Traveling With Lola

This blog post was originally published in February 2023 and updated with additional information February 2024.

Spicy crawfish, gallons of frozen daiquiris, pounds of beads, toilet paper, sunglasses, cups, and drunk people fighting on Bourbon street… This is Mardi Gras. What’s not to love?! 

During my first trip to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, my dad threw me up in a thin seat on a rickety six-foot ladder. Despite being scared of falling to the asphalt below, I somehow scored at least three, large trash-can sized bags full of beads, stuffed animals, light-up trinkets, moon pies, and who knows what else.

Since then, I’ve attended Mardi Gras weekend in New Orleans year after year with my Aunt Jerri and Uncle Dane, long time residents of Slidell, a city just 45 minutes from downtown New Orleans. My Aunt and Uncle are now in Texas but they still have the local insights and experience of living in the area.

Having gone to Mardi Gras in the heart of New Orleans for many years now, I’m excited to share my insights and tips for how and why you should travel to New Orleans for this one-of-a-kind celebration of debauchery. 

History of Mardi Gras New Orleans 

Mardi Gras is a tradition with roots dating back thousands of years related to Pagan celebrations of spring and fertility. The holiday took hold when the Christian religion arrived in Rome, and religious leaders decided to incorporate these popular existing celebrations into the Christian holidays, easier than eliminating them all together. This resulted in the excessive debauchery we know today as Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday” in French. 

This holiday is the precursor to Lent, a religious observance of the 40 day period of penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Also referred to as “Carnival,” Mardi Gras shenanigans are now celebrated across the globe, including large public celebrations in Venice, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, New Orleans (of course) and many other places. For more information and to check out my source, visit https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mardi-gras.

The Ideal New Orleans Mardi Gras itinerary 

Being from Arkansas, I typically drive into Slidell, Louisianna, where we stay for the weekend, driving into New Orleans each day. The drive from Slidell takes around 45 minutes and you can save a lot of money on hotel stays as opposed to staying in downtown New Orleans.

It’s also worth noting that hotels across the NOLA area surge their prices for Mardi Gras weekend, meaning that anywhere you stay will cost a bit more. Additionally, hotels are likely to fill up the closer you get to Mardi Gras weekend, so the farther out you book, the better. My Aunt Jerri  typically starts booking her hotel rooms for a February Mardi Gras date around October. 

This is the exact itinerary that my family follows every year (big thanks and credit to my Aunt Jerri) and it works great for getting in the Mardi Gras weekend highlights. This itinerary incorporates New Orleans sightseeing, family-friendly (and adult, wink wink) parades, unique and delicious Cajun food, and so much more for the perfect Mardi Gras weekend: 

Friday Morning

This morning, head to Downtown New Orleans and park in a paid parking lot. (Note: If you try to cheap out and park on the street somewhere, you’re likely to get your car broken into, and if not, you’ll be towed. Trust me, cough up the $36 and pay for parking. If you don’t your car may get booted, which is $200 to remove.) Our group typically parks at Premium Parking at 500 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 and you can pay for your parking with a credit card.

Here are some suggested morning/early afternoon activities to explore The French Quarter during the weekend before Mardi Gras:

The New Orleans French Quarter is full of quirky scenery and sights. I recommend exploring the street around Bourbon and ask locals for recommendations.

Suggested Activities

• Visit The French Market Square: There are local crafts, food booths, small cafes, and a few restaurants. We like to start the morning by walking around this area, grabbing a bloody mary to start the morning off right.  
• Watch the greasing of the poles: The Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon street is considered the official start to Mardi Gras in the French Quarter. The event is highly popular, and likely to be crowded. If you want a close spot to watch the ladies do their dance, be sure to arrive early. Monitor local media around Mardi Gras weekend to determine the exact day and time of the event each year, but it is typically held the morning of the Saturday before Fat Tuesday.
• St. Louis Cathedral: This walk can show you the local artists, mimes, musicians, palm readers, dancers and magicians that set up shop in this area.
• Krewe of Bosom Buddies is a walking parade taking place at 11:30 a.m. on Friday. The parade starts at St. Louis/Bourbon street and and ends on Bourbon/Conti street. It can be a neat experience to see a micro-parade and people watch downtown.
• Jax Brewery is another local place to see artists and has a little market.
• If you walk by the Mississippi River at Woldenberg Park, you can see the Steamboat Natchez and have an onboard Creole lunch. 
• The Creole Queen Paddlewheeler is a harbor cruise that costs $55.
• The streetcars down St. Charles run along some parade routes and cost less than $5 per person.
• The New Orleans Hop-on Hop-Off Bus Tours cost $51 for adults with access to several attractions in the city.
• Harrah’s Casino is good for people watching or taking a crank at the Slots machine. It’s located at 8 Canal Street. 
• The Riverwalk Outlets are a glassed-in strip mall with shopping and chain restaurants for dining. 
• You can take the trolley to and from the Audubon Zoo at 6500 Magazine Street. Admission is $27 for adults and $22 for kids. 

French Quarter Brunch and lunch suggestions

• Eat at Cafe Du Monde: Anticipate long lines in-house or to-go because the place is usually packed but is known for its iconic beignets. 
• The Riverwalk Mall: Has a variety of chain food options inside.
• Jax Brewery: Located at 600 Decatur St, it offers some dining options inside.

Typically, after we indulge in a charbroiled oysters, seafood pasta, Fleur De Lis Shrimp, and a New Orleans Daiquiri at the iconic Drago’s Restaurant for lunch, our group heads back to our hotels in Slidell to regroup and make plans for the rest of the evening. Here is my suggested itinerary for the rest of the Friday, preparing for the Krewe of Selene parade in Slidell that night: 

Friday afternoon and evening

• Visit Mardi Gras Imports to pick up your merch, gifts and other Mardi Gras essentials, located at 388 Voters Road in Slidell. 
• Because we’re in the south and it’s the season, we typically have a large crawfish boil while waiting for the Krewe of Selene Parade to start. We typically pick up boiled crawfish, shrimp, potatoes, corn, and sausage from Slidell Seafood, but a quick google search can find the closest spicy crawfish near you. We typically go for ½ to 1 pound serving of crawfish per person. Before the parade, grab some bags for your party and whip out a large folding table to spread out the haul (and don’t forget the napkins)
• Picking up frozen daiquiris is a non-negotiable tradition with my family. We buy these frozen, fruity alcoholic beverages by the gallon from Daiquiris Now in Slidell. We bought 13 gallons for the weekend. Don’t believe me? See below for the proof.
• Krewe of Selene Parade: Find a spot to set up for the Krewe of Selene in downtown Slidell. The earlier you get there to find a spot, the better, as people tend to reserve their front-row seat on the parade route several hours ahead. This is a family friendly parade and isn’t as crowded as many of the New Orleans parades can be. We typically park on Pontchartrain Drive in a parking lot to wait for the parade to start. Here is the parade route map to find the best spot for you to park. The parade starts around 6 p.m. and may be 2.5-3 hours long. 

Saturday Morning

Get plenty of rest and chug lots of water to get ready for a long day of parades and running for beads. I’m suggesting two back-to-back parades in downtown New Orleans: Krewe of Iris and Krewe of Tucks. Here’s my suggestion for how to plan your Mardi Gras Saturday:

• The Krewe of Iris and The Krewe of Tucks Parade: The Krewe of Iris Parade starts at 11 am. The Krewe of Tucks follows the exact route and starts right after the Iris Parade. To get a front row spot at these parades, you’ll need to get to the parade route early in the morning or accept that you’ll be behind several rows of people when the parade starts. My uncle arrived to set up our spot by 5:30 a.m. that morning. Even if you’re towards the back of the crowd, you’ll catch plenty of goodies, but the front row provides a prime view. Our group typically parks in paid parking near the intersection of St. Charles and Louisiana Avenue close to the route. If you get hungry while downtown, there are typically several food trucks in the area, along with some markets with grab and go food options. Essential tip: You need to pay for parking anywhere in New Orleans or you’ll risk getting your car broken into or towed. Neither is a good option. I will keep repeating this fact because it is important.
• Krewe of Endymion: If you’re up for it, Mardi Gras’ largest parade runs primarily along Canal Street and begins at 4:30 p.m.. It has the longest floats and biggest Krewe, and always features a famous musical artist at the end of its float (this year, FloRida). The Endymion Krewe celebrates by ending at the Caesars Superdome, for the Endymion Extravaganza, an exclusive after party. I was told that tickets sell out months in advance, so keep that in mind if you’re interested in attending. 
• Bourbon Street: The legend of Bourbon Street often precedes it. Regardless of whether or not you’ve been, Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras is a whole different experience. If you find yourself in downtown New Orleans on the Saturday before Mardi Gras, I would suggest popping over to Bourbon just to people-watch. Several bars on the street offer upstairs balconies for free where you can grab a drink and peer out over the unreal crowds. Important to note, please be safe with yourself and the crowds while you’re here. I almost lost my phone during this last trip, so keep your belongings to your front pockets and be on the watch as crowds often are tight. 

Sunday

Sunday is typically when we drive back to our respective hometowns. If you’re lucky enough to stay in New Orleans through Fat Tuesday, check out the Parade Tracker app to discover your parades for the next few days. 

Suggested packing list

• Lots of water: You’ll definitely overpay if you wait to buy water along the parade routes.
• Lawn chairs for sitting
• Trash bags or large mesh laundry bags for storing your beads and catches
• Ice chest for storing water, snacks, and other beverages 😉
• Jacket, rain poncho, and sunscreen to be prepared for the weather
• Step stool or ladder for kids to catch beads
• Cash- This is especially important for some paid parking at businesses along the parade routes, as well as some bars that require cash to pay the cover
• Toilet paper and hand sanitizer
• A good attitude and positivity! Mardi Gras is a unique experience and opportunity to immerse yourself in history, culture and fun. Even if you’re not a fan of crowds or someone is rude to you, keep a positive attitude because most people are there to celebrate and have a good time. 

Other tips and information 

• Try as much new food as possible. Cajun food is unique and there are some incredible food options to explore while you’re near New Orleans. Take advantage of their unique culture and access to fresh seafood by saying “yes!” to local recommendations. 
• Stay hydrated. Seriously. The sun, exercise, and drinking alcohol can quickly dehydrate you without you realizing it. Be safe and pack lots of water to prepare and stay hydrated. I also use Liquid IV for extra hydration while traveling and be sure to continuously drink water even if you’re not thirsty. The parade routes will give access to porta potties which can be less than ideal, but it’s better than getting dehydrated and putting yourself in danger.
• Find a paid parking lot if possible. They will be more secure and safer than parking with a business. Yes, it’s gonna be expensive but it’s better than getting robbed or towed. 
• Do not get too drunk. Always a good rule, but it can be exceptionally unsafe during Mardi Gras and if you’re arrested, you won’t be released until after Tuesday.