Mardi Gras World
4.4(5.4K)google
4.1(556)yelp
CarnivalFestival
Overview
Mardi Gras World (also known as Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World, MGW) is a tourist attraction located in New Orleans. Guests tour the 300,000 square foot working warehouse where floats are made for Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mardi Gras World is located along the Mississippi River, next to the New Orleans Morial Convention Center.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimePerfect year-round, with sunny mornings (9:30 AM - 12:00 PM) being the highly recommended window. The massive float-building warehouse is well-illuminated during these hours, granting a clear view of artists sculpting and painting giant carnival props. Arriving early also means zero waiting lines to try on the authentic, flamboyant Mardi Gras royal costumes for photos.
Getting ThereSituated at 1380 Port of New Orleans Place, right next to the convention center on the riverfront. Driving is difficult; instead, utilize the museum's complimentary daily shuttle bus that picks up guests along Canal Street and the French Quarter. Alternatively, ride the Riverfront Streetcar to the Julia Street station and walk 8 minutes toward Hall J.
Travel Tips
- Located in an active industrial port terminal; pedestrian rail crossing is banned, use the museum's complimentary dedicated shuttle vans for safe transit.
- The massive float storage warehouses contain fragile fiberglass props; crossing floor lines to touch or lean on sculptures invites heavy structural damage.
- The warehouse features an uninsulated steel frame with high paint and adhesive fume volatilizations; packing high-filtration masks is advised for sensitive lungs.
Reviews
Positive
- This massive warehouse lets you see grand, brilliant Mardi Gras floats and props up close even off-season; it's colorful, and visual impact is fully loaded.
- Admission includes an excellent documentary on carnival history, paired with a complimentary slice of authentic local King Cake and free hot coffee.
- You can walk directly into active artists' workspaces, seeing craftsmen shape foam and fiberglass into brand-new floats, offering high educational value and fun.
- They run a highly convenient, complimentary shuttle picking up and dropping off tourists at key downtown/French Quarter hotels, solving transport headaches.
Heads up
- Being an active industrial studio warehouse, the interior is cluttered; floors are strewn with tools, paint cans, and foam dust, with a faint plastic odor.
- The ticket price is a bit steep for a warehouse walk; without a deep interest in float construction, strolling past the props might feel monotonous after 40 minutes.
- The cavernous working facility is massive, and most warehouse paths lack full A/C coverage; touring during muggy Southern summers gets very hot and sticky.
- The souvenir gift shop and on-site snack bar carry steep price tags; generic plastic Mardi Gras beads or masks cost notably more than French Quarter retail shops.