Mardi Gras is in full swing y'all!

Float from Cleoptra's 40 Enchanting Years Parade

Mardi Gras is in full swing y'all, however, New Orleans took an unprecedented week off from Carnival  to host the NFL Super Bowl XLVII last week. It was the 10th Superbowl ever hosted in New Orleans and the first after Hurricain Katrina. So, all parading paused on the West side of the Mississippi River. But now the good times are about to start rolling again this week. Here are some of Slippin' Southern's personal pics from the parades we attended last week...

610 Stompers at the Krewe of Carrollton Parade (These guys are GREAT!)

Parades run back to back on most days, that is if you are late to the first one, just wait, there is usually another right behind it. Each one has about 25 floats, a dozen marching bands plus Shriners on motor cycles or dune buggies, horse back riding clubs, dancing girls, police cars, fire trucks and well, you get the idea.

Masked Bead Tossers at the Krewe of Carrollton Parade

Some parades are at night and others are during the day. Most of the parades run north on St. Charles street. These are your larger, G-rated family parades. On the north side of town around Frenchman Street, you'll find the counter-culture, adult parades like the Krewe of Chewbakus.

Horseback Riders at the Krewe of Carrollton Parade

What is watching a Mardi Gras parade like? It's like the 4th of July? You take the day off, cook out, hang out with friends and then that evening, you go to your favorite spot and watch the fireworks? You enjoy the smell of good things cooking on an open flame, music and tons of people watching? Now add the element of Halloween and the New Years Day Parades.... It's kinda like that, but better.

Susan & Gregory Morris watching the Krewe of Carrollton Parade

Mardi Gras is not just one day, it's day after day after day from late January through February. Different locations, different parade routes, different Krewes. Each parade is unique and has it's own history and traditions.

Krewe of Cleopatra Parade Float

There are several ways to watch a parade. The most common is to watch on the street. This method will yield the most beads. More on that subject later. The other method is to watch from a bar balcony. This get's you above the parade so you can see more.

Krewe of Carrollton Parade

Most of the parades go East down St. Charles Street. That's the street that you always see the green New Orleans street cars going down the grassy median center, in the Garden District. 

More to come soon, stop back in a few days for more of Slippin' Southerns Mardi Gras report!

Krewe of Carrollton Parade