Mardi gras world

Mardi Gras World (also known as Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World, MGW) is a tourist attraction in New Orleans, Louisiana. Guests tour the working warehouse where floats are made for Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans. Mardi Gras World is located on the Mississippi River next to the Morial Convention Center, and also hosts private parties and corporate events.

History of the Company

In 1947, Blaine Kern, Sr. founded Blaine Kern Artists. Kern came from a family of float builders. H is father, Roy Kern, and sister, Bettie Rae Kern, also being float designers for Mardi Gras parades. In the 1940s, Blaine Kern painted a mural in a hospital to help pay for his mother's hospital bill. A local surgeon and krewe captain noticed the talented painter and hired his to create floats for the Krewe of Alla.^[1] The hospital mural and Alla floats attracted the attention of another Krewe captain, Darwin Fenner, for the Krewe of Rex. Fenner hired Kern to build floats for Rex and soon business took off, expanding to many other local parades.^[2]

Kern also traveled to Europe to learn float building techniques. While in Italy, he was impressed by the extravagant props and animated pieces used in the Carnival celebrations of Viareggio. Kern was able to apply these techniques to turn Mardi Gras into an even grander and more lavish event. Kern was also integral in the formation of the Krewe of Alla and the Krewe of Bacchus. Over its 65 year history, Blaine Kern Studios has gained international recognition in float building. Parades the company has built outside of New Orleans include parades done for Las Vegas, NV; Mobile, AL; Galveston, TX; Montreal, Canada; and the Universal Studios Mardi Gras parade.^[3]

In 1984, Mardi Gras World was created as a tourist attraction to show visitors a behind-the-scenes look at float building. The company prides itself in bringing Mardi Gras to visitors all year.^[4]

A Short Mardi Gras History

In his Mardi Gras Guide, Historian Arthur Hardy contributes the origins of Mardi Gras to the ancient Bacchanalia and Saturnalia rituals of Rome and Greece.^[5]

Mardi Gras today draws from the medieval European religious-based celebration of Carnival, the time between Christmas and Lent when both peasants and the nobility were given a chance to break from their labor, feast and generally make merry before the fasting and reflection of the Lenten season.

When France and Spain claimed land in the Americas, they brought their traditions and customs over as well, including Carnival, which was typically celebrated with a feast and ball. In 1852, the Krewe of Cowbellians, a parading group from Mobile, Alabama, formed the Mystic Krewe of Comus and staged a parade with two decorated wagons. The parade was so popular, the next year there were thirty decorated wagons.^[6]

After the Civil War, more Krewes were formed and Mardi Gras in New Orleans started to attract the notice of tourists and Mardi Gras changed from being a mostly local celebration to one that is popularly known around the world.^[7]

Mardi Gras, Behind the Scenes

Today there are a few float builders in the city of New Orleans. The largest is Kern Studios, the artist side of the company, which works year round to build about 70% of the 50-odd parades that process in the New Orleans area.

Mardi Gras World has opened up their main working warehouse to the public, offering tours daily of the facility. Visitors get a chance to see artists at work, making floats for Mardi Gras. Tours are guided, run about an hour and start every 30 minutes. See the Mardi Gras World website or call 504-361-7821 for details.^[8]

References

1. ^ "History". Blaine Kern Studios. http://www.kernstudios.com/about-blaine-kern-studios/history. Retrieved 9 October 2011. 
2. ^ "Dream Factory". American Way. http://www.americanwaymag.com/blaine-kern-isn-mardi-gras-day-new-orleans-algiers. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 
3. ^ "Universal Studios". Mardi Gras Parade. http://www.universalorlando.com/Events/mardi-gras.aspx. Retrieved 25 October 2011. 
4. ^ "Tours". Mardi Gras World. http://www.mardigrasworld.com/mardi-gras-world-tours. 
5. ^ Hardy, Arthur (2001). Mardi Gras: An Illustrated Guide. pp. 10. 
6. ^ Hardy, Arthur (2001). Mardi Gras: An Illustrated Guide. pp. 10–16. 
7. ^ Hardy, Arthur (2001). Mardi Gras: An Illustrated History. pp. 52–65. 
8. ^ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". Mardi Gras World Tours. http://www.mardigrasworld.com/mardi-gras-world-tours. Retrieved 25 October 2011. 

Links

Mardi Gras World, official website Mardi Gras World's Facebook Page Tripadvisor.com, recent reviews of Mardi Gras World Kern Studios, official website Arthur Hardy's Mardi Gras Guide, official website of Arthur Hardy, Mardi Gras Historian and parade guide Mardi Gras New Orleans, guide to parades