Mardi Gras Parade Hints

I thought I'd post a few of my own Carnival and Mardi Gras hints in case you can use them if you go.

1. Buy a bead bag. Bead bags are heavy duty bags that can handle many pounds of beads, and if you go to parades you'll need at least one for each parade (maybe two for Thoth). If you're lucky you'll only have to buy the first ones - many of the krewes use bead bags on the floats and they dump them into the street as they empty them - if you're fast you'll be able to grab a continuing supply that way. But you need at least one to start.

2. Make a list of the parades you want to go to, and figure out how you will get there from the hotel and back. These plans have to be flexible as weather and crowds are variable and can mess up the best-laid plans.

3. Go to Walgreens and buy a lawn chair as soon as you arrive. You'll be very glad you did. Days of 3, 4 and 5 parades can be LONG. You'll be glad you have a chair.

4. If you buy a small cooler and some water/pop/beer while you're at Walgreens you'll save yourself several trips for drinks because, depending on the weather, parading is HOT, thirsty work! Or just make sure you set up close to a frozen daquiri shop - umm, they're the best!

5. If you can afford it, go to one of the restaurants that offer all-you-can-eat-and-drink, grandstands and BATHROOMS, at least once. You'll see the parades from a whole different vantage point, with all your food and drink in easy reach. These are spendy but the prices are pretty consistent among the restaurants along St. Charles - $130-$150 or so per person (depending on the number of parades), and more for Fat Tuesday. They are expensive but fun, and it's worth it to do it at least once.

6. Do not underestimate the importance of a BATHROOM! Unless you can hold it all day or all night, you must plan to be near a bathroon, either by purchasing something from a restaurant or fast food place and keeping the receipt for re-entry (check for the rules), being near a port-a-potty, or best of all, locating your hotel on St. Charles (if you're interested in the Uptown parade route), or on another route, depending on the parades you want to see. Uptown has the most parades so that makes sense to me. This way you and yours can just walk back to your hotel room between parades to use the bathroom. Assuming you're not staying with friends on the parade route or having a party at a friend-of-a-friend's house (which is a popular thing to do) right on the route, that is. Just make sure you know where a useable bathroom is before you get all settled in.

7. Parades are fun. Don't get mad when you've waited on the sidewalk for hours and someone comes up right at the last minute as the parade finally gets there and stands in front of you. Usually accompanied by about 10 little kids. Don't worry - you'll still get plenty of throws and it's not worth it getting mad at them, they'll move along pretty quickly.

8. Don't be surprised when you see walls of ladders set up along the route and you can't find a way through them to get to your spot or across the street. The ladders are an annoyance and I don't like them, but it's not my town. Just keep walking and you'll eventually find a break in the ladders - you may have to do some backtracking around them to get to where you're going, but there's nothing you can do about it as long as they're allowed to set up the way they do. I don't like them either.

9. Don't get too close to the floats because you can trip up and go under the wheels. My brother likes to get really close, like touching close, and I finally have to just grab him to get him to stand back. I don't think he realized what he was even doing - he was hypnotized by the beads or something. Just be aware that, yes, you can go up to the floats, but PLEASE don't get so close that you get hurt or killed - that'll just take the fun out of it for everyone!

10. Do not worry that you won't get any throws! You will get MORE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY USE, more than you can carry home! You might be anxious before your first parade or so, but relax, everyone will get throws. See something you really want? Yell for it, and if you get it, thank the rider. Did you and your neighbor both grab the same throw? If you want it, hang on to it and make the other guy give it up! If you don't really care, be gracious and let him have it. In fact, the best neighbors share the booty - sometimes riders will throw a dozen beads at a time and you catch them all - check around and see if anybody wants some. You will be the "good guy" and other throws will be shared with you! I scored a Zulu coconut this way - my neighbor caught two during Zulu, and gave me one. On that note, don't feel that you have to keep everything you catch - you will be weighed down with tons of throws you don't really need - feel free to give away or just leave the ones you don't really want. Throw them in the trees if you want. Also, there are gleaners that will come by at most parades and pick up the unwanted beads - a lot of them sell them on eBay.

11. Do not be too shy to yell for throws! "Throw me something, mister" really means something to the riders and, if they can hear you, they will throw you something! You can yell anything - I got fabulous pink beads by yelling "pink! pink!" and pointing to the beads I wanted in the rider's hand! You really will get more stuff if you yell for it - it's a two way street between you and the riders. You'll get more stuff if you show them that you really want it! And, if you know someone on the float be sure to yell their name loudly, get your neighbors to yell the name, you will be PELTED with throws if you friend recognizes you! Or? Make a guess and yell "John! John!" and if there's a man named John on the float he may assume he knows you and will pelt you. I didn't do this, but I watched others do it and it worked!

12. When a float is going by, be sure to pay attention! Throws come from all directions, and some of the floats are two levels so throws are coming laterally and from above. You will get bonked in the head if you do not pay attention! Do the best you can - you'll probably be hit in the head anyway no matter how careful you are but you can at least reduce the number of times if you just stay aware.

13. Unless you really like the smell of urine and vomit, don't go to Bourbon Street at night during Carnival. Or if you're over 25 years old. It really is kind of disgusting. Go during the day - eat breakfast and lunch, go shopping, whatever, but don't be there at night, at least without knowing what you're getting in to. It can also be a blast, as long as you know what to expect. Unfortunately, because of the media coverage that Bourbon St gets, a lot of people think this is all there is to Carnival and Mardi Gras and have no idea how fun everything is and you never even have to go there if you don't want to and you can still have a fabulous experience.

14. Be sure to eat some King Cake! Rice and beans on Monday! Community coffee! For me, Voodoo Barbecue for lunch. Cafe DuMond for a break any time during the day. Anywhere you eat will be better than anything at home! Go to the Green Goddess!

Ok, that's all I can think of right now, plus it's getting really late. I know there are more hints, but I'll add them as I think of them.

Most important thing? If you go, HAVE FUN!