Mardi Gras in NewOrleans is a way of life, a time when this already energetic city lights upeven further with daily parades and festivities. Most cities are content tothrow celebrations that run for a few days, but in New Orleans the paradeseason begins in January and builds up steam until “Fat Tuesday,” the daybefore Ash Wednesday. At Mardi Gras World, however, the carnival season runsall year round.
MardiGras World is a large, warehouse-style building located on the banks of theMississippi River. It forms part of the studios of Blaine Kern, a celebratedlocal artist with an internationally recognized flair for creating floats andprops.
The working studiogrew from humble beginnings. In the 1940s, a young Blaine Kern first publiclydemonstrated his artistic skills by painting a mural on a hospital wall aspartial payment for his ailing mother’s bills. Spotted by a float captain, hewas asked to work on a design for the forthcoming parade. He was soon a hugelysought-after artist, and his visions brought floats to life on a scale neverseen before. Today, his designs are no longer limited to carnival floats. Hisstudio is also responsible for some of the props you see at Disneyland,Universal Studios and other major theme parks.
Wanderthrough a fantasyland of floats and props that have made each carnival special.Join the one-hour studio tour which commences every half hour to see masterfloat builders at work and get a behind-the-scenes peek into the technologywhich brings the floats to life. Tours are included in your admission price.Afterwards, soak up the views of the Mississippi River as it rolls past theMardi Gras World Café.
MardiGras World houses one of the most dazzling “museum archives” in the world andgives visitors insight into this fascinating sub-culture. It's open seven daysa week, except major public holidays and Mardi Gras. A free shuttle is providedwith ticket purchase with pickups in 20 convenient locations.
