How to Pick Mardi Gras Throw Beads

Mardi Gras is often called "the greatest free show on earth" and for good reason. During the last 2 weeks before Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras krewes hold special parades during which they throw trinkets to eager crowds. The most famous of all Mardi Gras throws are colorful bead necklaces, but krewes also throw plastic, imprinted cups, doubloons and special theme trinkets as well.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Get Mardi Gras Throw Beads

1. Select the right length and diameter for your beads. Keep in mind the most common size is 7mm by 33 inches long. Choose among average bead sizes of up to 18 mmand lengths of up to 100 inches.
2. Buy jumbo-sized beads that are 40mm in diameter or larger. Keep in mind these Christmas ornament-sized beads may start to weigh you down after a few hours on the streets.
3. Pick a bead shape. Choose popular round beads or go for a string of hearts, dice, or footballs. Select necklaces strung with beads and plastic trinkets, such as Mardi Gras masks, fans, crawdads, crowns, hurricane glasses and pirates.
4. Hit the French Quarter and shout up to the balconies, "Throw me something, Mister." Keep in mind crowds tend to get rowdy, and people in may fight you for beads thrown from balconies.
5. Buy beads by the case in Jackson Square and the French Quarter. Pick up a local guidebook like "The Unofficial Guide to New Orleans" by Eve Zibart at Amazon.com and check out the shopping section for tips on finding authentic bead shops (see Resources below).
6. Take to the streets and shout out to krewe members on parade floats for beads. Plan on arriving at least 4 hours before parades start to pick the best seating.
7. Hit the best parades, leading up to Fat Tuesday, for collector beads and trinkets. Hit the Hermes parade on Friday, the Iris women's krewes and legendary Endymion parades on Saturday, the Bacchus krewes on Sunday and the mother of all parades from the Rex Krewes on Mardi Gras Tuesday.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're traveling with young children, watch parades in the family-friendly Garden District.
• Carry a tote bag for holding beads, doubloons, plastic cups and trinkets.
• Expect to see partial nudity during Mardi Gras, as many women flash their breasts in order to get beads from krewes members.