Mardi Gras
Safety Info & Tips

All residents and businesses along the parade route should make arrangements during the time of the road closures to avoid any inconvenience.

THE FOLLOWING WILL BE PROHIBITED ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE

• No products that are manufactured for the purpose of being thrown against a hard surface or stepped on to make a popping noise such as snaps, pops, or cracker balls.
• No open flames, heating, or cooking devices on public rights-of-way
• No silly string
• No animals
• No skates, rollerblading, skateboarding, or bicycling
• No whips
• No glass containers
• No flashing (exposing oneself) and no clothing or items depicting nudity and/or profanity
• No throwing items back at float riders
• No entering the barricaded areas during the parades, this is strictly enforced

SAFETY REMINDERS

Location of Police Command Posts along the Parade Route:

• Fire Station #1 at Vermilion and Lee Street
• Fire Station #5 at Johnston St. and St. Julien Street
• Lafayette Police Command Bus at Johnston St and S. College

Barricades

• Stay behind all barricades during the parade
• Do not move, tamper, stand, or sit on barricades
• Entering the barricaded areas during the parades is not allowed and strictly enforced

Parking

• No parking will be allowed on the streets or sidewalks along the parade routes. The city-parking garage on will not be available to the public.  Parking at the Blackham Coliseum, inside the fenced area will be limited to floats and people picking up band members and other parade participants.
• All normal parking regulations apply during Mardi Gras parades
• Observe all special event parking signs along the parade route

Spectators

• DO NOT throw anything at floats or float riders
• DO NOT climb trees
• Obey all laws pertaining to indecent exposure

Lost/Missing Children

• Do not leave children unattended.
• Decide in advance on a meeting place in case anyone gets lost within your group
• Notify police of a missing child immediately
• Found children can be brought to any officer along the parade route or to one of the above listed command post.
• Parents are requested to secure a note in a pocket of each child with the child’s name, address, and telephone number of someone to contact in case the parent and child become separated. (The number should be someone who will be home, not with the parent or child.)

Medical Assistance

• Acadian Ambulance Service will have ambulance units stationed along the parade route. Citizens needing medical assistance should notify one of the police officers along the parade route or report to the nearest police command post.

Remember to drink responsibly and designate a driver if you intend to drink.