How much time do I need to plan for a Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans?|188168

I am going this weekend, and there is a parade at 6:30. We have dinner reservations at 7:30, so I am wondering if we will be able to see any of it.

It would probably be difficult to do both...even if you catch the parade in the beginning of the route. Parades almost always do not start on time or a float breaks down, etc. holding up the parade. Also there will be a ton of street closures in the city. I would skip dinner reservations...just join the bandwagon and get some popeyes for the parade route while you wait.

No you will not be able to do both. Anyone who has ever been to a parade can answer this question. Due to the large crowds at Mardi Gras unless your dinner reservations are on the parade route you will not be able to make them if you go to the parade because traffic is stopped for a parade so there will be no getting out to get to your reservations. Also even if the parade begins on time you would have to be at the very beginning of the parade in order to see any of it before going to dinner but you may get to see a band and maybe the kings float before you have to leave for your reservations but you will still probably be late due to traffic. So no you cannot do both unless the parade and dinner are on the same street.

There isn_t a short answer to your question, unless it_s _no_. You also don_t provide enough information. Please revise your question with additional info, or just write to one of us on the New Orleans section that regularly answers questions.

Overview:

All of the parades have set starting points (formation area) and ending points (disbanding area). The route between the two points is usually about 5 miles and the parade moves at a walking pace, so it takes 2 to 3 hours for the parade to finish. Where you are on the route determines when the end of the parade will pass wherever you are. Note that the parades do not all start at the same time, and it_s common for one parade to follow another on the same route.

Most of the parades take about an hour to pass a given point and the larger parades take longer. The super parades (esp. Endymion _ Bacchus) are so long the _tail_ of the parade can still be in the formation area when the _head_ of the parade reaches the disbanding area.

You can get more info on:

www.mardigras,com
www.mardigrasguide.com