{"id":4179,"date":"2012-01-26T03:51:30","date_gmt":"2012-01-26T03:51:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.carnivalneworleans.com\/?p=4179"},"modified":"2012-01-26T03:51:30","modified_gmt":"2012-01-26T03:51:30","slug":"mardi-gras-parade-rules-of-conduct","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.carnivalneworleans.com\/?p=4179","title":{"rendered":"Mardi Gras Parade Rules of Conduct!!"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is nothing like Carnival in New Orleans. We have more parties, balls, parades, and events than any other Carnival City in the world. Therefore, following a few common sense rules will help all enjoy the festivities all the more.<\/p>\n

1. Watch parking around parades<\/strong> Parking legally is more important than ever, as meter maids track parades big time and ticket on both sides of the parade. Neutral ground parking, which works when it rains real hard, doesn’t fly for parades.<\/p>\n

2. Drinking and Mardi Gras<\/strong>\u00a0 Booze and Carnival are certainly kissing cousins. Beer, wine, and hard booze are all featured each and every day of the Carnival season. Those that imbibe a bit much should call a cab! It’s way cheaper than a DUI.<\/p>\n

3. Parade Watching<\/strong>\u00a0 Most parades, especially the Super Krewes, have very large crowds. Acting mature is the secret; no one meant to run into you while jumping for a neat throw. Keeping your cool and a good attitude is paramount for maximum enjoyment. Stomping on anyone in pursuit of a hot throw is verboten.<\/p>\n

4. Special Parade Cases<\/strong>\u00a0 The old, very young, infirm and handicapped all love parades as much as anyone. If they sit in the front to watch the parades, please give them some space.<\/p>\n

\"Children<\/a>

Children Having Fun During Mardi Gras Parade<\/p><\/div>\n

5. Getting Lost<\/strong>\u00a0 Prevent it by making certain that everyone has a common meeting place, and has the funds and instructions for getting there or getting home. Pin name, address and phone number tags on small children. Police routinely gather up small children and take them to a central area, usually a mobile unit on Canal Street or St. Charles Avenue.<\/p>\n

6. Bathrooms<\/strong> There is money in the bathroom business during Carnival parade season. On Napoleon Avenue and St. Charles Avenue, where most parades line up, there are a number of schools along the route uptown that offer indoor bathrooms or neat port-o-lets for a buck a session, or 5 or 10 bucks for the day\/evening. Sophie B. Wright Charter<\/a> sells fish\/chicken plates with bread, macaroni & cheese, peas, and cake. They also have indoor bathrooms for a buck a time.<\/p>\n

7. Grandstand Parade Viewing Area <\/strong> The City of News Orleans annually sells Grandstand tickets for most parades.\u00a0Seating for parades as shown in the map below can be purchased through Ticketmaster<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Grandstand<\/a>

Grandstand Seating Downtown New Orleans During Painting<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Grandstand<\/a>

Downtown New Orleans Grandstand Parade Viewing Areas<\/p><\/div>\n


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\"New<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"New<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Parking in New Orleans can be challenging, considering the millions of visitors who visit by car every year. Even local residents find the parking rules of the city daunting.<\/p>\n

The many commercial lots in the French Quarter<\/a> can usually accommodate enough visitors on a given day. At a few locations within the French Quarter, Early Bird specials are available to motorists ranging from $7.00 to $10.00 all day. With Early Bird deals, however, the driver needs to park by 9:00 A.M. and leave by 6:00 P.M. and cannot leave the parking lot before 3 PM.<\/p>\n

After 9:00 a.m., prices rise considerably: hourly rates can run as much as $10.00 in some areas. Please check the hourly rate before deciding where to park.<\/p>\n

More daring motorists willing to troll for a space on the street should remember the most important rule of parking in New Orleans: READ PARKING SIGNS CAREFULLY!<\/strong> Rules can change from neighborhood to neighborhood, and some violations can be very costly.<\/p>\n

Violations range from $20 at an expired meter and $40 for parking too close to a corner, to $75 for parking on the median (called a \u201cneutral ground\u201d in New Orleans), $200 for parking on the sidewalk in the French Quarter, and $500 for parking boats or trailers in unauthorized areas (which is almost everywhere in the city limits).<\/p>\n

Parking Offenses<\/h3>\n