What should we know about the parades at Mardi Gras?

We%26#39;ll be visiting N.O. for the next Mardi Gras in February. We%26#39;re from out of state, so we won%26#39;t have chairs to use for the parades (Or does everyone just stand?). What information, hints, or words of wisdom can you give us about the parades? Any comments from experienced ';parade-goers'; wil be appreciated! Thanks!

What should we know about the parades at Mardi Gras?

Most people stand at the parades, but you will see people (usually families) with chairs, ladders, coolers, BBQs and the whole works set up. It%26#39;s Mardi Gras, so anything goes. Just use good judgment and be respectful of the people around you!

As for hints, a lot has to do with where you choose to stand on the parade route. I%26#39;m a big fan of standing alongside St. Charles Ave in the Garden District, since the crowds are a little thinner, so you%26#39;ll end up catching more. For more parades, you can usually find a good spot about an hour or so before the parade rolls. But, it%26#39;s a lot harder along the downtown parade route, since there are more tourists in this area.

However, for the Endymion parade Saturday night, I would stand on Canal St near the S. Claiborne underpass (a couple blocks from the French Quarter). This parade can get pretty crowded, but this is a good place to stand and wait.

What should we know about the parades at Mardi Gras?

I would actually take a cab to the start of the Endymion parade and watch it on Orleans Avenue or North Carrollton Avenue, before it turns onto Canal.

Once it turns onto Canal, the crowd gets a little rougher and I don%26#39;t like the ';vibe'; at all. It%26#39;s much more family-friendly and fun towards the start of the route.

Those are the kinds of ';hints'; that I really appreciate knowing. Thank you!!

I dunno. We stand on Canal every year (near intersection of Canal and La Salle), and it%26#39;s not that bad. Plus, it%26#39;s really easy to go back and forth to the Quarter/hotel area. But to each his/her own.

Definitely watch a parade from St. Charles in the Garden District area - it%26#39;s a big contrast to watching the very same parade on Canal. Since the parades usually finish on Canal or thereabouts, the riders are even more ready to party and get stoked all along the way by the huge crowds, so the vibe is definitely different, I agree. I have seen things on Canal that I wish I hadn%26#39;t - and it%26#39;s always from visitors who don%26#39;t know the ';rules'; - like NO GLASS on the parade route.

Another fun place to watch is in the first block off Canal - I think it%26#39;s Carondelet - (locals help me) - in front of the Pearl Restaurant. But come to think of it - every place is great - just don%26#39;t bring anything ';cumbersome'; like a wallet or a big camera that you have to think about during the parade. The key is ';hands free'; and nothing in your pockets - so if you have a secure bag to tuck inside a shirt or jacket, that%26#39;s better than putting anything in pockets or carrying a purse (a big pain!)

There are some other ';rules'; - like who gets the beads if two people have their hands on them - or like whose doubloon it is if it lands on the ground - or who ';owns'; a throw if a rider throws it directly TO YOU and someone else catches it...but I%26#39;d err on the side of being around nice people and you won%26#39;t have any issues. Have a blast and know that there aren%26#39;t any parades on Bourbon Street - and if you plan to go to BS during MG you have to move with the crowds (it can be body-to-body so if that doesn%26#39;t interest you, stay away)

Your hotel is just a block from St Charles Ave where the major parades roll down. Best to stay close to your hotel and cart all your beads back to your hotel after the parade and use the rest rooms rather than the Portolets that line the parade route. In addition Carondelet becomes Bourbon St one block over from your hotel which makes it easy to get to the French Quarter. nola.com has extensive info on Mardi Gras including maps of the parade routes, photos of previous parades. Next year parade dates not listed yet but follow same pattern as previous poster noted.

We will be staying at the Hampton Inn on Carondelet, so your comment confirms that we%26#39;ll be in a good spot.

Thank you to all of you that answered this question. I%26#39;ve learned a lot of great ideas from all of you. I appreciate your input!! My friends and I are looking forward to a great time!!!

I went to my first parade last year. What I quickly learned was that the parade route can change at the last minute. I had a great spot on Canal in front of the Astor and seriosuly 5 minutes before the start the police re-routed the parade and everyone scrambled down 2 streets to the south. It was a mad dash of a lot of people.