Mardi Gras World
Tourist attraction · Lower Garden District ·
See massive parade floats being built year-round
See massive parade floats being built year-round
"An anonymous warehouse by the Port of New Orleans is home to a huge working studio, and inside, it looks like something akin to a movie production. It’s not somewhere you’d pass by ordinarily, but most tour companies and hotels will promote it. It’s not so much a collection as it is a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the country's biggest free party–Mardi Gras. The huge floats take months to build and decorate, and this is where a large part of that happens. Painters and sculptures are actually working on pieces as you walk through, and it feels like being let in on a secret. The space houses whatever is being built that year, so it’s luck of the draw what you see—although just nearly all the floats are impressive in their scale and level of detail." - Paul Oswell
"A place to see massive parade floats up close—presented as a fun New Orleans attraction that fascinates kids with behind-the-scenes parade craftsmanship." - Jill Krasny Jill Krasny Jill Krasny is a journalist based in New York. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, The Financial Times, and Travel + Leisure. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"This large event space will host multiple big-ticket, festival-style parties: on Friday, February 7 at 9 p.m. a Shaq’s Fun House blowout (DJ Diesel/Shaq, John Summit, Ludacris and more) billed as part carnival/part circus/part festival with carnival rides, games, interactive performances and a 6-hour open bar (tickets start at $400); and on Sunday, February 9 from noon to 5 p.m. a Guy Fieri–led Flavortown tailgate — a hybrid food-and-music festival that aims to top last year’s world-record tailgate — featuring local restaurants such as Bourree, Seither’s, Joey K’s, Cochon King, and Parasol’s, with free registration available or paid guaranteed-entry tickets starting at $50." - Clair Lorell
"An attraction where visitors can see parade floats and learn about carnival production year-round, offering a behind-the-scenes look at a major cultural celebration." - Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty is a writer who specializes in covering destinations, resorts, and cruises for Travel + Leisure and other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Zoom out. What’s this place all about?An anonymous warehouse by the Port of New Orleans is home to a huge working studio, and inside, it looks like something akin to a movie production. It’s not somewhere you’d pass by ordinarily, but most tour companies and hotels will promote it. What will we find in the collection?It’s not so much a collection as it is a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the country's biggest free party–Mardi Gras. The huge floats take months to build and decorate, and this is where a large part of that happens. Painters and sculptures are actually working on pieces as you walk through, and it feels like being let in on a secret. The space houses whatever is being built that year, so it’s luck of the draw what you see—although just nearly all the floats are impressive in their scale and level of detail. Do we need a guide?It’s a guided tour–you can't just wander around on your own given the working nature of the venue. Thankfully, the tour delivers fascinating historical context to the festival, and dives into the significance of each of the floats and the various organizations they belong to. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged?The tour lasts 90 minutes, the perfect amount of time here, and you'll leave with a renewed appreciation of all those Mardi Gras floats and festivities." - Paul Oswell
