Bet You Didn't Know They Have Toilets on Those Things

You probably remember last year's Mardi Gras in Galveston as a carefree night of colorful floats and drunken revelry -- that is, if you remember it at all. Ever stop and think about how much work goes into organizing one of these parades? "I am pulling my hair out and wearing double Depends to put this thing together," says Trent Morgan, of the Krewe of Gambrinus, who has been planning today's "Spirit of New Orleans" parade for the last four months. The Krewe has to put generators and working bathrooms in 15 floats meant to hold 30 people each and make them all handicapped accessible. They've also got to work in the 15 marching bands and figure out a way to throw out $34,000 worth of beads and set off $10,000 worth of firecrackers within two-and-a-half hours.

Then there is coordinating the parade to proceed down the sometimes-narrow streets of Galveston without running anybody over or knocking anyone over the seawall -- a task that requires the combined efforts of the Galveston's police and fire departments, its Park Board of Trustees and even the Ball High School Rowing Team, who'll be pushing people out of the parade's way using 15-foot PVP pipes. That's not to mention the Krewe's own "red suits," volunteers who'll be watching out for hazards "for absolutely nothing," says Morgan, "except for all the beads they throw and tits they see." --Nick Keppler

To learn about more risks and considerations of putting together a Mardi Gras parade, check out our Night & Day� section, which has other useful tidbits of information, including Bun B's favorite movie, Loretta Lynn's connection to stunt biking and what exactly "a Harold" means to improv performers.