Mardi Gras Parade Route Essentials
The time has arrived – Mardi Gras is here! My family would argue that Mardi Gras is the best time of the year. We try and catch as many parades as we can during carnival season. Parade routes are filled with long lines for food, drinks, and the bathroom. There is also the waiting to hear the sirens of the next parade to roll through. After so many parades, I’ve learned a few things to make life on the parade route more manageable (especially with children).
Safety First
I always have my handy first aid kit with me on the route. You can pick one up from your local pharmacy, order on Amazon, or make your own to include the following:
- Various Band-Aid sizes
- Topical antibiotics for minor scrapes and bumps
- Alcohol wipes
- Tweezers
- Gauze
- Hand sanitizer
- Anti-itch cream
- Latex gloves
Wipe me down
Carnival time is a blast, but it is also dirty. Plan ahead for wet beads and no toilet paper in the Port-o-Johns. Along with lots of hand sanitizer, I would say that wipes and an extra roll of toilet paper are at the top of my parade route must-have list.
They see my rolling
A wagon is essential on the parade route. It is so helpful with hauling everything to the parade route and at the end of the evening getting everything back to the car.
Hands-Free
When getting to and from the parade route, being hands-free is a must. We recently purchased a backpack ice chest and it has quickly become a must-have item, keeping drinks and food cold all day and much easier than a rolling ice chest.
Throw me Something, Mister
The riders have loaded you down with beads, trinkets, and stuffed animals – of course, you need something to put it all in. Each of our children has their own bead bag to haul all their goodies home. My suggestion is to also grab a couple of garbage bags for any wet or sticky throws.
Some other things that I will throw in the wagon are snacks, entertainment for before the parade starts (think bubbles, a football, or chalk), a portable phone charger, cash, and a fun attitude.
