With a few supplies you too can make second line umbrellas like this.

One of the most popular items that people come in the store looking for is a Second Line umbrella. While we do carry several different colors in stock, some with ruffles or fringe, some just plain, the best way to express yourself and stand out from the crowd is to make your own.

Of course, the first thing you need is an umbrella. Think about your color palette. Sometimes all black is in order, and sometimes, the traditional colors of purple, green, and gold would be best. Of course, depending on the occasion, you can use any colors you like.

Items seen here will get you started to building your own second line umbrella

Pick up a few ornaments and decorations in keeping with your color scheme. Make sure they’re lightweight and not too bulky, since you’ll be attaching them to very delicate material. Bearing that in mind, anything goes. Garland, fringe, or a boa for trim, some beads to glue along the spokes of the umbrella or to let drape from the edges, feathers, masks…use your imagination and choose whatever appeals to you. Don’t forget to find something to use as a topper…preferably something tall and dramatic.

First, if you’re using beads to line the spokes, you’ll want to cut them to the right size. For our smaller umbrellas, about 13” of beads is just right to reach from the top of the umbrella to the tip. Dot a small bit of hot glue at the top, and secure the first bead into place. Hold it there for a minute, it’ll take that long to dry and become secure. After that first bead is in place, draw a thin, straight line down the spoke, a little at a time. Then, simply stretch the beads out straight, and lay them gently on top of the glue, pressing lightly when they’re in place. Continue until you’ve covered all six spokes.

Next, we attached some foil tassels. These conveniently come in packages of 3, so you only need two packages. The easiest way to attach them is to snip the loop on top in half, then tie the cord around the ball at the end of the spoke. Cut off the ends of the cord. Don’t worry if the knot shows, because you’ll be covering it up later. After you have the tassel in place, dab some hot glue on top of the knot, to keep it secure.

For the trim, a feather boa is a great way to add color and dramatic flair. Our 6′ boas just happen to be the perfect length to stretch all the way around our 14” umbrella, so you only need one. Add hot glue, one section at a time, and press the boa securely against the umbrella. Be careful here—they don’t call it hot glue for nothing! It’s very hot, and very easy to burn your fingers. Make sure the boa is firmly attached by pressing it between the front and back side of the fabric. You

A boa can be attached to the border of the umbrella

may want to use something like a potholder to shield your fingers from the heat.

From there, it’s easy to attach any kind of decorations and ornaments you have. Squeeze a little hot glue onto the back of each one, and press gently on the umbrella. It doesn’t take a lot of glue, and you want to be careful not to use too much, so you don’t have any showing underneath.

The most important part of your decorations is the topper. Remember, this is Mardi Gras, so less isn’t more—MORE is more! Add feathers, jewels, glitter, picks…anything you like to make your umbrella different. Once you have your topper the way you want it, line the bottom of it with more hot glue, and press down over the center of the umbrella. You may need to hold onto the topper for a minute, just to make sure that it’s definitely secure.

Now you’re ready to enjoy that Mardi Gras Second Line!

First, is the mask for a man or a woman? Men’s masks can be especially tricky, considering most men don’t want anything flashy or covered with sequins and glitter. Basic black is always a popular choice. Also, check out the shape of the mask. The cateye shape, with the corners pointing upward, is mostly worn by women, while men usually stick to a rounded edge. Although most men will opt for something without feathers or jewels, it really depends on what each individual is comfortable with.

Do you want a mask that ties, or one on a stick? In some situations, you might know if one or the other is appropriate. Other times, it may be a matter of taste. Do you want to wear the mask for the entire event, or would you rather be able to take it off and put it back on? If this is the case, a stick mask might be best for you. On the other hand, if you don’t want to have to carry it around or keep up with it, you will probably want to tie your mask on.

What color are you wearing? You’ll want to make sure your mask coordinates with your outfit. If you can’t find a mask to match the exact color of your dress, consider something in gold, silver, white, or black. You’ll also probably want to think

Full Face Jester Mask

about what kind of jewelry you’ll be wearing. You don’t want a gold mask with big silver earrings.

How big would you like your mask to be? Do you want to cover your whole face, or just your eyes? Although most of our masks are half masks, meaning they cover only the top half of your face, we do have several full face masks as well. Most formal occasions only call for a half mask, but if you really want to be incognito, consider a full face mask. If you really want to stand out, you may want a headdress mask, with long feathers on the top and sides.

What if you find the perfect tie-on mask, but you need it on a stick? It’s easy to attach a simple wood dowel from a craft store with some hot glue. Paint the dowel a color that matches the mask, and wrap a ribbon around it. Add a tassel or jewels—the decorating options are endless. By the same token, you can easily detach a stick and add a ribbon of your choosing. Either way, you’ll end up with a one of a kind mask, and you can rest easy that no one else will be wearing the same one you are.

It’s no coincidence that the Final Four is being held in the city best known for Mardi Gras. What do you have to take with you on any trip to New Orleans? Beads! They’re the perfect way to show your team spirit at the game. We have beads in all the colors of the teams playing this year. Kansas Jayhawks can distinguish themselves from Ohio State Buckeyes with the addition of blue to their crimson or red. And if you’re going to the big rivalry game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Kentucky Wildcats, you want to make sure that your side is covered with either blue and white or scarlet and grey. Silver makes a nice alternative to grey, and the shiny metallic finish is eye-catching.

Throwing a party for the games? In addition to beads for your guests, you’ll want to do a little decorating. Some red or blue fringe around the table, or garland on the walls, go a long way toward creating the perfect festive environment. A few small foam basketballs scattered on the table make a cute and inexpensive decoration.

If you are just throwing a few burgers and dogs on the grill? You’ll still probably want a tablecloth. Our 54”x 108” plastic rectangle table cloths make sure you have enough to cover the whole table, and make clean up afterward a snap.


Serving drinks is also a breeze with all of the options we have. Margaritas or hurricanes, martinis or iced tea, we’ve got you covered. Light up glasses are great for those evenings outdoors that last well past sunset. Even if you’re just serving cans out of a cooler, an assortment of huggers will help you remember which one is which.


Just make sure you don’t run out of ice! Which we do not sell at Toomey’s Mardi Gras, but we can help you with the rest.

Click for more decorating ideas

Parties happen every weekend.  Some parties are for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries.  Some of the most fun and exciting parties are thrown for special holidays.  One of the most fun holidays to have a party for is the Fourth of July.  So much fun, excitement, and patriotism is already involved in this holiday, that a party is just waiting to happen.  We would like to take this time to introduce some new party ideas to really set your party apart this year.

On the Fourth of July, most everyone already has some routines they follow every year.  Grills are usually going in your neighbors’ yards, kids are out playing enjoying the nice summer weather, and of course there are the fireworks.  The highlight of most celebrations happen when the sun goes down, and the night sky is lit up with fireworks.  This is a fun and exciting time for everyone. Who doesn’t like to watch the magic of fireworks lighting up the sky in various designs and colors?  For some though, there are concerns. Thousands of fireworks related injuries a year and you may feel that your child is not old enough to participate directly.  So if you want your small child to still feel a part of all the action, try some of these ideas to keep them safe while still having a blast.  Light up swords, necklaces, toys, and glow sticks are great ways for them to help light up the night.  All these items are safe ways for the younger kids to participate in the celebrations, without any risk of injury.

Another unique way to help bring a little extra to your party is by having favors to hand hand out.  Several options are available to give to your guest to help remind them later on down the year, how much fun they had at your party.  A bag or two of Red, White, and Blue themed beads will give your guest something to wear during the day, then be able to display or keep it to help remember all the fun after the party is over.  Fourth of July Beads  can be displayed year round, so your guest will appreciate the party favor.

Click to see more ideas.

Decorations are another great aspect to a successful party.  Most people do not get heavily involved with Fourth of July party decorations, since the party is outside, and people feel it is unnecessary to do anything special.  Even working on a budget there are options to add a little patriotism to your event.  If you will have tables set up for food, try adding some skirting to the tables to bring a little life to the tables.  If you have some trees in the yard, hang some mobiles in them, windsocks, or even lights. So now you see, even on a limited budget, Toomey’s Mardi Gras has safe, entertaining, and affordable options to make your party the best in town.

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Fun Run and Walk:

The Shamrock 5k Shuffle and 1 Mile Fun Run- Great 5k run that will take you on a route through neighborhoods that are close to Dawes Intermediate School.

Food and Parade Events:

Luck of the Irish Cook Off- Kicking off at 11:00 AM on March 17 at Bienville Square, Downtown Mobile, AL.  Admission is $10.00 in advance, or $15.00 at the gate.  Great cook off involving teams serving their Irish themed dish from tents all over Bienville Square.

Luck of the Irish Parade- Parade that will roll through the streets of downtown Mobile, AL.  It will follow the GMAC Parade route.

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Entertainment:

Celtic Symphony–A  Shamrock Celebration- High energy concert that will incorporate Celtic and Irish music.  The Celtic band Mithril will make its third appearance for the concert.  The shows will start on March 17 at 8:00 PM and a matinee will run on the 18th at 2:30PM at the Seanger Theater.

Callaghan’s Irish Social Club- Events and fun all day.  Music, food, beer, and good company.

Paddy O’Tooles- Great music, Irish themed food, and of course Green beer.

Bienville Business Club- Mystery of the Missing Leprechaun.  A can’t miss murder mystery dinner that is filled with action.  3 course meal included, along with a show and music.  Cash bar available.

Click picture to see more.

With all these events and more going on, everyone is sure to have a happy St. Patrick’s day this year.  Where ever you find yourself celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year, be sure to stop by Toomey’s Mardi Gras to get yourself something Green!

It’s almost time to start thinking about Easter Basket ideas for your children.  Some parents enjoy stuffing those baskets full with candies, while some prefer to mix in some toys to encourage kids to go out and play.  Either way there is a cost efficient way to get those baskets filled up and ready to go this year.  If your child reacts well to waking up with a basket filled with treats to enjoy on Easter try adding some new items in this year.  The popularity of the Moonpie has spread nationwide.  While it is heavily associated with Mardi Gras, it is available year round, so use it to bring a smile to their faces this Easter.  Available in Chocolate, Vanilla, Banana, Coconut, Orange, and the newest crunch varieties Peanut Butter and Mint.  You will be sure to find a flavor your child will love.  Another great choice is to buy a bulk box of Assorted Candy to help fill those baskets to their brink.  This option allows for your children to enjoy a variety of candy so they don’t get worn out of eating a single type of candy.

If you want to encourage your children to wear off some of that energy they got from the surplus of candy in the baskets, try adding some fun play items.  There are options available to keep your kids entertained for hours outside while you prepare that wonderful Easter dinner.  With a variety of options available from sports balls, to frisbees, and trinkets, your kids will be sure to burn off some of that sugar.  With a assortment of sports balls available, your child will find one that will suit their interest no matter what it is.  The assorted styles of frisbees will keep them running around all day, and with our new light up versions, even the night is open for excitement.  Maybe your child wants to imagine being a knight or adventurer.  With a variety of  swords and shields, they will be able to open up their imagination and save the backyard from whatever adversary they dream up.  Or maybe they would prefer to dress up, and adorn themselves with bracelets, necklaces, and tiaras and be a wonderful princess for the day.  What ever the case may be, let your child have all the excitement they want with smart purchases from Toomey’s Mardi Gras

Another example of an explosion of popularity of a Mardi Gras throw began with the introduction of the Moonpie.  The Moonpie originated by the Chattanooga Bakery in the early 1900’s as a cheap lunch option to miners working in Tennessee.  It wasn’t until 1956, in Mobile, AL, that the Moonpie became a famous Mardi Gras throw.  The rest is history.  It instantly became a hit among the locals and visitors to the Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile.  The popularity then spread along the coast to other popular Mardi Gras destinations.  It is now one of the most recognized Mardi Gras throws.  Available in several different sizes and flavors, people go crazy to fill their bags up with this marshmallow-based snack.  Some people stick with traditional flavors like banana or chocolate, while others crave the flavors of recently released flavors like Peanut Butter or Mint.  No matter where they come from, it is hard to find someone that just can’t resist the flavor of this popular Mardi Gras throw.

Here at Toomey’s Mardi Gras we love to stay up to date with the latest Mardi Gras throws and local traditions of Mardi Gras hotspots across the nation.  So if you have a throw from your local parades that may be unusual or specific to your location we would love to hear about it.  Feel free to comment, letting everyone that enjoys our blog know what your various local traditions entail.  If you happen to be one of the unfortunate people that do not get to enjoy the Mardi Gras celebrations but still want to flaunt a piece of Mardi Gras tradition or see what all the hype is about on these Moonpies, feel free to stop by Toomey’s Mardi Gras to browse and order some Mardi Gras favorites.

Saint Patrick was a very well known Religious figure in Irish history. He was born in 387 AD and was to follow in his family’s footsteps within the church. At the young age of 16, he was kidnapped by Irish Raiders, where he was held captive at a location still in speculation today. But in a dream God revealed his plan for Saint Patrick. He was to escape his captives, and flee to the coastline where he would find a ride on a boat to Britain. Soon after fulfilling his dream from God he studied and became a priest and is known for diminishing the Irish Pagans. He used a shamrock to illustrate the Holy Trinity to the Pagans. This illustration has become the foundation of the present day Celebrations. He spent the rest of his life spreading the word of God and ridding the Irish of their Pagan beliefs. Several different accounts have his death place and date at different locations and times. But once the Irish started fleeing their land due to fears of starvation, they spread what has most commonly believe to be his death date on March 17 in Downpatrick.


To this day the yearly celebration of Saint Patrick is growing every year. As more and more Irish influence spread across the world, there are few places that do not recognize and celebrate him in some way. The most commonly used way to celebrate is with large gatherings and celebrations that includes outdoor theatrical performances, fireworks, parades, and of course drinking green beer. One unknown fact about early celebrations of Saint Patrick is that the original color associated with the festivities was actually blue. Over the years it is unsure how green overtook blue, but it is more than likely due to the association of green with the shamrock, which is another historically used item to celebrate.

In many cities across the world the celebration begins up to three days before the official St. Patrick’s Day. During this time people gather to celebrate and have a good time with friends and families. People will gather along the streets for parades put on by Irish pubs or organizations. During the parade people can expect to see an array of items from green beads, green umbrellas, green flowers, and many other St. Patrick’s Day throws. Bagpipes and Irish drummers are a common site on most parade routes. People can be seen enjoying a glass of green beer, or several other Irish originating drinks. One more thing you want to make sure you do on St. Patrick’s day is wear something green. If not, it is commonly practiced to pinch someone that is caught not wearing green in some form or fashion.


No matter what kind of celebration you might be attending this year, be sure you have a good time, wear something green, and take a few moments to reflect on why you are celebrating. And if you just can’t seem to find that certain green piece to wear to protect against the pinches, don’t forget Toomey’s Mardi Gras  carries a vast selection of St. Patrick’s Day Decorations and St. Patrick’s Day Beads to choose from..

1.Lodge near the parade route.

Probably one of the best things you could do for yourself is to have a place to stay that is within walking distance of the parade route. This eliminates the need for having to drive and also takes care of one of the other tips, which is having a preplanned meeting place should you separated from your party. If you are one of the lucky ones to get a room on the parade route then that is all the better. Watching the a parade from your balcony has some unique advantages. To get the best rates and location be sure to plan far enough ahead when booking the room.We can tell you that in the world of Mardi Gras, a month or two before Mardi Gras is not planning ahead, think more like a year in advance.

2. Carpool

If you are not lucky enough to get lodging near or on the parade route, try to carpool. The more people that car pool the less congestion there is before and after the parade. This cuts down on delays and potential accidents from happening. Make sure the person driving your carpool is a “Designated Driver”. Know the local laws and regulations for parking, you do not want to end the night by finding out you car has been towed. Also be sure to educate yourself on where the safe place to park for a parade is, you don,t want to end the night finding out your car has been vandalized either. Be sure you know your way back to the car, you do not want to end the night carrying around a bunch of parade throws while searching for your car.

3. Know the area

Before immersing yourself into the crowds and confusion of a Mardi Gras Parade, take the time to learn the layout of the area you will be in. Know the names of the main streets that run through the area. If at all possible have a map of the area saved on your phone or at least a pocket map. Here are a few examples of some things you will want to be able to locate.

• Police Station – In case of emergency
• Medic Station – In case of emergency
• Starting and ending point of the parade – Most of the time you can use this knowledge to see the same parade at least twice.
• Where you parked – so you can get home
• Coffee Shop – For the pick me up
• Store – Never know what you need to buy on the go

4. Camera

Make sure you bring a camera! Whether it is video or photo, you will want to have this experience recorded. Be sure to bring along a comfortable sized camera that you can strap to your wrist or waist. The crowds go into a frenzy when the Mardi Gras Beads start flying and you do not want to get bumped into and see your camera hit the ground. Make sure you have an empty memory card with plenty of memory. Once you start seeing all the crazy floats, costumes and different outfits people will be wearing you will find yourself snapping way more pictures than you intended to.

5. Dress appropriately for the weather and amount of walking you will be doing.

After you have figured if you are staying on the parade route or if you are parking near it, the next thing you need to do is try and estimate how far you will be walking total. If it is more than 100 feet then you need to make sure you wear comfortable shoes. Mardi Gras parades will generally involve quite a bit of walking for the average person. Walking around during Mardi Gras is kind of like being out in the sun, sometmes you are burned before you realize how long you have been out there. Same with the walking, you can walk a mile or two and not even realize it. You do not want blisters keeping you from scrambling for all the cool Mardi Gras trinkets that will be thrown your way. Also make sure you know what the weather is going to be and dress for it. you do not want your fun interrupted by constantly having to rub your arms because you are cold. You also do not want to spend the parade lugging around extra coats and jackets you really didn’t need.


These are just 5 of many tips that can be followed to make sure your Mardi Gras Parade experience is the best possible. The key to it all is to make sure you plan, plan, plan. Stay safe and Happy Mardi Gras!