Mardi Gras is a holiday that has its American origins in New Orleans but is quickly gaining in popularity throughout the United States. If you are thinking of hosting or participating in a Mardi Gras celebration in your hometown, the individuals helping you would traditionally be referred to as a krewe. Preparing for Mardi Gras requires a lot of time, energy, and space. 

Here are three ways that your Mardi Gras krewe can use self-storage to help meet your needs.

1. Use a storage unit as a construction area.

It has become traditional for Mardi Gras revelers to participate in parades showcasing colorful floats. If your krewe is planning to construct a float to enter in your local parade, you will need a place where you can safely construct this float.

It takes a significant amount of time to construct an intricate float, and having a storage unit (such as one from Budget Rent-A-Space) allows you to store your construction materials where they won't be damaged by wind, rain, or snow during the construction process. You can safely lock your storage unit when your krewe isn't working on the float to keep it safe.

2. Use a storage unit to house items you will throw from your float.

Most people know that no Mardi Gras parade would be complete without plastic beads being thrown from each float. Experts estimate that each member of the Krewe of Endymion (one of the most prominent Mardi Gras groups in New Orleans) tosses about 1,800 strands of beads during their celebrations. This adds up to 7 million strands of beads for a single krewe alone.

In addition to beads, your krewe might want to toss cups and gold doubloons from your float. Using a storage unit to house these items from the time they are shipped until the day of the parade arrives can be beneficial.

3. Use a storage unit as a practice room.

Many krewes prepare choreographed dance routines to feature on their Mardi Gras floats. If you need a quiet space in which to practice your dance moves, your krewe might want to look into a storage unit. An empty storage unit with some mirrors placed against one wall can easily serve as a temporary dance studio.

Be sure that you are renting a unit with access to electrical outlets if you plan to use the space for practicing your choreographed routines so that you can easily have access to music.

Investing in self-storage can be a great way to access the space your krewe needs to prepare for Mardi Gras.