Mardi Gras Family Style
by
Deborah Burst
Families discover the real meaning of Carnival
from a 30 year parade
veteran
This
year Mardi Gras falls on March 8, one of the latest dates ever. Although the
parades start as early as three weeks before the big day, families can enjoy
the full thrill of festivities with a three to five day stay on Mardi Gras
weekend.
 True there are some saucy
revelers in the French Quarter, but the real Mardi Gras takes place in
family size tailgating on neutral grounds (wide grassy area dividing
roadways) along the Uptown parade route down Napoleon and St. Charles Avenue. The sweet smell of
barbeque swirls through miles of six-foot ladders topped with homemade
seats. Inside, little tykes feverishly wave their arms screaming for
trinkets and the prized stuffed animal. Mom or dad stand guard on the ladder
a little teary eyed hearing the shrill of their children’s eager voices.
 After 30 years of family
parading, the Sunday before Mardi Gras gets my vote for the “best show” in a
day long extravaganza of spectacular parades and throws. Catch four parades
along the Napoleon and St. Charles route with the Krewe of Isis, a smaller
female organization but very enthusiastic. Next the Mid-City parade, known
for their spectacular lineup of marching bands, then Thoth, a very large and
generous group of men who love to throw stuffed animals and special beads.
And one of the most prestigious parades in New Orleans,
Bacchus rolls after dark with super floats and premier bands from Louisiana and across the
country.
On
Napoleon Avenue, St. Stephens Church and school sell hot dogs, nachos,
beverages, and with a fee, the use of rest rooms. Since you’re in the
neighborhood, grab a sandwich at Casamento’s Restaurant on
Magazine Street, known the world over for their
oysters, raw and cooked. They serve all types of seafood, gumbo, along with
chicken tenders or spaghetti and meatballs. Double check on the opening
times as they vary during Mardi Gras.
  The
next day, the Monday before Carnival, known as Lundi Gras, grab the kids for
another fun-filled day packed with education. Head downtown near the river
and start with the Audubon Insectarium on
Canal Street, then a block away, the Audubon
Aquarium of the Americas. Just steps from the
Riverfront, it’s the Lundi Gras Festival welcoming the King of Rex and Zulu
along with a full schedule of events including food, fireworks, live
music and a children’s stage.
On Mardi
Gras day, things start very early with Zulu hitting the streets at 8 a.m.,
then Rex, and a day-long trail of truck parades where families build their
own floats on 18-wheeler beds pulled by tractors. Each truck has a theme and
its own unique costumes, a colorful sight with entire families from
grandparents to little ones throwing beads and trinkets to the throngs of
people.
Grab
those costumes and spend several days discovering not only the carnival
culture but the family side of New
Orleans. And don’t be shy, make friends with your
neutral ground neighbors and get tips from those veteran parade going
families.
Before you go…
Visit
the New Orleans Marketing group’s website for a complete schedule, parade
routes and checklist for those planning a New Orleans Mardi Gras family
trip.
http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/mardigras/mgfamilies.html
 Remember to get to the
parade site early or send a couple of people from your group to stake a
piece of real estate. Car pooling is a must as parking is a premium on side
streets. Pack up the wagon, rolling ice chest, camp chairs, blankets, extra
clothes, and plenty of bags for the beads and trinkets. Portable bathrooms
are provided by the city along the parade routes.
For
those who prefer to rise above the crowds, bleacher seating is available in
the downtown area during the Mardi Gras weekend with a paid ticket. City
sponsored seats (available through Ticketmaster) are located in Lafayette
Square across from Gallier Hall where the parade stops for toasting and
bands perform their best routines. However, it is further into the route so
count on the floats rolling by 2-4 hours after starting times.
www.mardigrasunmasked.com/TipsTricks/MardiGrasBalconiesGrandstands.aspx
 Barkus (pooch) Parade,
Sunday, February 27
 Two weekends before Mardi
Gras the Krewe of Barkus invites families and their dogs to line the parade
route along French Quarter Streets. Costumed dogs walk or ride in decorated
wagons and grocery carts while their handlers throw beads and follow the
jazzy beat of five brass bands. The pre-parade pawty held at Armstrong Park is open free to the public and
filled with a woof-fest of pooches from bossy bulldogs to prissy poodles.
www.barkus.org/store/
Mardi Gras Museums
Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World, 1380 Port of New Orleans Pl., New
Orleans, (504) 361-7821,
www.mardigrasworld.com
In
Jackson Square check out two floors of Mardi Gras history at the Louisiana
State Museum inside the Presbytere. 751 Chartres St., Jackson
Square, New Orleans,
(504) 568-6968,
www.lsm.crt.state.la.us
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