So, I’ll be going to Mardi Gras this year and I have a scheule of when all of the parades start and what the routes are, but my question is - how long do the individual parades last? I’m trying to get an idea of when’d they may roll through the part of town I’ll be in (cbd). Also, it seems as though there are only a couple cod parades in Fat Tuesday itself and that they start relatively early - any firsthand knowledge of when the parades wrap up on Tuesaday?
And, while we’re at it, any suggests, thoughts, tips for the trip trop?
Being a lifelong resident of New Orleans (currently residing Uptown), I’ll try to give you an idea.
It depends. There is an “Uptown” route and a “Mid-city Route.” The Uptown parades start around Napoleon avenue and work their way down St. Charles to finish downtown in the CBD before disbanding. The Mid-City route (which is rarely used any more) starts around City Park and then heads down Canal toward the CBD. During the average parade, it could take a couple of hours before reaching the CBD taking either route. Factor in breakdowns among floats and it could take longer. Once the parade reaches you, it could take a couple more hours to pass. Again, there are breakdowns and stoppages for unknown reasons (toasting, etc.) where a float or band may be stopped in front of you for a while.
There are a few apps offered by local tv stations (WWL and WDSU) that track parade progress for you. Plus, radio stations usually have a car in the parade to give updates on where it is on the route if you’re listening to the radio. If it’s raining, the parades will go by a lot quicker because usually the bands don’t march and the floats are trying to due the route in as little time as possible. They will ZOOM by.
The Super Krewes (Bacchus, Endymion, Orpheus) parade the Saturday (Endymion), Sunday (Bacchus) and Monday (Orpheus) before Mardi Gras (fat tuesday). They are quite elaborate and long and can last a few hours.
Then there are sometimes multiple parades on the same days/nights where one will hold up another when they get to a route at the same time.
So, it’s variable. For the Super Krewes, people will line up days in advance using roped off portions of neutral ground (medians).
Be careful and have fun. Also depending on the route, you have a different type of demographic. Usually near the beginning of the route are families with a “block party” feel to it. In the middle of the route are college kids partying and in the downtown/CBD are the tourists/partiers.
As for Mardi Gras day itself, Zulu starts at 8 and takes a different route to St. Charles than Rex (which starts at 10). Zulu is known for taking forever to complete its route. Rex usually starts right at 10 on Claiborne and Napoleon. Following Rex are the “truck” parades which are composed of hundreds of 18-wheelers with decorated floats carrying family groups or krewes that come one after another with no bands. I usually catch Rex and the truck parades right at the beginning (since I live up around that area) and we are usually done around 2 or 3 p.m. if everything moves without extraordinary delays. However, once everything reaches the CBD, all bets are off. It’s usually very crowded and there is toasting and delays and yeah, better plan on making a day of it.
Thanks Shawn, great info - so, fair to say, for the big ones (I’ll only be there Sun through Thursday, I wanted a couple extra days to just see the city) - they’ll take a pretty long time, several hours, unless there is rain.
Our family catches most parades on St. Charles, in the Garden District, which can be more family oriented than some other locations. We typically set up near several businesses that offer restroom access.
However, on Lundi Gras, we always catch Orpheus on Tchoupotoulas Ave. near Julia St. in the Warehouse District. This area is great, as it is a touristy, friendly crowd. It’s also a thinner crowd than some other areas. It’s toward the end of the route & the riders are unloading their remaining throws - be ready to catch! During the day on Lundi Gras, there is usually live music throughout the area, too - at the Spanish Plaza on MS River & other nearby locations.
For me, Mardi Gras day can be anticlimactic. We usually skip the parades & walk the French Quarter early - til about noon - spend some time people & costume watching, then head home & collapse on the sofa.
Such a great vibe in the city during Mardi Gras! Lots of great live music around town, too! Hope you have a great time in NOLA.
Now, what was your question, again?
I’m reading this thread looking at Tchoupotoulas and Julia!
Keep in mind the parade routes get insanely crowded and much less friendly as you get near Canal, especially by Bourbon St.
Some things to do:
Grab a drink at the Erin Rose on Conti. Best bar in the quarter.
Walk the Quarter early Mardi Gras day and look at the costumes.
Try to see some of the Bourbon St Awards (oddly not on Bourbon, but I believe St Ann). It’s a gay oriented costume contest.
Go to the R Bar around 10-11am on Mardi Gras and be prepared to have your mind blown. Thousands of people in wild costumes, preparing to parade through the Quarter. The Krewes are Society of St Ann, Kosmic Debris, and a few others, and you’re welcome to join them.
Make sure you take a costume, that way you’re not watching Mardi Gras, you’re part of Mardi Gras. Come up with wildest thing you can think of, make it wilder than that, and you still won’t stick out.
Make sure you hit Frenchmen Street at some point. Good music, more locals, and usually hopping during MG.
Be careful and have fun. Wish I was going (we’ll be down for St Pat’s). We always had the most fun during the day and avoided Bourbon St like the plague.