Mardi Gras World (also known as Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World, MGW) is a tourist attraction located in New Orleans. Guests tour the 300,000 square foot working warehouse where floats are made for Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans. [1] Mardi Gras World is located along the Mississippi River, next to the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. Their events venue, the River City Complex, also hosts festivals, weddings, private parties and corporate events. [2]
In 1946, Blaine Kern, Sr. founded Blaine Kern Artists. Kern came from a family of float builders, but began creating floats after 1947, when a surgeon and krewe captain who had seen a mural by Kern hired him to create floats for the Krewe of Alla. [3] Kern's business expanded from there. [4] Kern, who traveled to Europe to learn float building techniques, has gained an international reputation in float building, with floats beyond New Orleans for Las Vegas, Mobile, Galveston, Montreal and the Universal Studios Mardi Gras parade. [5]
In 1984, Mardi Gras World was created as a tourist attraction to show visitors a behind-the-scenes look at float building. [6]
In 2008, Mardi Gras World expanded to a second 300,000-square-foot (28,000 m2) facility, compared to the 80,000-square-foot (7,400 m2) original facility in Algiers, in the former River City Casino. [7]
Mardi Gras World has appeared on multiple seasons of Top Chef . During the finale of Top Chef: New York , the five finalists arrived at Mardi Gras World to learn their elimination challenge from host Padma Lakshmi. [8] In Top Chef: New Orleans , the Algiers warehouse was the site of the season's kitchen, [9] and the River City Complex was the site of a Halloween party hosted by Lea Michele. [10] Mardi Gras World was the site of the final task of The Amazing Race 32 . [11]
The Mistick Krewe of Comus, founded in 1856, is a New Orleans, Louisiana, Carnival Krewe. It is the oldest continuous organization of New Orleans Mardi Gras festivities.
Rex is a New Orleans Carnival Krewe which stages one of the city's most celebrated parades on Mardi Gras Day. Rex is Latin for "King", and Rex reigns as "The King of Carnival".
The holiday of Mardi Gras is celebrated in all of Louisiana, including the city of New Orleans. Celebrations are concentrated for about two weeks before and through Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Usually there is one major parade each day ; many days have several large parades. The largest and most elaborate parades take place the last five days of the Mardi Gras season. In the final week, many events occur throughout New Orleans and surrounding communities, including parades and balls.
The Krewe of OAK is a small neighborhood New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe and parade held in the Carrollton neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. The parade starts and ends on Oak Street, presumably the origin of the name, although members say that OAK stands for "Outrageous And Kinky".
The Krewe of Orpheus is a New Orleans Mardi Gras super krewe and social organization.
Krewe of Tucks is a New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe.
Krewe of Bacchus is a New Orleans Mardi Gras super krewe.
The first unofficial American Mardi Gras took place on March 3, 1699, when French explorers Pierre Le Moyne D'Iberville and Sieur de Bienville landed near present-day New Orleans, Louisiana. They held a small celebration and dubbed their landing spot Point du Mardi Gras. There were many other unofficial French celebrations on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts during the 17th century.
Krewe of Boo is New Orleans' official Halloween parade krewe. The parade was created by the Mardi Gras World owner and founder Blaine Kern Sr. Krewe members must be at least 18 years of age.
The Krewe of Muses is an all-female super krewe and social organization.
Mardi Gras in the United States is not observed nationally across the country, largely due to the country's Protestant and Anglo roots. Mardi Gras and Carnival are mostly Catholic holidays, while the United States has a Protestant-majority population. However, a number of cities and regions in the U.S. have notable Mardi Gras or Carnival celebrations. Most of these places trace their Mardi Gras celebrations to French, Spanish, and other Catholic colonial influences on the settlements over their history. The earliest Carnival celebration in North America occurred at a place on the west bank of the Mississippi River about 60 miles (97 km) downriver from where New Orleans is today; this Mardi Gras on March 3, 1699, and in honor of this holiday, Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d'Iberville, a 38-year-old French Canadian, named the spot Point du Mardi Gras near Fort Jackson. The earliest organized Carnival celebrations occurred in Mobile, Biloxi, New Orleans, and Pensacola, which have each developed separate traditions. In addition, modern activities generally vary from city to city across the U.S.
The Krewe du Vieux is a New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe more fully known as the Krewe du Vieux Carré.
The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is a science fiction–themed Mardi Gras krewe, religious and parade organization, that also features fantasy and horror groups, among other fandoms. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, as of the 2019 parade, the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus has over 2500 dues-paying members who call themselves "ChewbacchanALIENs" or "Chewbs."
The Mystic Krewe of Nyx is an all-female Krewe organization, based in New Orleans. Organized and founded by Julie Lea in 2011, the Nyx's first pageant, "NOLA Reality Reigns," was featured on the St. Charles Avenue Parade Route on February 15, 2012. The Mystic Krewe of Nyx is named after the Greek goddess of the night, Nyx.
Kern Studios is a float building and entertainment design production company based in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. The studio creates large floats for events like Mardi Gras in addition to props and themed environments for theme parks, casinos, and corporate entities.
Mardi Gras Doubloons are Mardi Gras throws shaped like coins that commemorate various Mardi Gras Krewes. They are typically made of aluminum and are thrown from floats in carnival parades. The first doubloons used as throws from parades of Mardi Gras Krewes date to 1960, and these early doubloons are collectible.
The Krewe of Cleopatra is a New Orleans Mardi Gras Super Krewes and social organization.
Knights of Babylon is a New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe that was founded in 1939.
Henri Schindler is a New Orleans Mardi Gras historian and float designer.
Mardi Paws is a Mardi Gras procession in Covington, Louisiana dedicated to animal welfare.
