Louisiana Paradegoers May Notice Something Absent From Mardi Gras Parades

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - Carniva season is in full swing across Louisiana, and soon, many will be deciding which parade they want to attend for Mardi Gras 2026.

Living in Acadiana, we have many options for attending Mardi Gras parades, and one of the joys of each parade is the throws from the floats. So many people invest a lot of money when it comes to riding on Mardi Gras floats, and it appears that those riding are cutting back on what was once a very popular throw.

Like many of you, I have noticed in recent years that after a parade, thousands of plastic beads are left on the road, and those on floats have apparently noticed this, too. We recently had Craig Spadoni, owner of Bead Busters in Scott, on the radio, and we discussed Mardi Gras trends.

In one conversation with the "Bead King," he noted that people riding Mardi Gras floats are purchasing fewer average beads and substituting them with more specialty beads and other throws.

If you plan to spend a lot of money on throws, you want to buy what people want, and in recent years, it appears people just don't want the average beads. Thus, if you attend a Mardi Gras parade this year, you may notice fewer beads being thrown from floats.

However, don't worry, there will still be plenty of throws coming your way. Spadoni reports an uptick in purchases of toys, plush items, and light-up throws by those planning to ride for Mardi Gras. While the average beads may be phased out for Mardi Gras, larger, better items could be coming your way during the parades.

Let me be clear, no, not all Mardi Gras beads are going away, but the more "cheaper" ones are disappearing from floats, and you may notice the beads that are being thrown are larger and may even contain themes on them.

So, along the parade route this year, see if you notice more toys and light-up things coming from floats, and watch out for those speciality beads flying your way; after all, they are heavier and may contain large metal balls.

How to Catch Good Mardi Gras Beads

Here are just a few items you may see coming from floats this year for Mardi Gras. And remember, the best way to catch someone's attention on a float is to make a sign or even hold up kids.

Yes, those who ride floats love throwing the "good stuff" to kids, so if you have kids with you, prop them up and watch what comes their way. It always works.

Mardi Gras Safety Tips

While we are on the topic of kids and Mardi Gras parades, I want to remind you of what a police officer told us years ago. If you are bringing a kid to a Mardi Gras parade, it is always wise to put your contact phone number in their pocket.

This helps police contact you if your child goes missing, and with all the excitement of parades, it's easy for a child to wander off.