Mardi Gras

Want to trade Mardi Gras beads for king cakes? Here’s how

King cakes are on of the most popular parts of Mardi Gras. The pastries have even ended up a one of the mascots for the New Orleans Pelicans.
King cakes are on of the most popular parts of Mardi Gras. The pastries have even ended up a one of the mascots for the New Orleans Pelicans. Courtesy

It’s a problem many Coast residents face every year — what do you do with the 60-plus pounds of Mardi Gras beads you caught at one of the many parades in South Mississippi?

Beginning Thursday, you can trade your beads in for king cakes — the gold standard in Mardi Gras treats.

The Advocate reports Crown Royal will have a pop-up store in downtown New Orleans just outside Harrah’s Casino on the corner of Canal and South Peters streets. Part of the pop-up will be an exchange of Mardi Gras beads for a king cake from Gambino’s Bakery in New Orleans.

And what’s the going rate on the beads-to-king cake trade? Three pounds of beads will get you a free king cake. Crown Royal plans to give away about 1,000 king cakes a day.

The exchange runs Feb. 23-26 and is open to people 21 and older.

This story was originally published February 21, 2017 at 8:49 AM with the headline "Want to trade Mardi Gras beads for king cakes? Here’s how."

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