When you envision a Mardi Gras parade, you probably are thinking of girls flashing float riders for beads, people bumping elbows screaming “throw me something mister,” and pure chaos. This parade you’ve pictured isn’t far from the truth, but there’s much more to it than that. Mardi Gras parades have been around for ages and have become a continuing cultural celebration in the South. From crews, beads, and intricate floats the parades make Mardi Gras complete.
Going to a parade is a different experience for everyone. From where you choose to set up camp to the weekend you decide to attend, parades can either be family-friendly or party central. When setting up your spot, unless it’s reserved with an organization, oftentimes you have to wake up early in order to claim a spot on the parade route. Most of the time if you set up near the end of the route that’s where most of the college students or adults will be, but setting up near the beginning or middle will be much more family-oriented. This is important because it can completely change what the events of the night will look like.
During Mardi Gras season, there are weekends after weekends filled with parades. If you’re looking for dates and locations in Shreveport check out https://www.shreveport-bossier.org/mardigras/parade-dates/. If you’re looking for information on dates and locations in Ruston you can go to https://www.rustonlincoln.com/blog/5/Mardi-Gras-Events-in-Ruston. The day you choose will affect which crew is having a parade for that weekend. For the bigger crews like Centar and Gemini, there will, in turn, be a larger turnout. If a crew is more well known, more people show up for those parades. Normally for these parades, the floats are huge, the beads thrown are extravagant, and it’ll last much longer than the smaller crews’ parades. Smaller crews in this area host parades going through specific neighborhoods that don’t have as much of a crowd. There are even a few pet parades where you can bring your fuzzy friend along for the ride.
One of my favorite things about Mardi Gras parades is the interesting floats. Each float is created, envisioned, or designed by different organizations. Whether it’s the crew itself, schools, charities, or businesses it makes for a diverse group of floats. Watching them pass by one by one it’s fun to be on the lookout for new floats and even pick a favorite.
Last, but certainly not least, when attending a parade you, of course, have to know what to wear. While some like to dress up, others prefer the more simplistic side. Either way, most wear green, purple, and yellow which are the colors that represent Mardi Gras. While you can style your outfit however you wish, I definitely suggest comfortable shoes because most likely you’ll be doing a lot of standing and walking around. It’s also a good idea to prepare for the weather. You’ll be outside, so prepare accordingly. Overall whether it’s dressing up or down wear what makes you happy.
I hope you feel more informed about Mardi Gras parades and are now even inclined to try one out yourself. Have fun and be safe!