It can be quite difficult securing a place to stay—or even a place to eat—and getting from Point A to Point B can be a downright nightmare if you aren’t prepared.
So plan ahead, way ahead, and show up early if you want to get the best spots in town during this celebration.
#1 Eat Something
Being in the Southern part of the United States, New Orleans, naturally, has a lot to offer by way of food. Add to that the Creole influence and the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and you will find yourself in gastric heaven.
Perhaps the most famous of all the eateries in the area is Café Du Monde, where you can find beignets covered in powdered sugar and the perfectly sized mediocre cup of coffee. Located just off the French Quarter and with plenty of outdoor seating, this place is the perfect spot to rest and indulge, simultaneously.
Don’t forget to pinch some tails and suck some heads- that’s local speak for eating crawfish.
#2 Watch the Parades
The biggest events of all are centered on the parades that run through town. The parades begin an entire month before the actual day of Mardi Gras, with the most popular ones taking place in the days leading up to it. They are called krewes by the locals, and the super krewes are the most popular and popularly rambunctious parades. These include Zulu, Rex, Bacchus, Endymion and Orpheus. Show up early (as in, several hours early), grab a spot for viewing and wait for the spectacle to begin. It will undoubtedly be the highlight of your Mardi Gras experience.
#3 Dress Up
Outside of Halloween, Mardi Gras is one of the other days that not only allows for unwarranted costumes, but also actually encourages extravagant dress up. After many of the parades are after-parties, and many of them may even require a costume.
So start thinking about your attire, now, and plan accordingly. Bring a (cheap) camera and take pics of all the interesting and creative costumes you see!
#4 Catch Beads
Perhaps the most notorious part of Mardi Gras is the never-ending bead throwing.
While it has been said that one must flash the parade members for beads, this is not true. Simply hold out your hands, wear your biggest smile, and wait for the outpouring.
Each parade has dozens of floats, and each float is littered with dozens of people, each holding hundreds of beads, all to be thrown into the crowd. Don’t pay for beads, in any manner, and enjoy your growing collection.
#5 Adults Head to the French Quarter
While Mardi Gras is incredible fun for the whole family, there comes a time when the children must stay home. This is definitely true for the French Quarter, as well.
Though it is certainly loads of fun, it is for adults.
There is a lot of promiscuous behavior, plenty of drunk people, and a little bit more crime than in the other areas of the city.
Considering that most travelers head to New Orleans to check out the debauchery at one point during Mardi Gras this seems like the perfect place to explore when you’re ready: just leave the kids at home.
Whether you’re a local, or a tourist, you can easily enjoy the best that New Orleans has to offer during Mardi Gras. The key is to become familiar with the layout of the city (i.e. safe areas versus seedy areas), plan way ahead, make reservations, and stay hydrated. Things book up months in advance, so be sure to start early. If you do follow these 5 tips, then you will certainly see the city with the same enamored eyes the locals do.
Fischer Pest Control is proud to be a part of the local New Orleans community for more than 50 years. We hope to find this guide helpful and we’ll see you out at the parades in the metro area!
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