Tips For Doing Mardi Gras With Kids
If you’re heading to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, you’ll want to make sure you have some fun activities planned for the kids. Here are a few tips to help make your trip a success!
17 Tips For Doing Mardi Gras With Kids
1. Get beaded.
Before you even come to New Orleans, buy beads and put them on a keychain or backpack strap. It’s the kind of thing that every kid wants to do – run around and collect all of the colored beads that people throw from balconies. By the time you leave Mardi Gras, your kids will be covered in so many beads, it’ll take them a week to clean up!
2. Bring a change of clothes.
You don’t want to ruin those pajamas that Grandma gave you as a gift, do you? Or maybe your favorite jeans are white and you’ll be really upset if they get covered in purple mud from the ground. A fresh set of clothes is definitely a good idea!
3. Stay in a hotel downriver.
Mardi Gras is always the 2 weeks prior to Ash Wednesday, so you might want to consider staying out of New Orleans until after that day. Cleaning up all of that purple mud is no fun! It’s best if your kids do this before they go back to school, too!
https://worldinfourdays.com/the-best-hotels-for-mardi-gras-new-orleans
4. Make festive and healthy food.
You don’t have to serve your kids the same meal every day. Make Ochre Chowder for that first lunch, and then try out Beignets with Strawberry Sauce for dinner!
5. Decorate your own masks.
You don’t have to buy one of those pricey masks in the French Quarter. It’s really easy to use construction paper and sequins to decorate your own mask with your kids, so they can feel proud showing off their new creation.
6. Let your kids take part in parades.
If you’re at a parade route early enough, you can let your kids march alongside the floats. Who knows – maybe they’ll even catch a string of beads!
7. Bake a king cake.
This way, when you’re in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, you can celebrate the holiday that much more. You’ll need a few things like cream cheese and cinnamon, but it’s sure to be delicious!
8. Have a contest.
If you really want everyone to remember your trip to Mardi Gras, host a contest to see who can get the most beads. The kid with the most can even get a prize!
9. Go on a field trip.
Instead of resting the day after all that New Orleans food, consider going on a tour of historic homes or one of those ghost tours around town. You’ll have some great memories and your kids will be learning at the same time!
72 Hours in New Orleans – Cajun Encounter New Orleans Swamp Tour Review
10. Try some New Orleans cooking.
There are plenty of Cajun dishes to try when you come to New Orleans. Some great ones are Jambalaya, Crawfish Etouffee, Gumbo and even Shrimp Creole! And don’t forget about desserts like Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce before you head home.
11. Let your kids watch the parades.
If you’re busy with other things, let your kids sit somewhere in the shade and watch the parades go by. Maybe they’ll even spot a celebrity!
12. Don’t be afraid to splurge.
Let’s say you’ve got two kids who are sick of pizza for every meal. Surprise them with an ice cream cone from a famous shop in the French Quarter. Even if it’s someplace expensive, they’ll remember the experience forever!
13. Dress your kids in Mardi Gras colors.
You don’t have to dress your kids up head-to-toe in Mardi Gras costumes, but you could have them wear an accessory or two that’s really festive. It might be fun to let them pick their colors!
14. Take a ghost tour.
Are you really going to visit New Orleans and not see the ghosts ? Take your kids on a nighttime Mardi Gras ghost tour that will let them try out their flashlights and keep them company when it feels creepy!
15. Make time for beignets and coffee.
If you’re in New Orleans, you can’t come back until you’ve had some beignets and chicory coffee. It’s one of the most iconic foods on Bourbon Street, so make sure your kids get to try it!
16. Plan your trip around an event.
If you can’t make it to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, consider coming during a different time of the year. There are tons of festivals that take place around town, so there’s always something fun to see!
17. Make food part of your fun.
Don’t focus on just partying and drinking and eating and shopping. Make food part of the fun your kids will remember forever! Try crawfish, jambalaya and gumbo for some great Cajun cooking.
That’s it! Now that you have a list of some great ideas, you’ll be able to create your own memories with your kids. Get out there and have a great time!
