Parades Parades are the hands-down highlight of the festival, and they are crowded. Try the Lower Garden District between Napoleon and Lee Circle for the main parades, such as Bacchus, Orpheus, Rex and Zulu. Move into the Mid-City neighborhoods around Carrollton for Endymion. Make sure your party is all on the same side of the street well before the parade starts and that you're on the side you want to be on for quite some time, because once it's begun, the police may not allow you to cross the street. And these are long parades.
Restrooms are scarce.
Hotels check room keys and hand out wrist bands for its paying patrons to allow admittance to the building. Most restaurants and stores will not let you use their facilities unless you are a paying customer. Some dole out one bathroom ticket for every drink you purchase. Stockpile these tickets and distribute them as necessary later on . If staying in or near the Quarter, be sure to use the facilities before you leave your hotel.