Best 13 tips for Surviving Mardi Gras in Soulard-St. Louis

Often touted as the 2nd largest Mardi Gras celebration outside of New Orleans, Mardi Gras in the South St. Louis neighborhood of Soulard is a multi-week celebration culminating with the Grand Parade and adult-themed street festival most people associate with New Orlean’s style Mardi Gras celebrations.

2024’s Grand Parade is being held on Saturday February 10th. However, the festivities start on January 6th with 12th Night.
What follows are some of the 13 best tips from seasoned veterans of the parade and festival, and residents of the neighborhood.

1. Be Respectful of the Neighborhood

Although Soulard is the epicenter of Mardi Gras, and seemingly celebrates in Mardi Gras fashion year-round, it is also a thriving residential area with everything from efficiency apartments to multi-million dollar houses. Please don’t litter, trespass, steal yard ornaments, or otherwise effect any property damage or crimes.

3. Leave the Bags at Home and Wear Clothes with Pockets.

You’ll need somewhere on you to keep your cash, cellphone, keys, Chapstick, and other necessary items. Backpacks and large bags aren’t permitted inside the festival area, so make sure your pants or jackets have deep secure pockets. You definitely do not want to be in the “day-after” group of people scouring the neighborhood for their missing keys, cellphones, or the aforementioned Louis Vuitton clutch (True story).

4. Brings Lots of Cash

Although the cashless options have increased over the years, the festival is primarily a CASH-ONLY event. Even bars and restaurants that take cards the other 364 days of the year will not be on Grand Parade day.
Yes, there are plenty of ATMS strewn throughout the neighborhood, but their fees are often $5-$15 on top of your bank’s fees, and these ATMs often start running out of money mid-afternoon.
Additionally, don’t forget to set some cash aside for the taxi ride home and/or the stop at Jack-in-the-Box on the way home.

6. Use the "Buddy System" and choose a Meeting Point

At the very least, designate a meet up place (or intersection) in case you and your friends get separated. Soulard can be very disorientating if you’re unfamiliar with it – the buildings all start to look the same --and then add thousands of people and alcohol and it can quickly become overwhelming.

7. Bring a Printed Map of Soulard

This will help with the previous tip, especially if the cell towers are maxed out near you. It also helps to know that Soulard is on a hill, so generally 7th Street and Broadway are going to be downhill, which also happens to be East towards the River. And conversely, the top of the hill is West and 12th Street (with Tucker and Gravois beyond).
If you can see the Gateway Arch, that is north (towards Downtown) and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery will be South. Get a printable map here or here.

8. Rely on Text Messaging, not Voicemails to Communicate with Your Friends

As mentioned in the previous tip, cell phone towers have been known to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of festival goers resulting in poor or no cell service.
Although the organizers and cell providers have mitigated this in recent years by installing temporary towers, it’s still advisable to rely on text messages to communicate with your friends rather than phone calls and voicemails alone.
They’re not ignoring you — they’re just not getting your calls.

9. Scope Out the Restrooms and Porta-Potties

With all of the revelers, bathrooms will be at a premium.
There are banks of porta-potties scattered throughout the Festival area, but these lines can quickly get more than 20-30 people deep, resulting in 30 minute waits or longer. If you must use a porta-potty it’s recommend to venture away from the more popular areas. Better yet, look for one of the pay bathrooms, or if you’re lucky enough to have a friend nearby, facilitate with them beforehand to use their facilities.

10. Going to a Friend's House Party in Soulard? Bring your items the night before.

Bring your potluck dishes, changes of clothes, and coolers the night before. Remember no backpacks, large bags, coolers, water bottles or any beverage bottles are allowed into the festival area on Grand Parade Day — you will be turned away and/or the items confiscated at the entry checkpoints.
Additionally, if you are going to a friend’s house, make sure you are on the correct side of the Parade Route. Once the Parade starts, there’s no crossing until it’s finished – 2-3 hours later. This was MY #rookie mistake.

13. Want to Celebrate, but also Avoid the Crowds?

Then check out Soulard the weekend prior to Grand Parade day. Saturday and Sunday (February 3rd and 4th) are the “Taste of Soulard” in which many of the Soulard bars and restaurants will pass out samples of their signature food and drinks with the purchase of a “passport”.
On Saturday’s “Taste” there’s even complimentary shuttles roaming the neighborhood taking participants among the participating venues.
Sunday’s “Taste” features the Wiener Dog Races in Soulard Market Park and the Purina Pet Parade. Learn more about the full schedule of Mardi Gras events here.

Whether you come out to Soulard for the Grand Parade, the Pet Parade, Taste of Soulard, or even just some random day in the future, please take the chance to absorb the Mardi Gras flavor that Soulard is known for.

Copyright 2023 Devin Campbell