What to bring for Mardi Gras parades
- Aimee Boudreaux MacIver
- Feb 18
- 4 min read
From the charming and eccentric walking krewes to the Super Sunday behemoths to the endless truck parades that shut down Fat Tuesday, we go to almost every parade that rolls. This kit reflects items we own and use during Mardi Gras. In general, we err on the side of budget items for parades because they are likely to get trashed no matter how much you invest. And always, always remember: if you have none of these items, go to the parade anyway. If Mardi Gras ever starts to feel like a task list, abandon everything but your walking beer and just go.
Folding bench: This thing is awesome and wonderful, especially for all-day parade marathons. (In the other eleven sad months of the year, we love our bench for weekend sports or outdoor concerts.)
Tiny rain ponchos: Keep a stash of ponchos in one of the backpack ice chest chairs because the weather often changes throughout the day. Ponchos are useful for a variety of waterproofing and covering needs. These come in super compact, vacuum-sealed packs.
Canopy: A portable canopy is your own personal kingdom on a parade route. You’ll need to set it up before sunrise to get a spot, but the space and shade are worthy prizes. We own this super affordable one that comes in a dozen colors, and I also like this waterproof one.
Face glitter: There’s no point in being at a Mardi Gras parade and not going all in. Spackle on the glitter.
Backpack ice chest chair: These little guys are Mardi Gras MVP legends in our family. They go to every parade. You can fit whatever drinks and snacks you need in these. (Pro tip: make one the “cold” one and another the “dry” one.) You can sit on them, prop up your feet, mark corners of your territory.
Belt bag: I cannot stress enough the importance of being hands-free and crossbody-free during parades. You need to keep your important stuff close to you in a huge crowd, but you also need both of your hands to catch beads, hold drinks, wave at riders, grab onto ladders, lift up kids, etc. Crossbody bags get tangled in beads and headdresses and will drive you absolutely nuts. Wear this instead and choose from a bazillion colors. Or you could also just wait and catch a belt bag/ fanny pack from a float (Krewe of Freret throws my favorite).
Folding chair: We have a stack of these ultra-affordable chairs in purple to match our canopy and wagon. We don’t sit much during parades, so we don’t necessarily need maximum comfort features; these work well for us. This upgraded version will last longer and be much more comfortable if you expect to sit more.
Non-toxic sanitizing wipes: You definitely want some kind of sanitizer wipes handy at parades; simplify with a good, all-purpose one that’s safe for all ages of your group.
Folding stepladder: Useful for elevating yourself a tad higher for visibility to floats. We have two (one per kiddo). If you want to spark some Mardi Gras goodwill, invite small children from other nearby groups onto your ladder so they have a slightly better chance of catching something awesome.
Face paint crayons: We keep a little pack of these in our backpack ice chest chairs just for fun. Face painting amuses everyone while you’re waiting for a parade to roll, plus it adds to the festive vibe. If you’re looking for something with finer control and lasting power, try this upgraded face paint kit with brushes.
Bathroom funnel: This paper device for women and girls truly makes balancing Tetris in public portalets 100% easier. There’s also a reusable silicone version, but do not buy this version for Mardi Gras because you will have no place to clean it. (Or maybe ever…? This seems like an obvious disposable tool.)
Football: A good old-fashioned football has magic community-building powers, drawing people of all ages into the street to play while you wait for the parade. Don’t bring an expensive or special football; we’ve lost more footballs at Mardi Gras than we can count. Or you could wait for the inevitable foam footballs x infinity that you’ll catch.
Folding wagon: You won’t believe how useful a Mardi Gras wagon can be. You can use it to stash your drinks and snacks, mark off a place to stand, and carry back all the throws you catch. We keep this one at our apartment since it doesn't have to go far to the route and thus endures less wear. If you want one that is high-quality with excellent wheels and other features, we also own and love this folding wagon.
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