The greatest time of the year in New Orleans is here! Each year, thousands of visitors travel to the city to experience what all residents know is the “best free party in the world” – Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Carnival season started on January 6th with two parades and we will continue to have parades all around the greater New Orleans area from now until Fat Tuesday on February 9th.
Residents love this time of year because it’s always a chance to catch up with friends and family while enjoying what life has to offer. Along with parades, experiencing traditions such as the marching bands, dance troupes, Mardi Gras food like King Cake (my first slice this year was pecans praline flavored from Rouses), fried anything and there will be fresh boiled crawfish this year! Since New Orleans permits public consumption of alcohol, you can also be sure there will be lots of drinking.
Due to the number of people who are out on the open streets at the same time and the amount of alcohol being imbibed by everyone, it’s very important that you watch out for your safety. Here are some tips to have fun and stay safe during the Mardi Gras in New Orleans!
What’s New to Mardi Gras in 2016?
In the past years we’ve had new rules adopted each year, but this year you don’t have to learn anything new. For a complete schedule of Mardi Gras parades in the greater New Orleans area, click here.
Although there were rumors that the Uptown parade route was going to change from starting at Claiborne Avenue instead of Magazine Street, it seems that the Uptown routes will remain the same as past years. There is one smaller walking parade that has a new route this year, Krewe of Chewbacchus on January 30th in the Marigny, New Orleans. For the new route, click here.
Family Gras & Metairie Mardi Gras Parades
Every year, Metairie hosts a family-friendly Mardi Gras called Family Gras. In addition to the traditional parades, Metairie brings in some pretty famous musicians, singers and entertainers. Family Gras takes place along Veterans Memorial Boulevard from Friday, January 29th through Sunday, January 31st. This year be sure to catch Amanda Shaw, Cowboy Mouth, Blood Sweat & Tears, Wilson Phillips, Montgomery Gentry, Jessy McCartney, The Drifters and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons some time during the weekend. There’s also an art market and a ton of food vendors with Louisiana favorites such as crawfish monica, muffulettas and jambalaya.
How to Stay Safe During Mardi Gras
It’s important to know the rules, laws, and etiquette of New Orleans and Mardi Gras. Yes, not only are there particular laws pertaining to Mardi Gras, but there is etiquette that you should know. Some of these include:
- If you have a ladder, a grill or a tent, it must be at least 6 feet away from the curb on all parade routes and it cannot block a sidewalk or intersection.
- You must have a permit for any private portable toilets that are placed on public property. You can place a private toilet on your private property.
- You are not allowed to toss beads or throws or food at the floats. There is a $250 fine.
- You cannot rope off public areas anywhere.
- Make sure you follow all public parking signs. You must move your car from a parade route two hours prior to any parade.
- Follow ALL public parking signs. Make sure you are not parked within 20 feet of a crosswalk, intersection, fire hydrant or stop sign. The front end of your car needs to be facing the direction traffic is flowing.
- Do not carry a firearm to a parade, whether concealed or not. It is illegal in New Orleans to bring a firearm to a parade.
How Should You Behave at Mardi Gras?
Whether you’re 80 or 8, we’re all young at heart during Mardi Gras. That means that we tend to let loose, have a few drinks, act a little immature and forget life’s worries for a couple weeks. But, we still need to remember that we should be polite to others in order to maintain safety and enjoyment for everyone. First things first, if you are not 21 years or older, then you cannot drink alcohol. You can get cited or arrested for a minor in possession believe it or not. My law firm represents lots of people who are arrested for minor in possession and often can get the case dismissed. Although everyone 21+ is allowed to drink in public, you cannot drink out of glass bottles. Whether it is enforced year-round, it is absolutely enforced during Mardi Gras for the safety of everyone. Glass is dangerous. Do not bring it outside your home, hotel or the bar.
On a more personal note, I noticed more people fighting during Uptown parades than ever last year! Sadly, they were fighting over some of the more coveted throws. Here’s my opinion: the riders in Nyx, Muses, Zulu, and all the other parades spend a lot of time getting their unique throws together. I know a number of women who ride in Nyx that spend HOURS making purses to throw to parade goers. Sometimes they kindly throw them into the crowd, but more often they are handing them to personal friends as a way to say thanks for supporting me. When a lady of Muses gives a shoe to a friend, that’s a really big deal and in my experience the rider makes it very clear who the shoe is for. Sadly, people have stopped caring about other and will tackle the person to get the shoe from them. This is extremely dangerous for you, the receiver of the shoe (who is either a child, an elderly person, or a victim now) and the parade. If these sorts of thing continue, the city will prohibit the krewes from throwing these items. Stop fighting over shoes, purses, and coconuts–you’re ruining my Mardi Gras.
Additionally, some simple rules to follow:
- Do not touch the NOPD horses
- Do not take your clothes off outside of the French Quarter
- Do not urinate in public
- Do listen to law enforcement
- Do not bring weapons or drugs to the parades
- Do follow traffic and parking signs
What if I am Arrested in New Orleans During Mardi Gras?
If you have drank too much, try to keep your hands to yourself. You do not want to get charged with disturbing the peace, lewd conduct, public intoxication, criminal damage to property, assault or even an open container violation. If you are arrested in New Orleans for any of these crimes during Mardi Gras, due to the volume of police patrolling the streets, you may even be brought to Central Lockup for some time. If you or a friend are arrested in Metairie or New Orleans for any of these crimes, it is imperative that you contact a criminal defense lawyer to help you sort through the charges.
Call (504) 264-9492 For Your Free Initial Consultation
Crescent City Law is here to help you if you think you have a case against your traffic tickets or parking ticket. Again, it is not likely we can get a reduced or dismissed parking ticket but you can give us a call at (504) 264-9492 to see if there is a case or you can e-mail us. We are available nights, weekends and off-site and have translators available in Spanish, French, Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese.
