Where do Mardi Gras beads go? Every year about 25 million pounds of used Mardi Gras beads are thrown away. Cane River Creole National Historical Park will accept your surplus beads. Mardi Gras bead collection containers will be located at Oakland Plantation and Magnolia Plantation. The beads will be recycled by the park and then used in future parades.
Locations of collection containers:
Oakland Plantation Entrance Pavilion
Magnolia Plantation Store
In addition to the drop off collection containers, park staff will be outside the Texas and Pacific Railway Depot located at 607 Trudeau Street, Natchitoches on Saturday, March 4 from 10 am to 12 pm to collect beads.
Drop off collection containers will be at Oakland Plantation and Magnolia Plantation until March 10.
The grounds of Oakland and Magnolia Plantations are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nearly 80 original buildings remain, many open for self-guided tours including several that are historically furnished from Wednesday through Sunday. Park staff conducts tours of the plantation grounds daily Wednesday through Sunday. In addition, the park offers tours on the NPS App. The Oakland Main House is open for self-guided tours from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Magnolia Main House is privately owned and is not open to the public. For more information, please visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/cari, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/canerivercreoleNPS or call the park at 318-352-0383, ext. 316.
