Mardi Gras 2010
It's almost carnival time again in New Orleans! Check out the new parade route schedule, discover information about the many krewes in the area, learn about the history of the King Cake or plan a Mardi Gras party wherever you are!
Each year there are dozens of parades in New Orleans and the surrounding area, and this year is no different. Parades begin Friday, February 5, 2010 and continue until Mardi Gras day, February 16, 2010. Usually days have several parades booked back to back, so whether you are on St. Charles Avenue with the family, catching beads from a Central Business District balcony or enjoying the floats on Canal before a night in the French Quarter, plan for a day of Mardi Gras magic!

Pack clothing that is comfortable and can be layered, as the weather is often warm during the day and cooling off for the night parades. And don't be shy—wear a costume, especially on Mardi Gras day. It's all about fun!

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2010
• Phunny Phorty Phellows - Streetcar, 7 p.m.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2010
• Claude - Slidell, 1:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2010
• Krewe of Slidellians - Slidell, 1:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2010
• Krewe du Vieux - French Quarter, 6:30 p.m.
• Krewe of Bilge - Oak Harbor Marina, Slidell, Noon

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010
Orleans / Jefferson
• Little Rascals - Metairie, noon

St. Tammany
• Mystic Krewe of Perseus - Slidell, 1 p.m.

River Parishes
• Lions - Pearl River, 1:15 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010
Orleans / Jefferson
• Krewe of Cork - French Quarter, 3 p.m.
• Oshun - Uptown, 6 p.m.
• Cleopatra - West Bank, 6:30 p.m.
• Excalibur - Metairie, 7 p.m.
• Atlas - Metairie, 7:30 p.m.

St. Tammany
• Eve - Mandeville, 7 p.m.
• Mona Lisa and Moon Pie - Slidell, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2010
Orleans / Jefferson
• Choctaw - West Bank, 10:15 a.m.
• Adonis - West Bank, 10:45 a.m.
• Alla - West Bank, 11:30 a.m.
• Pontchartrain - Uptown, 2 p.m.
• Shangri-La - French Quarter, 2 p.m.
• Caesar - Metairie, 6 p.m.
• Sparta - Uptown, 6 p.m.
• Pygmalion - Uptown, 6:45 p.m.

St. Tammany
• Olympia - Covington, 6 p.m.

St. Bernard
• Nemesis - Chalmette 4 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2010
Orleans / Jefferson
• Carrollton - Uptown, Noon
• King Arthur - Uptown, 1:15 p.m.
• Barkus - French Quarter, 2 p.m.
• Rhea - Metairie, 1:00 p.m.

St. Tammany
• Dionysus - Slidell, 12:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2010
• Druids - Uptown, 6:30 p.m.
• Thor - Metairie, 7:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2010
• Babylon - Uptown, 5:45 p.m.
• Muses - Uptown, 6:15 p.m.
• Chaos - Uptown, 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2010
Orleans / Jefferson
• Hermes - Uptown, 6 p.m.
• d'Etat - Uptown, 6 p.m.
• Morpheus - Uptown, 7:00 p.m.
• Centurions - Metairie, 7:00 p.m.

St. Tammany
• Selene - Slidell, 6:30 p.m.
• Orpheus - Mandeville, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2010
Orleans / Jefferson
• NOMTOC - West Bank, 10:45 a.m.
• Iris - Uptown, noon
• Tucks - Uptown, 12:15 p.m.
• Endymion - Mid-City, 4:15 p.m.
• Isis - Metairie, 6:30 p.m.

River Parishes
• Lul - Luling, Noon
• Towahpasah - Reserve, 1 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2010
Orleans / Jefferson
• Okeanos - Uptown, 11 a.m.
• Mid-City - Uptown, 11:45 a.m.
• Thoth - Uptown, Noon a.m.
• Bacchus - Uptown, 5:15 p.m.
• Napoleon - Metairie, 5:30 p.m.

St. Tammany
• Krewe de Paws - Slidell, 9 a.m.
• Tchefuncte - Madisonville, 2 p.m.

River Parishes
• Du Monde - LaPlace, Noon
• Des Allemands - Des Allemands, 2 p.m.

LUNDI GRAS, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
• Proteus - Uptown, 5:15 p.m.
• Orpheus - Uptown, 6 p.m.
• Zeus - Metairie, 6:30 p.m.
MARDI GRAS, FEBRUARY 16, 2010
Orleans
• Zulu - Uptown, 8 a.m.
• Rex - Uptown, 10 a.m.
• Elks Orleans - Uptown - after Rex
• Crescent City - Uptown - after Elks

East Jefferson
• Argus - Metairie, 10 a.m.
• Jefferson Trucks - after Argus
• Elks Jefferson - after Jefferson

West Bank
• Grela - West Bank, 11 a.m.
• Bes - West Bank, after Grela

St. Tammany
• Lions - Covington, 10 a.m.
• Covington - after Lions

St. Bernard
• Gladiators - Chalmette, 10 a.m.

River Parishes
• Chahta - Lacombe, 1 p.m.

Mardi Gras Glossary
By Arthur Hardy

Ball (bal masque, tableau ball)
A masked ball in which scenes representing a specific theme are enacted for the entertainment of the club members and their guests; krewe "royalty" is traditionally presented during the ball.

Boeuf Gras (French)
The fatted bull or ox, the ancient symbol of the last meat eaten before the Lenten season of fasting: a live version was presented in the Rex parade until 1909; a papier-maché version appeared in 1959 and continues as one of Carnival's most recognizable symbols.

Captain
The absolute leader of each Carnival organization.

Carnival
From the Latin carnivale, loosely translated as "farewell to flesh"; the season of merriment in New Orleans which begins annually on January 6, the Twelfth Night (the feast of the Epiphany), and ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday; the Carnival season leads up to the penitential season of Lent in which fasting replaces feasting.

Court
The king, queen, maids and dukes of a Carnival organization.

Den
A large warehouse where floats are built and stored.

Doubloons
Aluminum coin-like objects bearing the krewe's insignia on one side and the parade's theme on the reverse; first introduced by Rex in 1960 and created by New Orleans artist H. Alvin Sharpe; doubloons are also minted and sold in .999 silver, bronze and cloisonne.

Favor
A souvenir, given by krewe members to friends attending the ball, normally bearing the organization's insignia, name and year of issue, like this Pegasus favor from 1970.

Flambeaux (plural)
Naphtha-fueled torches, traditionally carried by white-robed black men; in the past century, flambeaux provided the only source of nighttime parade illumination.

Invitation
A printed request for attendance at a Carnival ball; in the 19th century, many invitations were die-cut and printed in Paris; today, most are printed in New Orleans; invitations are non-transferable, and it is improper to ever refer to them as "tickets."

King Cake
An oval, sugared pastry that contains a plastic doll hidden inside; the person who finds the doll is crowned "king" and buys the next cake or throws the next party; the king cake season opens on King's Day, January 6, the feast of the Epiphany. More than 750,000 king cakes are annually consumed in the metro New Orleans area during the Carnival season.

Krewe
The generic term for all Carnival organizations in New Orleans, first used by the Mistick Krewe of Comus, which coined the word in 1857 to give its club's name an Old English flavor.

Lundi Gras
French for Fat Monday. From 1874 to 1917, the day before Mardi Gras was celebrated by the arrival of Rex aboard a steamboat. The custom was revived in 1987, and Lundi Gras now includes Carnival activities staged by Zulu and Rex.

Mardi Gras
French for Fat Tuesday, the single-day culmination of the Carnival season.

Mardi Gras Indians
Groups of black men in New Orleans who portray American Indians and are magnificently outfitted with handmade beaded and feathered costumes; this Carnival custom dates to the mid-19th century; among the more legendary tribes are the Wild Tchoupitoulas, the Creole Wild West and the Yellow Pocahontas.

Throws
Inexpensive trinkets tossed from floats by costumed and masked krewe members; among the more popular items are krewe-emblemed aluminum doubloons, plastic cups and white pearl necklaces. Throws are tossed in response to the cry, "Throw me something, mister!"

Keep in mind that most parades are held the two weeks before Mardi Gras Day. Check the parade schedule on this site for a full list and you will find that there are many days that host several parades with different routes. When attending parades remember the following:

1. Safety first

Arrive early and get the kids acclimated to the crowds around them. It's easy for children to get lost in a crowd, so write your last name and phone number on the child's clothing (some New Orleans parents write their cell or home phone numbers on the child's arm with an indelible pen). Designate a location to meet in case the family is separated. Instruct your children to go to the police if they forget the designated location. Teach your children about float safety, and keep them away from floats and marching bands as they travel down the street!

2. Bring supplies

Pack snacks, extra toiletries and a cell phone. Some restaurants are open on Mardi Gras Day, but it's recommended you pack a picnic basket just in case. Don't forget an umbrella if clouds loom. Some parades get stalled along the route and the event lasts longer than anticipated. Locate a public bathroom ahead of time.

3. Dress comfortably

Mardi Gras isn't a fashion show, although it's a good time to strut your stuff. Wear tennis shoes (preferably water-proof and thick-soled for walks to and from the car and up and down the parade route) and jeans but costumes of any kind are preferred! Check the weather forecast. Weather can change quickly in New Orleans, so you might want to layer your clothes.

4. Stay on the traditional parade route

Kids don't belong in the French Quarter or on Canal Street during Mardi Gras. So take the family to St. Charles Avenue between First Street and Napoleon Avenue. Here the parade goers are all families. Many bring their ladders with kiddie seats attached to the top. The atmosphere is good, clean family fun.

5. Enjoy the traditions

Catching beads and doubloons from floats is a wonderful experience, but also introduce the family to the traditions of king cake, masking and music. Take time to visit the Audubon Zoo and the Aquarium of the Americas, the Louisiana Children's Museum, Storyland at City Park and take a ride on the St. Charles Avenue or Canal Streetcar. Mardi Gras is just the beginning of a wonderful family vacation in New Orleans!

6. Make this a learning experience

There's more to Mardi Gras than the parades. Take the children to the Louisiana State Museum's magnificent exhibit, "Mardi Gras: It's Carnival Time in Louisiana" and explore two floors of Mardi Gras history. Visit Mardi Gras World (just across the river from downtown New Orleans) and show them how floats are designed and made. Buy books and CDs that tell the history of Mardi Gras.

Mardi Gras is a child-friendly season everywhere in New Orleans besides Bourbon Street. Children watch the parades, hoot and holler and catch beads. Many parents modify ladders to be large high-chairs for their kids. After all, parades are great family entertainment - fanciful floats, marching bands, doubloons, riders on horseback, crazy costumes, and adults throwing beads, aluminum coins, and toys. They make for a great family outing where not only the kids can have a great time, but Mom and Dad can, too! Clearly it’s not Disneyland, and children should avoid Bourbon Street on Mardi Gras Day, but no major parades go through the French Quarter anyway. Major parades roll from the Garden District or Mid-City to Downtown.

Remember, tens of thousands of parents bring their children to Mardi Gras parades every year. Here are some tips to help you have a fun, safe Mardi Gras with the little ones:

1) Keep track of them
Crowds at the parades are friendly, and locals are helpful people. But Mardi Gras crowds are huge. Think Bombay or Beijing. That’s a parade on Fat Tuesday. For major parades, it is a good idea to keep your children in strollers, on ladders, on a kid-leash or just right in front of you. Try to pick a regular spot and stick to it for the whole season so everyone knows where you’ll be.

Once you pick a spot, it’s important to set a parameter! Give your kids landmarks of where they can and can’t go, and look for the nearest NOPD Officer. Introduce your child to him/her and explain that they are here to help if your child should get lost or hurt. Remind your kids that the floats can run over people and hurt them, and tell them to not ever dive for beads. If it hits the ground and rolls into the street, odds are you don’t want it anyway. Lastly, have the “stranger” talk. Everyone is out to have fun at Mardi Gras, but it never hurts to be proactive.

As for your older children, they tend to wander around with their friends, so get them a prepaid cell phone to keep in touch. Firefly makes one for smaller kids with mommy and daddy buttons, so it’s easy to use. It even has a GPS in it so you can track your kid’s location. A a regular prepaid cell phone will works as well; just program the #1 and #2 buttons for Mom and Dad, that way if they get lost, you can call each other.

2) Go to parades the weeks before Mardi Gras
Parades are less crowded earlier in the season.

3) Avoid Downtown
Head to Uptown, the Garden District, Mid-City, or Metairie to avoid the college crowd and camera crews.

4) Bring a ladder
One easy way to keep track of your children – and make sure they can see everything! – is to add a “box seat” to the top of a ladder. When they’re up there, they’ll be elevated above most of the crowd, so not only will they be able to watch everything roll by, but the float riders will spot them and most likely throw them special things, like pretty beads or stuffed animals. You’ll also know exactly where they are the whole time, which is a definite perk.

Height restrictions do apply on the parade route, so an average six foot, wooden folding ladder should be all you need. Harry’s Ace Hardware on Magazine Street carries the seat and extras to convert it from a plain old ladder into a Mardi Gras Ladder. Wheels can be added for easy moving, and there are a few other personal touches you can add if you’re planning to have it for a few years: padding on the seat is important, since that hard wooden box can get uncomfortable quickly; two large hooks on either side are perfect for hanging your bead bags; cup holders can be screwed in, two on each side, so Mom, Dad and the kids all have a place to store their drinks; letting your children decorate it, it will be easier for your friends to identify you, and your kids will love sitting in something they made; adding an umbrella will keep them dry, since it does seem to rain at least once during Mardi Gras.

5) Go to Little Rascals or Barkus
Little Rascals and Barkus are good kids’ parades. Little Rascals is a children’s parade, with kids on the floats. Barkus is a dog parade through the French Quarter and ends at Armstrong Park.

6) Bring a tent
Be creative. People bring tents so that kids (and adults) have a shady place to rest during the long hours of parades. Strollers, chairs, and play pens are also popular.

A step above and beyond the tent, another thing to consider is getting together with some other families to rent a “parade house.” If you want to do this, you’ll have to get started early, since all of the apartments get snatched up by January. People that live along the parade route will either leave or stay with friends during Mardi Gras so they can rent out their apartments. Usually they’ll take their important stuff with them, so a lot of times all you’ll have is a working stove, a heater and a bathroom. But, hey, that’s really all you need! Just stock it up with food, drinks and toilet paper and let the good times roll!

7) Dress your kids in layers
As for parade clothes, it’s best to dress your children in layers since the weather will change dramatically throughout a long day on the route. And bring a few blankets that you don’t mind getting dirty. Another perfect outfit for Carnival time? A costume, of course! Put that Halloween costume to a second use, or sew or make a new one. Lots of families come up with a theme and dress to match each other, which makes for great pictures in years to come.

8) Finally...
Finally, be sure to teach your kids the language before they get to the parade! Tell them to say, “Hey mister! Throw me something!” for the men’s floats, and for the ladies’ parades yell, “Hey, pretty lady! Throw me something!” Now all they have to do is wave their hands in the air, and they’ll have a fantastic Mardi Gras!