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One of my favorite events in New Orleans is Mardi Gras.
When my husband and I lived there, I counted down the days until Mardi Gras season would arrive and eagerly re-arranged my schedule to attend as many parades as possible.
The beads were such fun to catch, but we always loved finding out the themes of the parades (well-kept secrets in some cases), the identity of the grand marshals of the larger parades and how the floats would be elaborately decorated.
Many years have passed since we lived in New Orleans, and I always missed being there for the festivities. My feeble attempts at parades and celebrations at my children’s pre-schools and elementary schools did nothing to quell my desire to be where the action was.
In a few weeks, I will be back in the Crescent City to introduce Mardi Gras to a couple of my friends, but it wasn’t until a recent visit to New Orleans and Mardi Gras World that cemented those plans.
There are many types of tours offered in the New Orleans…historic tours, ghost tours, swamp tours…but the one offered at Mardi Gras World is for those with the desire to see what goes on behind-the-scenes at the one of the biggest parties in the world. Having heard about this venue, I thought it would be a fun and informative way to entertain myself while my husband was working and hey, they were offering free King Cake!
After giving Mardi Gras World a call, I was collected near my hotel at one of the designated pick-up spots in the French Quarter. The Mardi Gras World shuttle was clean and efficient, delivering us to their studios at their warehouse location along the river. We were greeted with colorful jesters at the entrance…signs of things to come!
Once the entrance fee was paid in the gift shop, we were instructed to wait at the appointed spot for the tour guide to lead the way. So many cool things to buy were taunting my checkbook, but I decided that it would have to wait until after the tour so as not to have to carry it around.
Taking us down a hallway, our guide ushered us into a large room, its walls lined with many papier mache props, some, donning colorful and elaborate Mardi Gras costumes.
A short introductory film briefed us on the history of the Kern family and how their design company, Blaine Kern Studios, came to be in 1947. When the film was complete, we were were offered that piece of King Cake that we were promised…a bit of sustenance for the long and exciting walk around the premises.
As we entered the warehouse, it was truly an overload on the senses! Mardi Gras is truly alive here, 24/7! Here, we learned just how much hard work and planning is involved to create the impressive floats that can be seen in the Mardi Gras parades.
I had always been fascinated with the details presented on the floats, but never given much thought to how they were made. Explaining how artists create the 3-D figures from thick pieces of styrofoam, then cover them with paper mache, we were actually privileged to see some of these artists hard at work doing just that. We also learned of the technological advances made in the design industry. Pixie, a sculpting robot, can develop a sculpture up to sixty feet long and build larger sculptures from smaller manufactures pieces. Floats can also be backed into the room and sculpted, one side at a time.
One of the most interesting aspects of the tour was the explanations of how pieces can be re-adapted to be used in future parades by simple modifications. Changing a hat and some facial features can create an entirely new character. Every piece created by Blaine Kern Studios is housed here and an amazing sight to see! From the figures of the band KISS, to animals, to historical figures, to major landmarks, to storybook characters…these colorful pieces of artwork fill every nook and cranny…some in various stages of development!
Finally, we were led to a larger part of the warehouse where some of the actual floats are staged. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the history of Mardi Gras and its customs and we learned some interesting facts, such as why there are mega floats (filled with up to 200 riders) and why it was decided that tractors would pull the floats. Let’s just say that parade organizers like loopholes in the city’s laws!
We were able to examine many floats at close range examining the papier mache pieces and fiber optic lighting that decorate and illuminate the massive vehicles. Although we were not allowed to board the floats, we did find out something interesting. Having to stay on the vehicles for long periods of time, have you ever wondered what the masked float riders do when they have to go to the bathroom? Yes, the floats are equipped with port-o-johns!
Finally, our guide set us loose and we were able to walk among the thousands of pieces of sculpture and indulge our inner photographer! If you can imagine it, it was probably there, a who’s who of sculptured characters…Buddha, Elvis, Saints’ Quarterback, Drew Brees, Captain Jack Sparrow, Little Red Riding Hood, Santa Claus and so many other amazing pieces! There were even elaborate Mardi Gras costumes to try on!
This New Orleans tour is an experience you will definitely not want to miss, especially if you have not had the opportunity to attend Mardi Gras. The unmasking of the greatest show on earth is truly worth the admission price…even for a former local, like me!
Bring your camera and your appetite!
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Mardi Gras World
- https://www.mardigrasworld.com/
- Address: 1380 Port of New Orleans Pl, New Orleans, LA 70130
- Hours: 0900-1730, daily. First tour begins at 0930 and last tour at 1630, each lasting one hour and beginning every half hour.
- Admission: Adults, $22.00, Children, $14.00, Seniors, $17.00, Students, $17.00
- Getting There: By car, $15.00 parking fee. By free shuttle, provided by Mardi Gras World. Give them a call and they will pick you up at designated pick up areas throughout the French Quarter and Downtown areas.