Plan your trip several months to a year in advance. Lodging gets booked up fast. Once Fat Tuesday is getting closer, research the individual Krewes and get the schedules and times for their parade runs.
Rent a costume from a local costume shop once you're in town. At least buy yourself a mask at a souvenir shop in the French Quarter or on Canal Street. You must be properly adorned for Mardi Gras in New Orleans!
Adapt the mindset that New Orleans locals have. Commitment to fun and bead-gathering is the cardinal rule of all parade-goers. Get out amid the crowds and soak up the excitement.
Show up early if you plan to see a specific parade. Crowds start gathering an hour or two in advance of each parade.
Respect the police at parades. Getting cocky or irritated with law enforcement officers is not advisable.
Have fun, but use your common sense, too. Don't carry a whole lot of cash on your person if you are attending a nighttime parade—pickpocketing is rampant in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. And don't wander off alone into deserted places. This will make you an open target to criminals just waiting to pounce. Keep your (masked) head about you, grab all the beads you can and enjoy the party!
