Mardi Gras is meant to be a time of celebration, with carnivals, feasting and parades. The best way to ensure the event runs smoothly keep these safety tips in mind.
When traveling to any metropolis area like New Orleans, there are certain precautions that should be followed. The crowds at Mardi Gras tend to be extensive, so if you are traveling with children please keep them close at hand. Make sure to maintain eye contact with them and with young children, make sure to hold their hands when going through very crowded areas as it is easy for them to get lost in the extensive crowd. Cell phones are a great way to stay connected if you are scheduled to meet at a certain place and time. Be certain to not veer far from the main areas of celebration if you are unfamiliar with the part of the city you are in. Obtaining a map of the parade routes and surrounding area is suggested. It is not advisable to wear flashy or expensive jewelry or be flashy with money. Whether you are in costume or not, think of carrying your personal belongings in a small body pouch for safety. Also a small carrying beach bag would be great to hold any beads etc. that are being thrown from the parade participants.
Please note Mardi Gras in the French Quarter is not family friendly, there is parade participants and onlookers who are drinking alcohol and behaving inappropriately. This route tends to attract a rowdy crowd that leads to frequent arrests from over enthusiastic or lewd crowd members. It is suggested that you pick a parade route that is more family friendly. The route more adept for families is on St. Charles Avenue. There are special Mardi Gras ladders that can be used for children with a seat bolted on the top of a ladder so children may safely see all the festivities without worrying if they could get lost in the crowd. These special seats can be purchased at most hardware stores in New Orleans.
Also when planning your time of festivities, note that the main Mardi Gras parades and festivals run this year from February 3rd to March 8th. Mardi Gras Day. This is the final day of festivities other wise known as "Fat Tuesday" and marks the end of Mardi Gras and the beginning of Lent. The final parade ends promptly at midnight March 8th to honor the ushering in of the 46 days of Lent fasting that leads to Easter Sunday. This is a great time of fun and with safety first, it can be a special memorable family vacation, for no-one does Mardi Gras quite like New Orleans.
