Mardi Gras World Tour: Behind-the-Scenes Experience
4.4
552 Ratings
New Orleans

Discover Mardi Gras magic! Explore float-making, try costumes, and savor King Cake on this all-access New Orleans tour. Perfect family fun!

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World - Mardi Gras World offers a complimentary shuttle for people taking our day tour with ten central pick-up spots. See images for shuttle pick-up locations. The shuttle is covered with photos of Mardi Gras World and has the logo on the side. There are no prearranged pick-ups, just call when you are at one of the…
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What's Included
  • Self-guided walking tour
  • Slice of King Cake
  • Shuttle pickup and drop-off from select downtown New Orleans locations
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Get a unique behind-the-scenes look at the makings of Mardi Gras with this all-access tour of Mardi Gras World in New Orleans. Perfect for the whole family, this self-guided tour shows you where the magnificent floats for the famous Mardi Gras parades are made. Witness the hard work and artistic skill that goes into every float, and learn about the…

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Location
Mardi Gras World
Port of New Orleans Place
Arrive using your own transportation or take the free shuttle. Transport is provided from 20 downtown New Orleans locations. A list can be found on your ticket. Shuttles run every half hour from each location from morning until mid‐afternoon. Please call tour operator for estimated pickup time.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.4
(552 Ratings)
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Z8227tyrobinb
Jun 9, 2025
Working workshop, great tour. - Lucky, our tour guide, was well versed in everything Mardi Gras and relating to the workshop. The King Cake was terrific. Interesting on how the floats are made, the Krewes are organized. Use the FREE shuttle, it is in an industrial area. Highly recommended for everyone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sightsee43960102923
Jun 6, 2025
Not what I expected - This tour took me by surprise in a good way. To learn the history, see some of the artists and their work up close, and everything that goes into the making of the floats was amazing. Not only do you learn about the floats, but you learn about what it takes to make Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras. Enjoyed getting to walk around the warehouse amongst the floats.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mmf018
Jun 3, 2025
It's Mardi Gras Year-Round! - This was such a cool place to visit! I most likely will never attend an actual Mardi Gras parade, so this was the next best thing! Your ticket includes a guided tour. I believe they run every half hour. There were maybe 12-15 people in our tour group. Our tour guide was very funny and knowledgeable. It was awesome to see so many floats and pieces from previous Mardi Gras celebrations, as well as to see things they are currently working on. There's also a free shuttle that takes you to and from several hotels in the area. We didn't realize this until we got there, so we were able to take a shuttle back, which was awesome and so helpful. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Heather_w
Jun 2, 2025
Short tour but lots of floats for photos. - The tour starts with a movie on the history of Mardi Gras. You get to see the artists at work in the warehouse. The floats are the highlight of the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Brooke_m
Jun 1, 2025
An interesting history of... - An interesting history of Mardi Gras and how the floats are made. I highly recommend this especially on a rainy day.
Review provided by Viator
Tonja_r
May 31, 2025
This is where the Magic happens - I loved it. I loved seeing how the float sculptures are made from concept to festival. A .15 minute video is played giving the history of the NOLA influence on parades. Then an added bonus a delicious slice of King cake - a NOLA tradition. The tour guide was knowledgeable and allowed us to see, touch & take pictures in a majority of the warehouse. There were a couple of restricted areas where the sculptors were working. Entire tour is about .45 mins. There is a gift shop & a Beautiful patio area behind the gift shop with a up close view of the Mississippi River and a free shuttle to take you back to town.
Review provided by Viator
Glucas759
May 29, 2025
First timers - Very cool to see the process with the talent and work that goes into each float. To know that not only do they work on Mardi Gras floats but they actually do things for other projects as well. Would recommend the shuttle to get there as it is free and it is a good day to stay out of the rain!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jillbette_g
Jun 1, 2025
This is a fun,... - This is a fun, informative and easily accessible tour. The included shuttle was very convenient. If course there are fantastic photo opportunities at every turn.
Review provided by Viator
Kristi
Jun 8, 2025
Subpar tour - First thought, it’s a very dingy place. The making of film was very interesting but the theater was dirty, smelled musky and the king cake was ooooold! I understand it’s a wear house, but it’s a business… clean the place up!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
J8721
Jun 4, 2025
Disappointed - Not worth the money. On arrival we were made to join a tour that had started a few minutes earlier. We missed what had been said and were at the back of the group struggling to hear. The behind the scenes tour lasted 20-25 minutes only. We then went to watch the 15 minute video (which I believe we should have started with). At the end of the video we received a free, small slice of cake (tasted like a sweet bread with icing) which was a bit hard and didn’t taste great. That was it! We then had to wait 35 minutes for the complimentary bus to drop us on Canal Street. Very disappointing experience and was expecting more/better. Wouldn’t recommend going.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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From $30
From $30
up to 9 guests
1 - Adult
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Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).