how great New Orleans is and what a once-in-a-lifetime experience it is to be here now, in the post-Katrina reconstruction and recent excitement of a new mayor and Super Bowl Champions, this Mardi Gras is my first Mardi Gras ever. So how did a Northern girl, Pittsburgh native, New England educated and for the past five years California-living girl end up in New Orleans?
Well, that’s a longer story entirely, but it all bases around what I’ve come to realize now is the essence of Mardi Gras. The ideal that anything is possible. Want to create five days of parades from the cultural to the subversive where families linger outside and neighbors talk to each other and no one is sitting at home playing video games and getting yelled at for not doing the dishes? Come to Mardi Gras. Want to dress up and raise a small umbrella and dance through the streets behind a brass band? Come to Mardi Gras. Want to see children laughing and running in the streets and catching beads and small stuffed animals with pure looks of joy on their faces? Come to Mardi Gras. Want to start the day surrounded by total stranger but end it with new friends (and probably an outstanding invitation to Sunday dinner one week)? Come to Mardi Gras.
Does the revelry sometimes get out of hand? Sure. So does tailgating at a football game or a cocktail party in the home. But seeing as how there has been a parade every day since last Thursday (save Monday we were all tired from the Superbowl win after all), I haven’t seen one indiscretion worthy of concern. What I have seen, the ladders, the care people take for each other, the ebb and flow of the parade routes as they roll through, is something to relish and appreciate. It’s what makes New Orleans, well, New Orleans. A city with a culture and a language all its own, just beckoning you in to experience her for yourself.
If this isn’t your year to come celebrate Mardi Gras with us, start making plans for next year. I’ll be on year two and much wiser to the “local” ways and you can come find me on the neutral ground celebrating with the rest of the New Orleanians and lovers o New Orleans.
Note to the reader: Look up definition of neutral ground.
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