As a local, how would you spend the Carnival period? And please don't say 'by leaving'. (Jackson: how much, live)

[jacq63]

I know loads of you will no doubt leave, or would like to, but I'd like to know a few insider's secrets for those of us coming over to celebrate with y'all. Any must-see parades? Balls? Day escapes? Things to do on Frenchman/s St?? (and other streets of course!) Things one really really should avoid? Yes, I drink, so I'll venture back onto Bourbon Street.
Don't worry about budget/where we're staying at this stage, I'm kind of looking for a brainstorm here, and we're pretty adaptable/flexible/eager for fun! Not very conservative..I mean, if you travel 1/2 way round the world you gotta be a little bit open!
Laisser les bon temp roulez! (hope I got that right)
TIA.

[Drouzin]

Leave?! On my favorite holiday?! Are you kidding?!! My favorite parades are Le Krewe d'Etat, and Krewe du Vieux. They celebrate my love of satire and scarcasim. Endymion is the big parade to catch imho although some would say Bacchus.

As for Balls, I think you may be able to get tickets for some of the super krews like Endymion and Bacchus, but for the most part it's invitation only so you'd have to know a member of the krew to be invited.

Neato, you're coming to town!!

[asong]

Originally Posted by jacq63

I know loads of you will no doubt leave, or would like to, but I'd like to know a few insider's secrets for those of us coming over to celebrate with y'all. Any must-see parades? Balls? Day escapes? Things to do on Frenchman/s St?? (and other streets of course!) Things one really really should avoid? Yes, I drink, so I'll venture back onto Bourbon Street.
Don't worry about budget/where we're staying at this stage, I'm kind of looking for a brainstorm here, and we're pretty adaptable/flexible/eager for fun! Not very conservative..I mean, if you travel 1/2 way round the world you gotta be a little bit open!
Laisser les bon temp roulez! (hope I got that right)
TIA.

u must see three big parades! Rex, Zulu, & Endymion. Rex & Zulu on Fat tuesday and endymion on sat. before Mardi gra. Zulu ball. Mon. would be the day escape go through the quarters get drinks, po boys, red beans;;;; don't wounder to far off the streets of the french quarters. I'm a world traveler too so I know the unknown feeling have fun.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Not sure how much time you will be there. On Mardi Gras Day, catch Zulu and Rex downtown then wander into the Quarter. Just seeing the people in the streets is a spectacle in itself. If you have time during the day (not MGD of course), take a swamp tour from the foot of Canal St. or ride the streetcar uptown, Get off at Audubon PArk and walk around. If you have lots of time, walk over to the Zoo and see it. Then take the streetcar back downtown. Wander through the Quarter and JAckson Square in the day, see the sights, visit the museums, eat wherever it smells good. Don't forget to have cafe au lait and beignets near Jackson Square. HAve fun but be safe - stay with crowds and don't get so drunk you are not aware of what's going on around you.

[jacq63]

Thanks so much everyone. We're there for the duration of Carnival, so have a fair bit of time to play. I've had beignets @ Cafe du Monde, which was a mistake b/c I keep getting cravings for them now.
Dont worry Sthnbelle, we will be careful to stay aware..we wanna be able to remember it all.
We'd also like to explore the bayous as well, we may hire a car towards the end of our stay and drive it back to L.Angeles.

So, a lot of locals stay in town then? I was hoping for that - last time we were there coincided with Sugar Bowl. I think I may have seen 1 or 2 tourists, who were slightly drunk.
Thanks again for your time, really appreciate it.

[WestbankNOLA]

Endymion

[evildiva]

DO NOT miss Lundi Gras. Spend the day on walking around the quarter on both Royal and Bourbon, alot less crowded, and just more pleasant. Then head over to Spanish Plaza at the Riverfront for some great music and loads of fun. Then head to Canal to catch Krewe of Orpheus. It's a laid back day and has become more of a favorite for my family, or just the adults, than Fat Tuesday itself.

[jacq63]

Thanks evildiva, we appreciate more low-key suggestions too.
Endymion, that returned this year after a post-Katrina absence yeah? Look fwd to it, thanks Westbank.
Think we're gonna be staying on Bienville St, btn. Bourbon and Dauphine. Pretty central.

[YankeeCajun]

We will miss Mardi Gras this year and I think that is the number one thing about our move we just can't get over. My husband and I both belonged to Krewes on the Northshore and I can tell you that we spent the season in full force. My favorite downtown parsde is Orphiyus. The floats are just beautiful. The first year we lived there we spent Mardi Gras in the french quarter iin costume. It was a great time to see the sites. And there are lots of them!

[miserylovesco.]

I think we actually got a balcony on Bourbon this year.

That's gonna be really fun.