What comes to mind when you think of Carnival (Mardi Gras)? New Orleans and colorful beads? For different people, Carnival can mean many things—it could be a festival, an inspiration, a day, a way of life, a piece of history, an event, or even millions of parades and countless memories. But is that all? Here are 10 things about Carnival that you really must know.
Traditional Carnival objects Photo copyright Louisiana Tourism
10. How long does Carnival last? Is one day enough?
If someone says “I’m going to New Orleans for Carnival!” they could be talking about the weekend before or after. Technically, “Mardi Gras” is French for “Fat Tuesday,” the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of 40 days of Lent. But the parades actually begin in January. In 2019, Fat Tuesday fell on March 5th.
9. Do dogs love Carnival too?
Absolutely. After all, dogs just want to have fun. In New Orleans, there’s even a parade specifically for dogs — the Barkus Krewe. (A krewe, pronounced like “crew,” is an organization that plans a parade or ball.)
Dog float in the parade Photo copyright NOTMC Photo by Paul Broussard
8. Is Mardi Gras family-friendly?
Absolutely. Some of the most popular family-friendly parade viewing spots in New Orleans include St. Charles and Napoleon Avenues, where parades turn and spend more time, offering more opportunities to catch throws. You can also watch near St. Charles Street between Third and Fourth Streets, close to the Garden District, which feels like a mini wonderland for kids.
Carnival parade and spectators Photo copyright Louisiana Tourism
7. There’s more than one way to get parade throws.
You can yell “Throw me something, mister!” at the parade-goers, but if you really want to go home with a haul, head to the end of the parade route. Parade riders want to hand out all their throws before they climb down from their floats.
6. What kind of throws are tossed from the floats?
All kinds. For example, toilet humor always wins — the Tucks Krewe proves it with their giant toilet-shaped float. The crowd scrambles for themed souvenirs: alphabet toilet paper, sunglasses shaped like toilets, mini plungers, and more. In Shreveport, the Highland Krewe tosses Spam and hot dogs. So yeah, bringing home beads is kinda basic — real pros come back with mini toilets and dinner.
High heels about to be thrown to the crowd Photo copyright NOTMC Photo by Paul Broussard
5. Bigger isn’t always better; sometimes smaller means more.
’tit Rex calls itself “New Orleans’ first and only MicroKrewe,” founded in 2009, known for its shoebox-sized mini-floats and tiny props. Their throws are handed out by members instead of being tossed from floats—because, well, the floats are super small.
4. Why do they throw beads during Carnival?
Legend has it that in the 1880s, a man dressed as Santa Claus became popular for tossing beads, so other krewes followed suit. Makes sense — before that, people threw all sorts of things, including food and garbage. These plastic beads are definitely a step up. Still, locals still prefer glass bead necklaces, although those have become rare since the 1960s and 70s.
Beaded necklaces on a spectator Photo copyright NOTMC Photo by Rebecca Todd
3. How big is Carnival really?
Official estimates say over 10 million kilograms of Carnival items are tossed from floats — half of them land on the streets of New Orleans. Locals often volunteer with organizations like ARC to recycle the beads.
2. Is Carnival an official holiday?
Yes. Though it may not seem like it, Mardi Gras is indeed a legal holiday in Louisiana. In 1875, Governor Warmoth signed the “Mardi Gras Act” into law.
1. Is Carnival only in New Orleans?
Not really. Many cities in Louisiana host Carnival celebrations. Think Cajun Mardi Gras in Lafayette or Mardi Gras balls in Baton Rouge. Plus, the Cacossette Carnival Museum in Lake Charles or the Mardi Gras World in New Orleans are open year-round, where you can see floats, costumes, and everything about Mardi Gras. But what Carnival truly means — well, you’ll have to experience it for yourself.