Another Mardi Gras parade help thread. (1 Viewer)

whodatjoe

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I'm so excited! Just booked a room in Slidell for Saturday 2/9. Me, wife, and 6 year old boy are coming over for parades! We plan on being in town early Saturday and do as many daytime parades as we can and then again on Sunday before heading home. This will be our first time. I want to stay safe, have fun, and let the boy get lots of loot. Advice is appreciated!
 
you head home sunday? which means missing Bacchus
if you can stay for Bacchus get to St Charles EARLY and camp out - you'll catch all the parades there - bring footballs & games etc - there's lots of down time between day parades and bacchus
you'll probably want to be on the lake side of st charles, just know that that might get you into some rough neighborhoods parking wise - it's fine really, but it will make you nrvous when you first get there (closer to Napoleon the better the neighborhood the earlier the parade - closer to I-10 the sketchier it gets)
you don't want to get river side of st charles - you'll be trapped forever

others will have to give you recommends about Endymion/ sat parades (endymion runs a different route - adn you'll have to decide if you're trying to catch the day parades and thus get stuck in endymion late parking)
i tend to go to delgado and catch it as it's forming - fewer crowds, but not quite the experience you'll want for first parade experience)

just know that both Bacchuhs and Endymion are PACKED all along the route
 
i agree about Endymion. Go catch it at the beginning and park in Delgado. You can then get to Bonnabel to catch the Metairie parade twice.

I would go to Magazine and Napoleon on Sunday. You can catch three parades there. Thoth and Bacchus are great. Many families in that area. It is toward the beginning of Bacchus so you can drive home at a decent hour.
 
Slidell has a night parade on the 9th if you want to see a smaller version. I like going to Metairie's parades because they are more family friendly.
 
i agree about Endymion. Go catch it at the beginning and park in Delgado. You can then get to Bonnabel to catch the Metairie parade twice.

I would go to Magazine and Napoleon on Sunday. You can catch three parades there. Thoth and Bacchus are great. Many families in that area. It is toward the beginning of Bacchus so you can drive home at a decent hour.

actually good point
very good spot to see sunday's parades - you'll even have almost an hour of sunlight for bacchus
 
Slidell has a night parade on the 9th if you want to see a smaller version. I like going to Metairie's parades because they are more family friendly.

you're kid's not going to know any different
but for you and your wife, i'm going to guess you'll want to do the NO parades
 
Thanks guys. If we wanted to do Iris, Tucks, Endymion on Saturday.
What would be a good spot to get to see the first to and then be close (walking) to catch Endymion? What time should we show up?
Then on sunday the first three in uptown, go to the same spot we watch iris and tucks at? Bacchus is just going to be too late, I think we'll get our fill though.
 
The only way to walk from Iris and Tucks to Endymion is to stay mostly downtown. If you watch Endymion downtown, the crowds can get really thick and you'll be out very late. I would suggest watching Iris and Tucks uptown, leave a little early, and do some creative driving and parking to catch Endymion - either at the beginning, or somewhere along Canal nearish Carrollton. There are several churches that have good inclusive food/bathroom deals around there. Delgado is a great parking option, but you will be hard pressed to get there in time after the uptown parades (though it can be done).
 
Thanks Buzd. We won't be toting a ladder or anything. How bout a fishing net? Is that allowed or too rude? I want to make sure the boy gets loot.
 
Fishing nets are tolerated but frowned upon. You really don't need them. You should be able to get plenty of stuff at that run of parades.
 
Thanks guys. If we wanted to do Iris, Tucks, Endymion on Saturday.
What would be a good spot to get to see the first to and then be close (walking) to catch Endymion? What time should we show up?
Then on sunday the first three in uptown, go to the same spot we watch iris and tucks at? Bacchus is just going to be too late, I think we'll get our fill though.

I've always had success driving down Claiborne from the I-10 exit and hanging a left at Jackson (or Washington) towards St. Charles. I've been able to park within a block or two of St. Charles between Jackson and Washington (on Carondelet or Baronne). If you've got a small portable grill take it and cook up some dogs and/or chicken. Bring a cooler with wheels. Instead of a ladder or net, bring a 1" pvc pipe (3 foot long) with a red and white circular target (or black and gold fleur de lys) stuck on it.

You could then head up Carondelet or Baronne or Oretha Castle (sp?) towards Howard and catch Endymion there. You'll have plenty of time and won't feel rushed.

When (if) you return to the same location on Sunday, you'll probably have new friends that you made on Sat that will be there and you'll need to bring extra dogs and chicken. There will be people with tent camping over night and I've actually left my chairs/grill/cooler there overnight and just asked campers that if everything is still there in the morning then I'll bring them McD's breakfast. It's never failed me (but that was always on Monday night and I was back on St. Charles by 7:30 or 8:00 am)

imho
 
Thanks Brah! What time Sat am should we get there? How bout trying to get on St. Charles near Lee circle to see all three? How will any rain affect the day? We'll have to hook up for Blue Wahoos games this year!
 

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