Mardi Gras is an exciting time to visit New Orleans. It’s like Mardi Gras all year, but the city transforms into a giant party over three weeks. Parades are daily with different themes and floats, marching bands and dancers, and plenty of beads to throw out at you.

Whether you’re visiting New Orleans for the first or fiftieth time, safety is a priority during Mardi Gras. While the celebration is undoubtedly a one-of-a-kind experience, it can be more terrifying than thrilling if you aren’t prepared for what you are getting yourself into. Use these safety tips to enjoy the festivities without encountering issues at Mardi Gras.

New Orleans is a vibrant and exciting city, but like any urban area, it’s important to take precautions to stay safe. Whether you’re exploring the French Quarter or attending a festival, these tips can help you navigate the city’s unique culture and environment while keeping yourself and your belongings secure.

Mardi Gras: Safety Tips in New Orleans

New Orleans is a city full of traditions, but Mardi Gras is one of the most important. You must follow many rules while participating in this celebration, or else you could be in trouble with police officers.

If you’d like more information about planning a trip to Mardi Gras, check out “Planning A Trip To Mardi Gras 2023: What To Know (+ Free Packing List).”

Be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts.

When exploring New Orleans, being aware of your surroundings and trusting your instincts is important. Stay in well-lit areas and avoid walking alone at night, especially in unfamiliar neighborhoods. Trust your gut and leave the area if you feel uncomfortable or unsafe. It’s also a good idea to keep your valuables close to you and avoid flashing expensive items like jewelry or electronics. You can enjoy all that New Orleans offers while staying safe by staying alert and aware.

In addition to being aware of your surroundings, it’s important to plan your route ahead of time and let someone know where you’re going. Stick to well-traveled areas and avoid shortcuts through alleys or deserted streets. If you’re using public transportation, be aware of your surroundings and monitor your belongings. Carrying a charged phone and some cash in emergencies is also a good idea. By taking these simple precautions, you can enjoy the vibrant culture and rich history of New Orleans while staying safe and secure.

Beware of pickpockets

Mardi Gras is a time of celebration, but you shouldn’t let your guard down. Pickpockets everywhere in New Orleans will take advantage of the crowds to steal money, phones, and valuables. TRUST ME when I say this because, unfortunately my first pickpocketed experience was in New Orleans:

• Please don’t carry your wallet in your back or front pocket; it’s an easy target for thieves who want to snatch it right out of there! Instead, keep it inside your jacket or carry an anti-thief bag so you can always see what’s happening around you.
• Avoid flashing large sums of cash or jewelry while walking through crowded areas like Bourbon Street or Frenchmen Street at night–the more expensive items look from afar (and make people think), “This person must have something valuable on them,” making them more desirable targets for theft than someone without anything worth stealing on them at all times (or even nothing).
• Use a backpack instead of carrying around an open purse full of valuables like cash and credit cards; this will help prevent pickpockets from seeing what kind of things are inside before deciding whether or not they want to rob someone blind before heading home after ringing in Mardi Gras!

Beware of scammers, game scammers…

Scammers often target tourists by asking them if they want to play a game where they can win prizes like cash or electronics, and then they’ll ask for money in return for playing the game. These games are illegal, so don’t fall for them! If someone approaches you with this offer, walk away quickly without engaging them in conversation or giving out any personal information about yourself, such as where you’re staying or how much cash is on your person at any given time; this way, no one will be able to steal from us later down the line either!

Avoid Bourbon Street. Go to Frenchmen Street instead.

Avoid Bourbon Street at all costs. It’s okay if that’s where all your friends want to go, but if you can avoid it altogether, I highly recommend doing so! Bourbon Street has a reputation for being dangerous because it attracts large crowds of drunk people who often result in fights breaking out between intoxicated tourists and locals; this makes Bourbon Street incredibly unsafe during Mardi Gras season because everyone is already intoxicated when they get there (and then gets even drunker).

Avoiding Bourbon Street is best if you’re going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. While it is the most well-known street in the city and has some attractions worth checking out, it’s also crowded and rowdy. There have been several instances where crime has occurred on this street during Mardi Gras season–you don’t want to be caught up in any potential trouble if you can help it!

Frenchmen Street is your best bet if you want a more relaxed experience with fantastic food and music. This street has many great restaurants and bars that cater specifically to tourists (so they won’t mind if there aren’t too many locals). However, it still feels like an authentic New Orleans experience because there are plenty of locals walking around who will greet each other warmly.

If you’re going to drink, don’t drive. Take a cab or have a designated driver.

If you’re going to drink, don’t drive. Take a cab or have a designated driver. It’s not worth it if you get caught with an open container in your car or, even worse, driving under the influence (DUI).

If you’re not old enough to drink legally (21 years old), don’t drink at all! This includes buying alcohol for anyone under 21 years old or serving them alcohol at your party. You could be fined or arrested for doing so!

As long as there are laws against driving under the influence of drugs, there will be people who break these laws and put others at risk when they do so by getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or other substances that impair their ability to operate a vehicle safely. For example: If someone has taken prescription medication whose side effects include drowsiness and fatigue–these factors combined with any amount of alcohol consumption could result in severe consequences such as injury/death due to falling asleep while driving, crashing into another vehicle resulting in serious injuries/fatalities; etcetera…

Don’t ever leave anything nice in your car.

If you’re going to Mardi Gras, it’s important to remember that your car is not a safe place for valuables. Don’t leave anything nice in plain sight–even if it’s locked up in the trunk; someone will find a way to get into it. If you have any expensive items that must be transported during your trip, ensure they’re hidden from view and locked away securely (a good rule of thumb is not to bring anything worth more than $100).

Also, remember: don’t leave valuables in your car! Even if you have an alarm system or other security measures installed on your vehicle, thieves are experts at breaking into cars quickly and quietly. Hence, no one notices them doing their work until after they’ve finished stealing everything inside yours. If possible, park around well-lit areas where there are lots of people walking around; this may deter potential criminals who would rather avoid getting caught by police officers patrolling nearby streets than risk being attacked by angry victims who noticed something missing right after their cars were burglarized (and we all know how much fun that can be).

Be aware of your surroundings.

Being aware of your surroundings is the most important thing you can do to stay safe during Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

You must watch out for people who might try to take advantage of you, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the city. Be alert for signs of trouble, and keep an eye on anyone who seems like they could be up to no good.

New Orleans sees increased crime during Mardi Gras, so stay safe and alert. If you will be out celebrating, make sure you’re with friends or family.

Watch out for floats!

Do not get too close to moving floats. If you do, you will risk getting run over by them or getting your clothes dirty. It’s also very dangerous because it could get caught in your hair or other body parts and cause serious injuries.

The parades may seem to be moving slowly because they’re packed with people watching them go by–but don’t get too close! Floats can quickly run over someone who gets too close; if you want to get up close while they pass by, stand on one side of them so that only one side has people standing next to it–and make sure those people aren’t wearing flip flops or high heels (which could slip off underfoot).

Conclusion: Enjoy Mardi Gras responsibly!

Mardi Gras is a great time to visit New Orleans. There are many things to do and see, from watching parades on the street to exploring the French Quarter. You can also take advantage of all the special events held throughout the Mardi Gras season! But before you go out into the crowds, ensure you’re prepared with these safety tips. It’s important to be safe!