Activities

New Orleans Second Line Umbrella Making Workshop Guide for Large Groups

Hands-on second line umbrella and parasol making workshops for large groups: how to find operators, the craft process, how it connects to NOLA second line culture, and how to incorporate finished parasols into an actual second line experience.

Last updated: June 2026

Second line umbrella and parasol making is one of the most genuinely local workshop experiences you can do in New Orleans. It’s not a souvenir activity. It connects directly to one of the city’s living cultural traditions — the Social Aid and Pleasure Club second line parades that move through neighborhoods every Sunday — and it produces something you actually use, rather than something you put in a bag and forget about.

For large groups, the format works exceptionally well. Everyone is making something. The process is tactile, social, and doesn’t require any artistic talent to produce a result you’re proud of. And the finished parasols serve a function — if you plan it right, you wave them in a real second line later that day.

That’s the version of this activity that’s worth doing. Not just the craft workshop. The workshop plus the second line you march in afterward with the things you made.

Quick Checklist

Research local operators offering second line umbrella workshops for large groups (arts organizations, cultural museums, independent craftspeople)
Confirm group size capacity — some workshops cap at 15-20 per session; others handle up to 30
Book well in advance, especially for weekend workshops during peak travel seasons
Clarify what materials are included: base umbrellas/parasols, ribbons, feathers, fabric, fringe, trims
Ask about timing: workshops typically run 60-90 minutes
Plan the second line component: know when Sunday second lines are happening and which neighborhoods they run through
If booking a private second line to follow the workshop, coordinate the brass band booking and permit logistics separately (see our jazz second line booking guide)
Designate cleanup logistics — feathers, glitter, and ribbon scraps are real — especially if the workshop is at the villa

What Second Line Umbrellas Are and Why They Matter

To understand why making one means something, you need the cultural context.

The Social Aid and Pleasure Club second line parade is a community institution. These organizations — formed by working-class Black New Orleans residents, often excluded from mainstream fraternal organizations — used collective social resources for mutual aid: help with funeral costs, medical expenses, community needs. The second line parade is the public celebration of that collective commitment.

In a second line, the Social Aid and Pleasure Club members parade through the neighborhood in their “suits” — elaborate coordinated outfits. They carry decorated umbrellas and parasols as part of their regalia. The umbrella symbolizes community, protection, and celebration. The jazz funeral tradition connects the umbrella directly to this symbolic function: umbrellas shielded the living from the sun while the community grieved together.

The decorated parasol you make in a workshop is a version of that object — simplified, made in a tourist context, but connected to something real. The best workshops make that connection explicit. They don’t just teach you to glue feathers to an umbrella. They explain what you’re making and why it matters.

The Workshop Experience

The Base Object

Workshops typically provide a basic umbrella or parasol frame — usually a sturdy parasol with a cover fabric that can be decorated, or a wire-frame umbrella intended for decoration rather than weather protection.

Parasol vs. umbrella for decoration:

A parasol is smaller, lightweight, and decorates well with lighter materials: ribbon, fringe, lace, fabric wraps
A full umbrella provides more surface area and handles heavier decoration: feathers, sequins, fabric panels

For group cohesion, ask the workshop operator if everyone gets the same base object or if there’s variation. Consistent base objects let the workshop look like a coordinated group effort when you hold them up for photos and march.

Materials

Standard workshop materials include:

Ribbons in multiple widths and colors
Feathers (typically marabou and ostrich, in clusters and singles)
Fringe trim
Fabric swatches
Sequins and rhinestones (usually pre-strung or in sheets for easier application)
Hot glue or fabric glue (usually managed by the instructor to prevent burns)
Wire for accents

The NOLA aesthetic: Second line umbrella decoration favors abundance. More is more. Colors are bold and complementary. Feathers cluster at the edges and tips. Ribbon drapes from the ribs to create movement when the umbrella is spun or waved. The finished object should be visually loud — designed to be seen from a parade route, not displayed quietly in a shadow box.

The Process

A typical 60-90 minute workshop moves through:

Introduction and cultural context (10-15 minutes) — the instructor explains what second lines are, why umbrellas matter, and how the decoration tradition evolved
Design planning (5-10 minutes) — choose your color scheme and rough plan before touching the materials; the mistakes happen when people dive in randomly
Decoration (40-60 minutes) — the main craft session; instructors circulate to help with technique, hot glue management, and design suggestions
Finishing and presentation (10 minutes) — the group displays their finished parasols, photographs together, and the instructor explains how to use them in a second line

How to Find Workshop Operators

The landscape of NOLA cultural craft workshops is primarily run through:

Arts and cultural organizations: The city has multiple organizations dedicated to second line and Mardi Gras arts, including groups focused on preserving the suit-making, parasol, and fan traditions of the Social Aid and Pleasure Club culture. These organizations sometimes offer workshops as community education programs or group events.

Museums with programming: The Backstreet Cultural Museum in the Tremé has been a center for second line and Mardi Gras Indian culture. Check their current programming — workshops and events vary by season.

Independent craftspeople: Several individual artists who make second line regalia professionally offer private group workshops. These are often the best version of the experience — you’re learning from someone who actually makes these objects for real second lines, not a tourism-focused operator.

Mardi Gras suit makers: Some of the craftspeople who create elaborate Mardi Gras Indian suits and second line “suits” also offer workshops on specific craft elements. These require advance research and booking, but produce the most authentic experience.

Finding them: Search local arts listings, contact the New Orleans Tourism office for referrals, ask your villa host, or contact the Backstreet Cultural Museum directly.

Planning the Second Line Extension

The workshop is the preparation. The second line is the point.

Option A: Join a Real Second Line

NOLA’s Social Aid and Pleasure Club second lines happen every Sunday afternoon from late August through June. The route is announced in advance on local second line websites and social media. Your group — parasols in hand — joins as the second line passes and walks with it.

The protocol: Second lines are public events and second-liners welcome people who show up with energy and respect. Walking with a group of 20 people carrying decorated parasols and moving to the brass band is entirely acceptable and genuinely welcome. Bring money to tip the brass band — it’s customary.

Logistics: Know the route and your entry point before you go. Second lines move — if you’re late, you’re chasing it through the neighborhood. Plan to meet the route at its starting point or an early stop.

Option B: Book a Private Second Line

For groups that want to control the experience completely, you can hire a brass band and organize a permitted private second line route. This is a real production — see our jazz second line booking guide for the full logistics. But the combination of making your own parasols and then marching with them in a private second line you organized is genuinely extraordinary.

The ideal group size: 20-30 people is the sweet spot for a private second line. Enough critical mass to feel like a real parade; small enough to move as a coherent group.

Option C: Villa Second Line

For groups that can’t coordinate timing with a real second line, bring the energy back to the villa. A brass band on the villa’s outdoor space, your group with their finished parasols, a second line that circles the property and ends at the pool. This requires a brass band booking and checking with Castleday or The Syd about outdoor music, but it’s the most controlled version of the experience.

Comparison Table: Second Line Umbrella Experiences

Option	Cost	Logistics Complexity	Cultural Authenticity	Best For
Workshop only	$$	Low	Medium	Groups where the craft is the goal
Workshop + join a real second line	$$	Medium	High	Groups wanting genuine community participation
Workshop + private second line	$$$	High	High	Groups wanting full control and premium experience
Workshop + villa second line	$$$	Medium	Medium	Groups who want the celebration energy without street logistics

Group Coordination Considerations

For groups of 20-30, the workshop has logistical dimensions:

Space: Most workshops require a table per participant for spreading out materials. A group of 25 needs significant table area. Confirm the workshop space can accommodate your group before booking.

Materials quantity: Workshop operators typically plan materials per participant. For large groups, confirm this calculation explicitly — 25 people going through the same shared materials pile will deplete feather stock by the 15th person.

Timing: 60-90 minutes of craft time with 25 people moving at different speeds means some will finish early and some will still be gluing at the cutoff. Build 15-minute buffer time before any post-workshop activity.

Transport: Finished parasols are fragile and awkward to transport. You need either a dedicated vehicle or an understanding that some decoration will not survive the rideshare. Consider bringing a large bag for each person to protect their finished parasol.

The Villa as Workshop Space

Several large-group workshop operators will bring the workshop to your villa rather than requiring you to travel to them. This is the logistics move for groups of 20+.

Clearing a dining room table or setting up folding tables in the outdoor space creates a workshop environment. The operator brings all materials. The group doesn’t have to transport 25 people to a workshop location. And afterward, the second line starts from the villa — either joining a street second line nearby or marching through the neighborhood with the brass band you booked.

When exploring workshop operators, ask specifically: “Do you do private villa workshops for groups of 20-30?” Many do.

Pro Tips

Prioritize operators with genuine cultural knowledge. The best version of this workshop comes from someone who is part of the second line tradition, not someone who learned the craft for tourism purposes. Ask the operator: “Do you make second line regalia for actual clubs or parades?” The answer tells you what you’re getting.
Choose a group color scheme. Twenty-five people making parasols with random color choices looks like a craft fair. Twenty-five people making parasols in gold and purple, or the group’s shared colors, looks like a coordinated group that knows what it’s doing. Agree on a palette before the workshop starts.
Don’t rush the design phase. The temptation is to start gluing immediately. People who plan their design first finish faster and with better results than people who improvise with materials. Give the group 10 minutes to plan before they touch the glue.
Designate the photographer. During a hands-on craft workshop, everyone’s hands are busy. Someone needs to be photographing the process — the in-progress shots, the reveal moments when people finish, the group display at the end. Assign this person before the workshop starts.
The finished parasol tells you how to use it. Feathered edges and ribbon fringe are designed for movement — spin the parasol, wave it, swirl it overhead. That’s the second line motion. Practice this at the workshop so the group knows what it’s doing when they actually march.
Bring extra ribbon. Workshop materials are allocated per participant. Someone will always want more ribbon, more fringe, or more feathers on a section they didn’t realize they’d care about until they got there. Having backup materials is the difference between a finished parasol and one that’s 90% done.
The walk to the second line is already a second line. Twenty people carrying decorated parasols through New Orleans streets will naturally attract attention, music, and participation. This is fine. Embrace it. Let people from the neighborhood join in if they want to. That’s exactly the tradition you’re participating in.

The Right Base for a Second Line Workshop Day

Castleday Retreats — Three private villas in the Bywater, each sleeping up to 30 guests with 12 bedrooms, 17 real beds, and 8 baths. Castleday’s Bywater neighborhood is directly adjacent to the communities where second line culture lives — the Tremé and the Seventh Ward are minutes away. The villa’s outdoor spaces and large dining areas can accommodate an in-villa workshop setup for groups of up to 30. After the workshop, the neighborhood provides immediate access to real second line routes. Castleday holds a 4.98 average across 99 reviews.

The Syd — Multiple villas in the Lower Garden District, each sleeping up to 22 guests, with local-artist-designed rooms and a shared outdoor kitchen, heated pool, hot tub, and sauna. The Syd’s courtyard and outdoor spaces work well for in-villa workshop setups — the outdoor kitchen and courtyard are designed for exactly this kind of group-gathering-around-a-shared-activity energy. Post-workshop, the St. Charles Streetcar is one block away for easy transit to second line neighborhoods.

Book Your Workshop Day

Castleday Retreats — Bywater villas, up to 30 guests, adjacent to second line culture neighborhoods, large outdoor spaces for in-villa workshops
The Syd — Lower Garden District villas, up to 22 guests, courtyard workshop space, one block from St. Charles Streetcar to second line neighborhoods