The Kerns are the first family of float-making, and this is their headquarters. The Kerns design and build some 75 percent of the floats used by the Mardi Gras krewes during Carnival Season, so you’ll see floats from previous years and those in the works for the next season. Sketches, sculptures (and sculptors at work), engineers’ drawings, and king cake and coffee are all included on the tour—plus you can try on some of the elaborate, sparkling costumes that float riders wear. It’s pretty nifty to see the handiwork up close, and if you can’t come for Mardi Gras, at least you can get a taste here—and a better understanding of what goes into it.