Discover the DOs and DON’Ts of Visiting New Orleans During Mardi Gras
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📍New Orleans, Louisiana
Ahh, Mardi Gras. Even if you’ve never stepped foot in Louisiana, you’re probably well aware of this extravagant festival. Every year, an approximate 1.5 million people celebrate Carnival Season in The Big Easy, pumping an already vibrant city with an intense level of vibrancy emanating from excited tourists.
The crowds can be massive; The energy is always high; The beads and drinks will be plentiful. And with all of this, you may be left wanting to be a part of the action while also having absolutely no idea where to start. That’s actually the easy part, because you’ve already found your way to an all-in-one Mardi Gras guide right here. Continue reading to learn what Mardi Gras is, when the events kick off, and the top 10 DOs and DON’Ts to visiting New Orleans during this Mardi Gras season.
What is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras, translated from French to mean “Fat Tuesday,” is the culmination of multiple weeks of carnival celebrations, and not a one day extravaganza as many people believe. Carnival season begins on January 6th every year, gradually increasing in parade frequency and grandeur until the grand finale which occurs on Fat Tuesday, the day before ash Wednesday.
Historically, this carnival season is regarded as a religious holiday, meant to provide followers of the Catholic Church with a time dedicated to indulgence before their time of sacrifice during lent. It was first celebrated in America when French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Sieur de Bienville held a small celebration near present day New Orleans when they suddenly realized it was the eve of the holiday during their exploration. The tradition stuck, evolving from formal masked balls, to candlelit processions, and culminating in the grandiose parades we know of today.
What to do while visiting New Orleans during Mardi Gras
DO show up early on parade days
New Orleans is unique and beautiful partly because of its historic streets and lining French influenced architecture. Founded in 1718, this fact also comes with the caveat that the New Orleans streets were designed to handle the occasional horse drawn carriage, not the congestion of modern day traffic. It’s not uncommon to get stuck in a gridlock during a casual day in New Orleans, but add in a swarm of tourists who are driving in one direction to try and witness some iconic parade activity, you could miss the event altogether if you don’t factor in enough time. This is why, we suggest planning on finding a parking spot at least an hour and a half prior to the start of the day’s parades. You get bonus points if you scout out the city on a quieter day prior to a big parade day.
The Crescent City Connection (shown above), seamlessly funnels 8 lanes of traffic into the city of New Orleans every day. What happens to those cars once they’re in the city isn’t is a completely different story.
DO download a parade tracker app
Most people come to Mardi Gras to see the theatrical parades roll down New Orleans’s most iconic streets, but many people may not know that not all of these parades are created equal. Some parades follow a nearly straight path Uptown, some weave around the French Quarter, some are as far as an hour’s drive from the heart of New Orleans to some of their neighboring towns. It can all get complicated fast, especially if you’ve been enjoying some of the freely flowing social lubricant. To help you plan your day around the parades you have your heart set on seeing, download a free parade tracker app. This one tells you when each Krewe will be performing, when their start time is, and it shows you their route along with real-time GPS tracking of their movement.
I couldn’t recommend this app enough for tracking parade routes, as the real-time GPS really helps minimize any wait you may experience.
DO try a Sazerac
While strolling through the French Quarter, you’ll see a countless number of signs advertising sugary cocktails which are ultimately a short way to see a Mount Everest sized spike in your blood sugar. Don’t get me wrong, we all need a hurricane every once in a while, but when in New Orleans, please try the Sazerac. Made with a base of Rye Whiskey, elevated with a sugar cube, and a dash of bitters, and garnished with a lemon peel, the Sazerac proudly boasts its title as America’s oldest cocktail. Sophisticated, stiff, and yet surprisingly simple, anyone who's anyone hasn’t left New Orleans without giving it a taste (and yes, that is a subtle sprinkling of peer pressure).
DO taste test Café Du Monde and Café Beignet
This entire list of “DOs” could be filled with places to eat and drink across The Big Easy, but since there are other foodie blogs devoted to just that, I’ll leave you with my two cents on the matter. Get a beignet. No, wait, get TWO beignets. Café Du Monde and Café Beignet have been rival bakeries for years, each claiming to be home to the best rendition of this French inspired fried pastry, and both coated in a generous dusting of powdered sugar. Both establishments are located in the French Quarter, making it accessible for most city visitors, but the lines can stretch around the block if you go too late. In my opinion, hopping in line to try both renditions of this breakfast treat is a great way to see a bit of the city, and to kill some time before your parade of choice starts. After all, you showed up early, right?
Our personal favorite, Café Du Monde, is best enjoyed sitting at the adjacent park of Jackson Square.
DO cautiously venture out on Bourbon Street (at certain times)
Here’s the thing, Bourbon Street is infamous for rowdy times and overpriced drinks. Locals caution visitors from getting close to the shenanigans of the area, yet visitors can’t seem to stifle their curiosity. I get it, I really really do, which is why I have quite prudently placed a trip to Bourbon Street in the DO category, as long as you stay situationally aware and mindful of the time of day. On our first day in New Orleans, I made the mistake of walking down Bourbon Street during the harsh light of morning, immediately being hit by a wall of unpleasant scents, the sounds of city workers sweeping up mountains of litter, and taking each step while wondering if I would have to throw out my shoes afterword. A few times, I made eye contact with some stragglers from the night before, having to all but stop myself from wrapping them in my jacket and buying them a cup of coffee.
Flash forward to 2pm, we once again found ourselves on Bourbon in search of a nearby parade, and the vibe of the streets had shifted to a lovely state of cheerful. As a lover of people, the light buzz on the streets and midday music made for some of the best people watching I’d ever had the pleasure of being entertained by. We walked through clouds of bubbles, pet dogs who wore pink wigs, and saw a man on a Segway who styled a python around his neck quite fashionably. And we witnessed all of this with wide eyes behind the rim of an ice cold mojito. Now, the atmosphere of Bourbon Street after dark is a different story entirely, which is why we gracefully made our exit as the sun began to set on those puddle-peppered streets. We experienced Bourbon, woke up the next day without a hangover, and lived to tell the tale. Bearing in mind that the closer you get to Fat Tuesday, the more rowdy those streets are going to get at earlier and earlier times, go ahead and give it a try. I promise it’s not that scary.
Bourbon Street is actually named after the House of Bourbon, the French ruling family during the time of it’s initial construction, and not the liquor as many suspect.
What not to do while visiting New Orleans during Mardi Gras
DON’T get trapped in “the box”
The dreaded box refers to the parts of New Orleans that frequently gets cut off from the rest of the city during parade days. Stretching from Napoleon Avenue to Canal Street and from St. Charles Avenue to Tchoupitoulas Street, it can be nearly impossible to get a vehicle through this area during the celebration, and the streets don’t regularly clear until several hours after the festivities are over. If you’re driving into New Orleans for the day, stay clear of parking anywhere within this boundary to avoid being held prisoner in your own car. Likewise, if you need a ride to take you somewhere while you are currently standing in the box, you’ll have to walk to the boundary before any form of public transport will come and pick you up.
To help you visualize, I’ve highlighted marked the boundaries of “the box” in the image above using Google Maps.
DON’T pay for beads
Along with all of the history and culture that New Orleans has to offer, there are even more souvenir shops which are all trying their hardest to get you to spend your hard earned money on some Mardi Gras beads. Even worse, some monetarily motivated individuals will even walk the streets with handfuls of beads, placing them on the necks of unsuspecting tourists and then requesting compensation for the privilege. Don’t fall for it, and don’t waste your money on buying beads because they are certainly not hard to come by once the parades start rolling. Part of the fun of Mardi Gras is jumping up to catch the beads as Krewe members toss them to you from their floats. After just one parade, I can bet you that your neck might start to hurt from all of the beads that you accumulate.
People will even throw you beads from their balconies, which is how I acquired some of the ones you see me wearing here.
DON’T wander aimlessly
Like any city that ever existed, New Orleans has some areas which are known to be hotspots for petty theft and crime. For a city goer confidently marching down the sidewalk, this would be no big deal. For a slightly tipsy visitor who is tripping over their own feet in search of a free bathroom, they may make themselves a target for such undesirable activities. It’s important to stay vigilant while in an unknown city, and so we strongly recommend sticking to densely populated streets, traveling with a local, or opting for an Uber or pedicab if you’re headed into unfamiliar territory.
DON’T be fooled by Willie’s Chicken Shack
I feel quite passionately about my question to find the best foods that every destination has to offer. This deeply rooted fervor is what motivated me to try Willie Mae’s Scotch House, home to what is arguably America’s most delicious fried chicken. Crispy, juicy, pleasantly spicy and delightfully flavorful, it’s the kind of chicken songs are written about and makes you think you might want to introduce it to your mother. However, scattered throughout the downtown portion of New Orleans are a casual, fast food style restaurant called Willie’s Chicken Shack. The names are similar enough to one another that many people stumble upon these Chicken Shacks and mistakenly think they’ve eaten at the locally renowned Scotch House. There’s not shame in ordering a quick plate of fried chicken at a Shack, because sometimes you just need some simple comfort food, but do it knowing exactly what you’re getting.
These chicken sandwiches from Willie Mae's Scotch House all but exploded with flavor in our mouths. Served beside candied yams, mac n cheese, and cornbread, every item was a winner!
DON’T bring your dogs (unless it’s to the Krewe of Barkus parade)
If you’re paying attention, you may remember that I recalled meeting a dog on Bourbon Street who was styling a hot pink wig. On this particular day, the Krewe of Barkus walked their parade down the French Quarter, and if the name doesn’t immediately give it away, this Krewe is entirely composed of dogs. It’s just one example of one of many whimsical parades you can catch while enjoying Mardi Gras, but for every event besides this one, I sincerely ask you to leave your pet at home. Mardi Gras is loud. People are yelling, music is blasting, and people are not looking at where they are going. It’s a perfect storm for a frightened dog, and even the tamest of frightened dogs can act in aggressive ways that would surprise you. I’m a dog lover as much as anybody, but I promise you that your furry friend would be happier left at home.
With floats like this, you should be able to satisfy your puppy craving during the Krewe of Barkus parade anyway.
DON’T ruin the fun for everyone
Mardi Gras party goers get away with a lot during carnival season, but there are a few things that can quickly ruin the fun for everyone. Don’t climb street signs or traffic lights. Not only is this dangerous to you, but it’s dangerous to everyone around you and can be destructive to the infrastructure of the city which can negatively impact New Orleans residents for weeks after you’ve left. Peeing in the streets is another big “no no” and is a quick way to get slapped with a hefty fine. The French Market has a free public bathroom, and every bar near Bourbon Street will allow you to use their restroom as long as you purchase something. Even if you’re not interested in another drink, a $5 donation to the bartender is much cheaper than a fine for public indecency. Last, but certainly not least, remember to keep all of your clothes securely on your body. Believe it or not, Mardi Gras, particularly during the day, is a family affair. Somewhere along the line of history, rumors spread that carnival season was filled with half naked women who flashed their breasts to everyone who asked, but this is certainly not the case. Keep your clothes on so that you don’t make anyone feel uncomfortable, you protect the innocence of other people’s children, and you don’t risk another citation from those friendly neighborhood NOLA police.
Boozy or not, be prepared for some good clean fun this Mardi Gras season, at least until the sun sets.
We hope you enjoyed this guide of Dos and Don'ts for Visiting New Orleans During Mardi Gras. Whether you are celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans this carnival season, or you are planning a trip for sometime in the future, we hope you found this to be a valuable read. If you have a question, or even have a Mardi Gras related recommendation for other travelers, leave us a comment down below. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Discovery Detour newsletter, for more destination guides that are crafted with a scientific/cultural flair.
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