Mardi Gras Beads & Parades

Parade Manners for First-Timers: What to Know Before You Go

By Mardi Gras Beads Factory ·

A Mardi Gras parade float rolling down a New Orleans street
Photo: Library of Congress / Unsplash

Your first Mardi Gras parade is loud, happy and a little wild. It is also a lot more fun when you know the unwritten rules. None of this is hard. Most of it comes down to two ideas: stay safe around the floats, and be kind to the people around you.

One note before we start. Every town and every parade route has its own rules. Police and parade staff are in charge on the day. If they tell you to move, move. If a rule here is different from what local police say, follow the police.

Where should I stand?

Get there early. Good spots fill up fast, especially on weekends and at night parades.

  • Stay behind barricades. If the route has metal barricades, stay behind them the whole time.
  • No barricades? Stay off the street. Stand on the sidewalk or the grassy middle strip (in New Orleans, people call it the “neutral ground”). Keep the street clear for the parade.
  • Don’t block driveways or doors. People still live and work along the route.
  • Leave room to walk. Chairs and coolers should not block the whole sidewalk.

If you want a calmer day, go to the start or end of a route, or to a parade in a smaller town. Crowds are often thinner there. You can find parades near you on the Mardi Gras parade schedule.

Why should I never cross between floats?

This is the most important rule on this page. Floats are heavy. Many are pulled by a tractor, and some are hooked together in a line. The driver often cannot see a person who darts between them. People have been badly hurt and even killed this way. In 2020, two people died after being hit by floats in New Orleans in the same week.

So:

  • Never cross between floats, even if there seems to be a big gap.
  • Wait for a clear break in the parade, or for staff to wave people across.
  • Let a dropped bead go. If a throw lands near a float or under its wheels, leave it. No bead is worth it.

Are ladders and kids a good mix?

Yes, with care. Families often bring a step ladder with a seat box on top, so kids can see over the crowd and catch throws. It is a well-loved local habit.

A few common-sense tips:

  • Keep the ladder well back from the curb. In New Orleans, the city has asked that ladders stay at least six feet back from the curb and not be tied together. Other towns may have their own rules, so check before you go.
  • An adult stays with the ladder at all times.
  • Keep kids off shoulders. The New Orleans Fire Department asks people not to carry children or adults on their shoulders along the route.
  • Hold small hands. Kids get excited and run toward floats. Stay close enough to grab an arm.
  • Make a plan if you get split up. Pick a meeting spot, like a street corner or a store sign. Some families write a phone number on a child’s arm or on a tag in their pocket.

How do I ask for a throw?

The classic call is “Throw me something, mister!” Riders hear it all day, and it still works.

Here are other easy ways to get noticed:

  • Wave, smile and make eye contact. Riders like to throw to someone who is clearly having fun.
  • Hold up a sign. Funny or sweet signs catch eyes.
  • Cheer for the bands and dancers too. The whole parade is the show, not only the floats.

And a few manners:

  • Don’t grab from kids. If a throw lands between you and a child, let the child have it.
  • Don’t step on hands. If a bead hits the ground, people bend down for it at the same time. Use your foot to hold it, then pick it up.
  • Say thank you. A wave back goes a long way.
  • Share. If you catch a lot, pass some to the kids around you.

Curious what riders throw besides beads? See Mardi Gras throw ideas.

What should I bring?

Keep it light. You may stand for hours.

  • A bag for your catches. A cloth tote works well.
  • Water and snacks.
  • A jacket. Parade season is in winter, and nights can get cold.
  • A phone with a full charge, but expect slow service in big crowds.
  • Comfortable shoes. You will walk more than you think.

Leave glass bottles at home. In New Orleans, the fire department asks people not to bring glass to the route, and broken glass is a danger to everyone.

How do I clean up after?

The parade ends, but the street is still someone’s neighborhood.

  • Take your trash with you, or put it in a trash can.
  • Pick up broken beads and wrappers near your spot.
  • Don’t leave unwanted beads behind. Give extras away, or recycle them after the season. In the New Orleans area, the Arc of Greater New Orleans collects used beads, and Audubon Nature Institute has drop-off boxes for it.
  • Fold up chairs and ladders and carry them out.

Leaving your spot as clean as you found it is the best way to thank the town that hosted the parade.

The short version

  • Follow police and parade staff first.
  • Stay behind barricades, or on the sidewalk.
  • Never cross between floats. Never chase a bead near the wheels.
  • Keep ladders back from the curb and kids within reach.
  • Wave, smile, say thank you, and share.
  • Take your trash home.

Sources

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