Mardi Gras World

Mardi Gras World

Mardi Gras World
4.5
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
About
Mardi Gras World is the most unique attraction in America’s most uniquely attractive city. Come see how Mardi Gras is made and get up close to Mardi Gras' grandest floats and sculptures.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Address
Neighbourhood: Lower Garden District
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  • RJG_traveler
    New Bedford, Massachusetts376 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must visit in NOLA
    Great tour and explanation of what Mardis Gras is, the history of it and how the parades are made. My kids were fascinated with the floats and props. It was interesting to see the process. Definitely a must visit in New Orleans.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 7 March 2024
  • Nikki B
    Cheltenham, United Kingdom100 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A hidden gem of New Orleans
    Such a good experience . The tour was excellent you got to see the whole process from cutting of the styrofoam foam through to the painting of these amazing creations. You were also allowed to dress up in a Mardi Gras costume for photo sessions. Definitely worth the money for an afternoon or morning of fun and laughter!
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 March 2024
  • Alamito
    259 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting Experience, but not the best time to go
    This was not the greatest time to go, since the Mardi Gras parade was only a few weeks ago, but there was still quite a bit to see. Make sure you see the video before going through the warehouse, or you won't be able to appreciate the work and history that goes into the floats. We didn't get to see many artists working at this time of year, but the guide was very knowledgeable. Expect to spend an hour or so.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 13 March 2024
  • Heather
    Las Vegas, Nevada1,617 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Awesome!
    What a cool museum. You get to see a plethora of sculptures and a few floats. You also get to see workstations where people are fabricating new sculptures. You can do a guided tour, or self guided, it's all the same price. This is a warehouse, so whatever the weather is like outside, it's like that inside too. This isn't negative at all, just something to be aware of.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 17 March 2024
  • Robert L
    Amherst, Massachusetts1,622 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Outstanding
    Very interesting insight into the creation of floats ....not only in the Mardi Gras parage, but statues made for movies and props. Nice demo on Styrofoam carving, creation, and most recently, the robotics. Recommended. Take a taxi even though its near Canal St near the river.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 March 2024
  • Sue Albany
    Albany, New York120 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    View the pre-Mardi Gras!
    Went with a senior citizens group through Collette. I visited two years ago, but the warehouse was closed because of the flooding from Katrina. Glad I got a chance to see this now. Amazing place. Great narrator who answered all kinds of questions and he told us of the history and operation of this place. They have several other warehouses. Gave us a good view of what goes into Mardi Gras parades. These folks are really amazing artists. Their stuff can be seen in Disney productions also. You can see the artists working too !!
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 26 March 2024
  • Heather Johnson
    Sterling, Illinois52 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Learn all about Mardi Gras...up close!
    This was the perfect rainy day activity with my family on St. Patrick's Day weekend. Not only do guests receive a guided tour, but before the tour begins, guests watch an informational video about Mardi Gras, as well as receive a piece of King Cake! All of the children received crowns to wear throughout their tour, and the guides were knowledgable and allowed so many opportunities for touching and photographs! It is a work site, so it is important to keep in mind that it is messy!
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 31 March 2024
  • JillyF1sh72
    Dawsonville, Georgia47 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun and informative!
    If you have any interest in the history, story, art, or pageantry behind the Mardi Gras parades in NOLA, then this place is an absolute must! I’ve never been to Mardi Gras - nor ever really wanted to go - but this visit definitely inspired me to try to go in the future. Plan to take the guided tour with some extra time to wander. Enjoyed the bonus of some authentic King Cake as well. Truly worth a couple hours of time while you’re in NOLA! I’ve seen a Groupon from time to time, but even without, the admission is quite reasonable.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 9 April 2024
  • Sharon R
    1 contribution
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good interesting tour
    It was very interesting to see a lot of huge characters displayed. We saw the process of how to make them and several of the floats. It was an inexpensive tour, well worth the time and expense. They even have a shuttle to transport you there and back.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 April 2024
  • Foodange
    Manchester, United Kingdom4,934 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Real Flavour of Mardi Gras
    This was out of the way. The Hop-On Hop-Off bus dropped us what they said was nearby … when we finally found it by asking people coming out of the Convention Center, we were enchanted. This is a great tour, preceded by an informative film and Mac was a wonderful guide, very keen to answer all our questions. We really got a flavour of the Mardi Gras parades and even saw a likeness of our Queen!
    Visited October 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 November 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles4,479 reviews
Excellent
2,574
Very good
1,428
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346
Poor
82
Terrible
50

sabrinak136
New Orleans, LA1,499 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
Mardi Gras 2024 has officially come to an end however, there is a place that you can visit all year to learn about the magic of Mardi Gras.
Mardi Gras World is this unique place. We took a free shuttle to the museum. The shuttle has a variety of pickup areas throughout the CBD and is an inexpensive and convenient way to visit. The cost to enter Mardi Gras World for an adult and a child is $36.00.  
Mardi Gras World is an interesting place to visit because you will have an opportunity to learn about the float design process.  Visitors watch a short film on the history of Mardi Gras. Once the film is over you can sample a slice of King Cake, try on some Mardi Gras attire, and then walk through the warehouse to see a variety of floats/props.  The visit definitely provides a bird’s eye view of the Mardi Gras process.
Visiting Mardi Gras World makes for a wonderful way to enjoy Lundi Gras, Mardi Gras, or any other time. Just remember that you have plenty of time to visit because Mardi Gras 2025 will not take place until March 4th of next year.
Written 14 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Heidiks1
New York City, NY83 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
Don't miss this!!! It is an out-of-the-way world of fun!

I was afraid it might be a bit hokey but instead it was amazing! It is like having a front row seat to seeing how the Mardi Gras floats are created.... like being backstage at a theater and seeing all of the sets and props up close.

You actually get to wander through the warehouse and watch the people working on the different design elements. And you can wander endlessly around the gigantic and brightly colored creations that fill the warehouse.

They even have a shuttle that will pick you up downtown.

I would not, however, recommend walking there because it is not a beautiful walk, and it is a bit remote and isolated.
Written 13 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Daydream32465885940
12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Family
We throughly enjoyed ourselves! My 5 and 8 year said they loved it! We found all the sculptures/props from the past floats beautiful, interesting and the perfect photo opps. We enjoyed watching the movie in the beginning and eating our piece of king cake, it gave a nice history and backstory to all the work that was being done in the warehouse. We watched some of the artisans shaping, papering and painting new and reused props for next year and watched some of the graphic design artist at work in creating new designs.
Written 29 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jissy
Sammamish, WA95 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
I wasn't sure what to expect but was glad we went on the tour. Seeing how they make the statues, the people working on them, and the floats was fun and also great to learn about Mardi Gras. There was a Groupon and I bought it while waiting in line and then redeemed it there. Our guide was fun and it was nice to be able to walk around afterwards to see more. We walked there not realizing how far it is, but took the shuttle back. Check out the shuttle for getting there and back as they have several stops and are very convenient.
Written 23 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

julie k
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
Do not take the shuttle into town if you are parked in Parking Lot J across from the museum. They make you think they will drop you off and then return you to the museum, they will not. When I called the front desk I was told they were not a shuttle service and did not take you all over the city. I explained we were just trying to get to the parking lot. He said "Oh, okay. Is this a good phone number to contact in case our driver does not see you? He should be there shortly. " The driver showed up 20 minutes later and refused to bring us back to the museum, even after we explained the situation and that the front desk knew. Unpleasant ending to what had been a good day.
Written 27 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ihatecats
Coaldale, PA269 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
The tour started with a short video about the history of the Mardi Gras parade floats, and a piece of King cake. It is actually a working parade float factory. They show the workers performing different tasks on the art of molding, cutting, and there's even a robotic machine that does some of the cutting, painting, and plenty of finished product in the warehouse to touch and view. Carla our tour guide was very informative.
Written 16 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Zippy B
Petach Tikva50 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
The building is a wharehouse. Tickets can be purchased on line or on arrival. First of all one is shown a film of the history of Mardi Gras, very informative. Then they give everyone a piece of king cake. We joined a tour which was taking much too long so decided to leave the organised tour and walk around ourselves which was more or less the same only not so slow. There is a gift shop at the end of the tour.
Written 7 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Storyteller289587
17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022
A friend recommended a trip to Mardi Gras World, and it was fantastic. In addition to a ~30 minute guided tour, you can wander around on your own. We spent about 2 hours looking at floats, watching Pixie and the various craftspeople in action.

Definitely worth a visit! Even if you have to take a cab or rideshare. Plan ahead tho, there are few dining/drinking options in the area.
Written 3 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

vacationmom82
Flint, TX23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Couples
This museum was very interesting. There is a short movie to watch that gives history and interesting facts - then there is cake - then someone walks you through the area and gives you more fun and interesting facts. Then you can stay for as long as you want and explore and take pictures at your leisure. They have an outside deck and covered area where you can watch the ships go by. It was raining the day we went and the roof was leaking, so wear your rain coat. ☔️. I think we spent around two hours there.
Written 10 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JoanneLB
Long Beach, NY56 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
This place was great! A friend recommended and we had some spare time so we went for it. They have a shuttle you can call to pick you up at many different spots around the city and it will drop you back off too. Cool video about mardi gras and it's history then a slice of King Cake. The tour of old props and floats is great and there are workers on site building new pieces. The tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. We spoke to our tour guide for 5-10 minutes after for more info. You are also allowed to go back in and look around on your own. Very cool experience.
Written 21 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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MARDI GRAS WORLD (2025) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

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