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Mardi Gras Throws: It’s the Gettin’ Not the Havin’!

A man wearing colorful beads and gesturing animatedly stands in front of a small group seated on the floor. The room has vibrant decorations and a table with a blue cloth in the background. The group listens attentively.

In this seasonal Shortcut talk, explore the colorful world of Carnival throws—and their unintended consequences.

From sweet treats handed from ladies in carriages, to today’s wonderfully colorful souvenir trinkets of sparkling and blinking plastic, Mardi Gras throws have a long history in the celebration of Carnival in New Orleans, but they also bring unintended consequences. HNOC is excited to offer this seasonal Shortcut talk about the history and challenges brought by the most iconic symbol of Mardi Gras.

A lively presenter in a green vest energetically gestures while speaking to an audience at a colorful indoor event. The seated audience, including a child in a tie-dye shirt, attentively listens. Bright decorations fill the setting.
Photo by Keely Merritt, HNOC

About This Talk

Available January 7–February 11, 2026
Offered daily at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays*
Free and open to the public (no registration required)
Duration: Approximately 20 minutes
Location: Tricentennial Wing, 520 Royal Street

For groups of 10 or more, please contact tours@hnoc.org.

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Shortcut Talks

Enjoy free, daily talks that explore Gulf South history and culture through the lens of our exhibitions.

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A group of people listens to a man speaking in a room. The man is gesturing with his hands, standing next to a large touchscreen table. The room has a warm ambiance with a brick wall in the background.
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Tours & Daily Programs

Get more out of your museum visit with a guided tour, Shortcut Talk, or daily program.

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A guide gestures towards a historical photograph on the wall while speaking to a man and a woman in a gallery setting. The wall has an exhibit description titled A Most Dreadful Visitation: Frederick Douglass and The 1887 Riot.

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Eight Mardi Gras fashion designs inspired by history, pop culture, and even architecture

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Looking at the Obscure—and Sometimes Disturbing—Lore from the “Golden Age of Carnival”

Exploring the traditions of the past often reveals the deeper values and influences of the society that created them.

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Virtual exhibitions

Dancing in the Streets: Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs of New Orleans

Dancing in the Streets brings together historical photography tracing the history of the tradition, interviews with longtime members, and contemporary images depicting the beauty and power of second line parades.

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Joyful dancers in formal attire perform energetically on the street, surrounded by colorful confetti. A man in a black suit and hat leads, while another in white joins exuberantly. Onlookers watch from the background.

Related Books

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A person dressed in an elaborate, colorful costume poses with a decorated umbrella and an ornate adornment, set against a black background. The text reads Dancing in the Streets by Judy Cooper, about social aid and pleasure clubs of New Orleans.
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