Mardi Gras World facts for kids
Mardi Gras World is a super fun place to visit in New Orleans. It's a huge workshop where amazing parade floats are built for the famous Mardi Gras celebrations. Imagine walking through a giant studio filled with colorful creations! This exciting attraction is right by the Mississippi River, close to the New Orleans Convention Center. It's not just for tours; they also host cool events like festivals and parties.
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Discovering Mardi Gras World
Mardi Gras World is a special place where you can see how the magic of Mardi Gras parades comes to life. It's a massive building, about 300,000 square feet, which is like five football fields! Here, talented artists and builders create the giant, colorful floats you see in the parades. When you visit, you get a behind-the-scenes look at how these incredible works of art are made.
The Story Behind Mardi Gras World
How It All Started
The story of Mardi Gras World begins with a man named Blaine Kern, Sr. In 1946, he started his company, Blaine Kern Artists. Even though his family built floats, Blaine really started making them after 1947. A doctor who was also a leader of a Mardi Gras group, called a krewe, saw Blaine's artwork. He was so impressed that he hired Blaine to create floats for his krewe, the Krewe of Alla.
Blaine Kern's Amazing Floats
From that first job, Blaine's business grew and grew! He even traveled to Europe to learn new ways to build floats. Because of his hard work and creativity, Blaine became famous around the world for his amazing floats. His creations aren't just in New Orleans; you can find them in places like Las Vegas, Mobile, and even at the Universal Studios Mardi Gras parade.
Opening Doors to Visitors
In 1984, Blaine Kern decided to open Mardi Gras World as a special place for visitors. He wanted people to see the incredible process of float building up close. It's a unique way to understand the effort and artistry that goes into every Mardi Gras parade.
Growing Bigger and Better
Mardi Gras World has expanded over the years. In 2008, it grew to include a second large building. This new space is much bigger than the original workshop in Algiers. Now, there's even more room to create and store the fantastic floats that bring so much joy to Mardi Gras.
