Mardi Gras

4/3/2016

We didn't make it to New Orleans in time for Mardi Gras! However, based on some of the behaviors we observed, that are still occurring throughout the French Quarter, we probably didn't miss much. For us, there was something better - we got to tour Mardi Gras World! Blaine Kern's Studios and Mardi Gras World are where all the floats and props for the 56 different parades of Mardi Gras are created and built. The 60 odd Krewes (read social clubs here, with memberships ranging from 300 to 3000) that put on these different parades, provide the themes for their floats to the company and then rent them from Mardi Gras World. This is a massive place! The guided tour itself, about an hour in length, takes visitors through the various workshops, providing essential background information on the creative process. But the really cool part was after the tour, when we were allowed to roam freely through the workshops and warehouse, to our heart's content. Most items are made out of styrofoam and paper mache (a few are fiberglass) and have an estimated life span of 30 years. Everything is inventoried, re-usable, or re-purposed. Mardi Gras is not their only customer. They also provide props for Chick-Fil-A restaurants, casinos, and Disneyworld. We could have wandered around there forever! It was that much fun.

The Blaine Kern Studio and Mardi Gras World.

Props are stored everywhere, even just inside the main entrance.

Some are kid-friendly, such as Sponge Bob...

...some are a little less.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, floats, like this Crown float, were constructed on wooden wagon chassis.

Work on next year's REX float, has already begun.

In August of 2016, the National Park Service will be celebrating it's 100th anniversary. Mardi Gras World is working on a number of sculptures for the big festivities...