Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World in New Orleans

What are the highlights of Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World?

Join the Mardi Gras World tour to learn about the festival’s many traditions, street parades, balls, and music. The tour runs for around 1 hour, which includes a 15-minute video presentation, king cake (a Mardi Gras staple food), and New Orleans coffee.

A popular activity for kids and adults is rummaging through the costume trucks. Dress up in your favourite Mardi Gras costume before exploring the rest of the massive complex. There are also hundreds of photo ops throughout the building – themed photo areas are available for special occasions, such as Halloween and Christmas.

Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World is responsible for creating some of the most unique floats in New Orleans. Standouts include a dragon-shaped float and massive sculptures of Disney characters. Every year, its artists and craftsmen create more than 500 floats for the lavish celebration. If you’re lucky, you might even see the artisans working on their latest floats in preparation for upcoming Mardi Gras parades.   

Good to know about Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World

Tickets to Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World include a free shuttle from several locations in downtown New Orleans, such as Canal Street and the French Quarter. As there are no fixed pick-up times, call the museum when you've arrived at one of the shuttle's designated pick-up spots.

The museum is open every day, including on Mardi Gras. It’s a popular place to visit for travelling families in New Orleans, thanks to its zany displays and photo ops. An onsite gift shop offers a wide range of Mardi Gras memorabilia and souvenirs.

The spring celebration is one of the oldest in New Orleans, taking place on the weekend leading up to Fat Tuesday. Revellers dress up in lavish costumes, colourful face paints and masks, enjoying a fun bash before Lent.

Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World has been featured in several reality TV shows, including The Amazing Race and Top Chef.