http://www.mardigrasworld.com/ Since 1947, the Kern family has become the largest parade float builder for Mardi Gras and Carnival celebrations throughout the world. Today, Kern Studios creates magical sculptures, dramatic themed environments and exciting visual signage for such clients as Universal Studios, Disney, Paramount Parks, Harrah's Casino, MGM Casino and Circus Circus Casino to name a few. Kern Studios' parade floats are world renonwned.

Few cities can boast a thriving float-making industry. New Orleans can, and no float maker thrives more than Blaine Kern, who makes more than three-quarters of the floats used by the various krewes every Carnival season. Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World offers tours of its collection of float sculptures and its studios, where you can see floats being made year-round. (Likely with new thrilling details about working overtime to get floats ready for Mardi Gras 2006, and tales of damaged floats.) Visitors see sculptors at work, doing everything from making small "sketches" of the figures to creating and painting the enormous sculptures that adorn Mardi Gras floats each year. You can even try on some heavily bejeweled and dazzling costumes (definitely bring your camera!).

Blaine Kern's warehouse of floats, decorations and Mardi Gras memorabilia. You can get there via the ferry or check with the hotel.

233 Newton St New Orleans, LA 70114 (504) 361-7821 Take a tour of the warehouse where most of the Mardi Gras floats are made. You will see the traditional floats, such as the Baccawhoompa, the Baccasaurus, King/Mother/and Baby Kong, etc.