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When the Mistick Krewe of Comus presented the first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans in 1857, it featured only two floats, and they were borrowed from Mobile, Alabama’s New The Golden Age of Mardi Gras Floats source: life.com. By the early 20th century, Mardi Gras floats had become a defining element of the celebration. Krewes such as Zulu, founded in 1909, introduced unique themes and satirical floats that humorously depicted current events and public figures. The floats have become an integral part of the Mardi Gras tradition, weaving together elements of art, culture, and community celebration. In 1857, the Mistick Krewe of Comus introduced the first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, featuring a humble procession with only two borrowed floats froma New Year’s Eve parade in Mobile, Alabama. This is also the first recorded account of Mardi Gras "throws." Newspapers began to announce Mardi Gras events in advance, and they even printed "Carnival Edition" lithographs of parades' fantastic float designs (after they rolled, of course - themes and floats were always carefully guarded before the procession). When New Orleans embraced Mardi Gras parading in 1856, floats and costumed were borrowed from Mobile that first year. That would seem to make it a clear case that Mobile started Mardi Gras, at The Birth of Mardi Gras Floats: A 19th Century Phenomenon. To understand the origins of Mardi Gras floats, we need to rewind to the 19th century. The first recorded Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans was in 1837, but it was more of a rowdy procession than the organized spectacle we know today. 4: When was the first Mardi Gras? The first Mardi Gras parade was held in New Orleans on Feb. 24, 1857 by the Krewe of Comus. They began the tradition of presenting a parade with floats and following it with a ball for the krewe and their guests. Mardi Gras Dates. 5: What is the significance of the Mardi Gras colors, and where did they come from? Meet the family behind the famous Mardi Gras floats. 04:56. TODAY anchors take a tasty whirlwind trip around New Orleans. 08:11. 3rd Hour of TODAY kicks off Mardi Gras in New Orleans. 04:22. Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, which takes place March 4, marks the party’s climax and the end of Carnival Season on the Gulf Coast. The conclusion falls the day before Ash Wednesday and is seen as a final day of feasting and revelry before the solemnity of Lent. The 2025 Carnival Season -- marked by a weekslong pre-Lenten bash and complete with colorful parades, shimmery beads tossed from floats and streets lined with costumed revelers -- is reaching its conclusion on the Gulf Coast. A fascinating, behind the scenes look at the artists and craftspeople who design and build Mardi Gras floats and some Carnival float-building traditions. Originally aired in 1990. Aired 01/11/2024 If you’re interested in Mardi Gras floats, then touring Mardi Gras World is a must-do activity. Mardi Gras World is where Kern Studios builds the breathtaking floats seen in Mardi Gras parades and celebrations, both in New Orleans and around the world. You can take a free shuttle from the French Quarter to get to Mardi Gras World. After missing in-person Mardi Gras traditions last year, the New Orleans community is ready to jump back into celebrating the way they know how; with beads, bands, floats, and food. There is so much to be excited about as Mardi Gras approaches. Like so many other cultural institutions in this country, Mardi Gras has a complicated history. New Orleans Mardi Gras . The first American Mardi Gras took place on March 3, 1699, when French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Sieur de Bienville landed near present-day New Orleans Kern Studios, the world leader in float creation, has been a part of Mardi Gras history since 1932. Now the family-owned and operated business designs and builds floats for festivals and celebrations all over the world. The float is returned to Mardi Gras World after the parades and the props may turn into a new character in the year’s to come. And the two weeks before Ash Wednesday, you can almost guarantee that there is a parade, or two, that will pass down St. Charles and Canal Streets. Mardi Gras Floats Museum. The Mardi Gras Float Museum is a museum in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, that is dedicated to the history and preservation of Mardi Gras floats. The museum is located in the historic district of the city and is housed in a former church. The museum contains a collection of over 200 Mardi Gras floats, dating back to the 4: When was the first Mardi Gras? The first Mardi Gras parade was held in New Orleans on Feb. 24, 1857 by the Krewe of Comus. They began the tradition of presenting a parade with floats and following it with a ball for the krewe and their guests. Mardi Gras Dates. 5: What is the significance of the Mardi Gras colors, and where did they come from? Over time, the festivities evolved into Mardi Gras as we know it today. The first Mardi Gras parade was held in New Orleans by the Krewe of Comus in 1857, and in 1870, Mardi Gras’ second Krewe, the Twelfth Night Revelers, began tossing “throws” (more on these iconic parts of Mardi Gras later). Kern Studios, the world leader in float creation, has been a part of Mardi Gras history since 1932. Now the family-owned and operated business designs and builds floats for festivals and celebrations all over the world.
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