5. Give your kids a history lesson . There's more to Mardi Gras than gathering loot at parades. Take your children to the Carnival exhibit at The Presbytère on Jackson Square and explore two floors of Mardi Gras history, or visit Mardi Gras World and see how floats are made. Yes, kids can absolutely have a fun and safe experience enjoying Mardi Gras parades. Let our Kids Guide to Mardi Gras show you how. Best Mardi Gras Parades for Kids. Most parades will offer kids the sense of wonder that comes with seeing massive floats bedecked with flashy colors, bright lights, and astounding sculpture work, plus kids love the We visited Mardi Gras in partnership with the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau to help showcase the family spirit of Mardi Gras. In this guide, we’ll share with you some tips and places you most want to visit with your kids to have that family-friendly Mardi Gras experience in New Orleans. Here’s a guide to making the most of Mardi Gras at every age and stage, with tips on kid-friendly parades that will keep everyone smiling (at least for the most part!). The Early Years: Babies and Toddlers. Attending Mardi Gras with a baby or toddler takes preparation and patience, but it’s entirely doable. Mardi Gras, the lively and colorful celebration that takes over the streets of New Orleans each year, offers an array of family-friendly activities and events suitable for children of all ages. With proper planning and insider knowledge, families can immerse themselves in the magic of Mardi Gras while creating lasting memories together. Family Gras - February 21 - 23, 2025. Family Gras is a FREE celebration of Carnival and family that takes place two weekends before Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras Day), and is located just ten minutes from downtown New Orleans in the suburb of Metairie. It takes place on Veterans Memorial Boulevard, across from Lakeside Shopping Center. There is never a shortage of things to do in New Orleans with kids, but Mardi Gras takes the (king) cake! If you are looking for family-friendly Mardi Gras events in New Orleans and the surrounding area, we have you covered for 2025! 2025 Guide to New Orleans Mardi Gras Events and Camps. It’s time to bust out the green, purple and gold! Mardi Gras with Kids Day 1: French Quarter and New Orleans Riverfront. Start your Mardi Gras family trip with some of the most iconic and kid-friendly New Orleans and Mardi Gras attractions. The French Quarter will see some hard-core partying at night, but will be almost empty if you go early in the day. It’s not a surprising question considering Mardi Gras is largely perceived as an alcoholic, bare-breasted holiday by those outside of the New Orleans area. But contrary to public perception, Mardi Gras is actually a family celebration. Yes, we dare say that it’s kid-friendly. Over the years New Orleans Mom has assembled lots of tips for enjoying Mardi Gras with kids, including 22 tips for enjoying Mardi Gras as a beginner, a list of insider tips from the parade route, the 10 king cakes in New Orleans you have to try and even how to make an easy king cake at home with kids. Get up close and personal with floats at Mardi Gras World. Photo courtesy of NewOrleans.com. 3. Mardi Gras World. If you can't make it to New Orleans during Mardi Gras, don't despair! Visit Mardi Gras World and get a behind-the-scenes look at past floats and the work that goes into creating them on a tour of the warehouse. Special Mardi Gras Events for 2025. Family Gras (February 21-23, 2025): A FREE family-friendly celebration in the Metairie neighborhood on Veterans Memorial Boulevard (across from Lakeside Shopping Center), this fun weekend is filled with parades, authentic New Orleans cuisine, local art, children’s activities, and free outdoor concerts and Visiting New Orleans With kids over Mardi Gras? Use our guide to family-friendly Mardi Gras parades and events in New Orleans! There is also a calendar of things to do in New Orleans with kids. Need tips on parking in the city? We have you there too! After your visit, take a road trip to one of these great destinations within a few hours of our You may associate New Orleans with Mardi Gras, adult activities, and debauchery; however, there are TONS of things to do in New Orleans with kids too! New Orleans is drenched in history, culture, and character, and that in and of itself makes it a great place for kids to have their imaginations and characters expanded. Mardi Gras often gets a bad rap, perceived as an adult-oriented festival that no sane parent would ever allow their children to attend. While most winter carnival events include raucous parties, Mardi Gras can be celebrated with family-specific offerings, such as parades and historic museums, in New Orleans, Louisiana and across the U.S. To make Mardi Gras a kid-friendly affair, New Orleans & Company suggests that families with pre-teens avoid the French Quarter, where parades don’t pass anyway. Instead, take the family to the Mardi Gras great for kids, Bourbon Street is not. I can understand how a tourist/outside like yourself can think Mardi Gras and The French Quarter/Bourbon Street are one in the same, but the reality is you can experience everything Mardi Gras has to offer and be miles away from the French Quarter. Please, come, bring the fam, have a great time. Head just a few miles east of New Orleans, where the Krewe of Bilge boat parade goes through the canals of Slidell. The family will love seeing the decorated boats, where krewe members toss out beads (or “throws”) and commemorative Carnival treasures. Head to Jefferson Parish’s family-centric Mardi Gras experience: Family Gras. This free F - Family-Friendly. A common misconception about Mardi Gras in New Orleans is that it’s only for adults. With most parades far far away from the revelry on Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras is a family and community celebration. You’ll see plenty of children and families out on the Saint Charles Avenue parade route, some on ladders, some on Mardi Gras Parades: New Orleans With extravagant floats and fun throws, Mardi Gras can be a kid-friendly event – seriously! CLICK HERE for a kid's guide to the best parades, viewing locations, tips, and more. March. International Children’s Film Festival: New Orleans Public Library Main Branch
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