Description:

The magic of the Mardi Gras parades is just a few steps away at the massive studios of Mardi Gras World.

This creative wonderland is where the magnificent floats come to life, from the ground up, and you can get an up-close, behind-the scenes look at how the glitz and glam come to be. The extensive shop builds floats for more than 40 parades all over the world each year, including those for New Orleans’ many Mardi Gras extravaganzas.

Sign up for a tour to learn about the history of the tradition, then wander through the studio space to see artisans crafting these works of art. Love a photo op? You can don one of the available Mardi Gras costumes and have your picture taken in front a float. Also included in each tour is a historic video and tasty slice of traditional King Cake. Tours last about an hour and are offered daily, starting at 9:30 a.m., and running every half hour, with the last one at 4:30 p.m. They also have a free shuttle to major hotels and other spots near the French Quarter, and then over to Mardi Gras World … your concierge can provide you with the number to call for pick-up once you get to the Quarter via streetcar.

So even if you can’t make the big celebration, you can get a sneak peak at what makes it so special.

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