Things You Might Catch at a Louisiana Mardi Gras This Year

[KNGT-FM] -- Mardi Gras is only two weeks away, which means the parades will be in full swing soon. Here in Southwest Louisiana, there are several parades scheduled from February 13th all the way through Fat Tuesday on February 17th, 2026.

Have you ever been to a true Louisiana Mardi Gras parade? A Mardi Gras parade isn’t just something you watch; it’s something you experience.

For many parade-goers, the real thrill is in what they take home. Sure, the specialty beads and unique trinkets are prized treasures, but plenty of folks have their sights set on more practical loot. Plastic cups to stock the cabinets, t-shirts to wear proudly around town, or anything that proves they were right there in the middle of the chaos.

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Over the years, Mardi Gras parade crowds have turned creativity into an art form when it comes to catching throws. It’s not unusual to spot someone wielding a laundry basket like a shield, or flipping an umbrella upside down to turn it into the perfect catch-all.

Some folks take things to the next level, setting up full-blown contraptions, including basketball goals with bags hanging below the net, daring folks on the floats to sink a shot.

Curious about what people really love catching, we turned to social media and asked the question: What’s your favorite Mardi Gras throw? Some answers were exactly what you’d expect. Others had us laughing out loud. From classic staples to unexpected favorites, here’s what Louisiana parade-goers say they hope to catch when Mardi Gras rolls by.