About Mardi Gras World
Mardi Gras World offers an educational, behind-the-scenes look at the history and craftsmanship of Mardi Gras parade floats inside a real, working warehouse where families can watch active artists at work.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families seeking an educational and unique cultural experience close to the French QuarterArt and history enthusiasts interested in parade craftsmanshipSchool-age children and teens who can appreciate the art, technology, and 1.5-hour walking tour format
Why families love it
- Engaging 1.5-hour tour detailing the history, themes, and creation of Mardi Gras floats
- Opportunities to watch real painters, builders, and craftsmen working on active projects
- Self-guided time after the tour to wander, explore, and take photos with massive props
- Introductory historical video paired with a slice of traditional King Cake
- Highly praised, charismatic, and inclusive tour guides who make the experience fun
- Up-close access to giant parade floats and props
Insider tips
- Look for Groupon discounts before purchasing tickets to get the best value
- Temper your expectations regarding the venue's exterior and interior comfort, as it is a functional metal warehouse
- Budget at least 1.5 hours for the full experience, including the video, tour, and self-guided photo time
Good to know before you go
- Families with toddlers or very young children who may struggle with a 1.5-hour walking tour in a warehouse setting
- The facility is a working warehouse along the river, so it is not a highly polished or climate-controlled museum environment
- The complimentary King Cake was reported by some to be a bit dry
- Crowds
- Structured tour format keeps groups moving, with plenty of space and time to wander and take photos independently between stops
- Value
- Regular ticket prices are fair for the 1.5-hour experience, but finding a Groupon makes it an excellent value.
- Food
- A slice of King Cake is provided to visitors after the introductory video
- Accessibility
- Located in a working warehouse along the river, which may have industrial floors and layout limitations
- Safety
- Visitors are guided through active working zones where artists use modern technology and tools
What parents say
"If you have any interest in Mardi Gras, you have to visit this place. The tour was 1-1/2 hours long and included a tour of the warehouse and explanation of the parade and floats' history, themes and creation. After the tour, we were allowed time to walk around on our own for more photos and watch as painters and builders work on the floats. Very educational and interesting."
2 weeks ago
"We have visited NOLA several times and never knew about this Gem. Mardi Gras World is a stop that should not be missed and is a short ride from the Quarter. The regular ticket price is fair, but if you are lucky enough to find a Groupon it is even better. From the outside it does not look like much, just a large white metal warehouse, except for the very large King and Queen figures outside. As soon as we stepped inside, we were blown away, and the best was yet to come. Your visit starts with an interesting short video of the history followed by a piece of King Cake which was a little dry. "
3 weeks ago
"Really cool place. We had Lucky as our tour guide and he was a blast. Funny, charismatic, knowledgeable, informative, inclusive, personal, and anything else you'd want in a guide. We got to see some of the artists working on current projects as well as the warehouse full of past and present props and floats. It was really interesting to learn how it's all made and how many things Kern is involved in. A great place to find out the history and process of one of the things that makes NOLA unique."
a month ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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