Tiana's Joyful Celebration: Media Kit

At Eudora’s Chic Boutique you'll help design bead patterns for the parade queen’s cape or create your own, and you’ll help Charlotte in adding sparkle to Mardi Gras masks. Grab a paintbrush to add color to the nearly finished mural and create your own float costume designs to make each look unforgettable. You may even catch a glimpse at Princess Tiana's beautiful green dress! 

Join Prince Naveen and the Bayou Community Band, experimenting with rhythm through interactive percussion alongside Rara and Zydeco loops. Then decorate the beautiful music-themed float with fireflies, waterlilies, and more and even crawl inside. Keep an eye out for Lari the armadillo and his found-object instruments, discovering hidden surprises along the way.

The stunning royal-themed float covered in flora, fauna, and a giant tiara comes to life as you and your family learn traditional second line dances through step-by-step tutorials. Make pretend sno-balls with Mama Odie, choosing flavors (or potions!) that light up in vibrant colors as you celebrate the parade in motion. 

Join Princess Tiana in celebrating the Mardi Gras season parade and a job well done as the floats all light up in a magical way for the big finale! Sing and dance along with her as Tiana sings "Special Spice." Like Princess Tiana, you are a very special spice that contributes to your community! We can accomplish so much more together than we ever could alone.

Join Tiana in preparing her daddy’s special gumbo recipe with sausage, chicken, and shrimp while learning about its New Orleans history. Louis hosts you as you explore the food-themed float with a giant gumbo pot and oversized veggies that you can help decorate, create your own unique hot sauce by selecting ingredients like habaneros or garlic, "serve" up gumbo with french bread and rice, and tend a children’s garden with vegetables and herbs for a full culinary adventure.

Available at various times throughout the day!

Magic Cookin’: Families follow the steps of the process to make the gumbo and will take home a recipe card to experience the magic of making food together at home.

Making a Parade Throw: Families will discover the relevance of a throw to Mardi Gras before working together to make a unique Tiana inspired throw.

Tiana’s Puppet Show Adventure: Families will meet a storyteller who uses the innovations of their time to bring Tiana’s story to life. With a projector, silhouette puppets, and a little help from families, the storyteller will share a retelling of Tiana’s adventure – from Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to today, preparing to lead a krewe in a Mardi Gras parade! 

After wrapping at The Children’s Museum in 2027, Tiana’s Joyful Celebration will take its magic on the road and travel to 12 other museums nationwide, including (in no particular order): Discovery Cube in Los Angeles, California, Imagine Children's Museum in Everette, Washington, The Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus, Ohio, The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, The Fort Worth Museum of Science and Industry in Fort Worth, Texas, The Children’s Museum of Atlanta, The Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa, Florida, and others.

Yes, this exhibit is bilingual. Labels are available in both English and Spanish, and we have English and Spanish voice actors. A few labels will have braille, and a few videos will have American Sign Language. The target audience is families with children ages 6-10. There is special consideration for children 2-5, and older children. The whole family will enjoy! 

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (TCM) completed extensive research prior to building Tiana’s Joyful Celebration, to ensure accuracy to Tiana’s story and New Orleans. In 2024, TCM traveled to Walt Disney Imagineering campus for research about Tiana, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and brainstorm exhibit messaging. In 2025, TCM traveled to New Orleans to conduct further, more in-depth research into the city’s history, including a visit to Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, a trip down the bayou, Mardi Gras history, participation in cultural and historical tours, trip through the French Quarter, and more. This research was crucial in creating a realistic, authentic, and inclusive exhibit for Tiana’s Joyful Celebration. 

Disney's Princess Tiana was originally inspired by Louisiana culinary legend Leah Chase, whose journey from humble beginnings to becoming the “Queen of Creole Cuisine” mirrors Tiana’s own story of perseverance and passion. Chase’s family, particularly her daughter Stella Chase Reese, worked closely with Walt Disney Imagineering to help ensure that the character’s world authentically honors Chase’s legacy and New Orleans culture. 

Walt Disney Imagineering is the creative force that imagines, designs, and brings to life all Disney theme parks, resorts, attractions, cruise ships and more. Founded in 1952 as WED Enterprises to design and build Disneyland, Walt Disney Imagineering is where imagination and creativity combine with cutting-edge technology to create unforgettable experiences. These experiences are brought to life by a diverse array of talented Imagineers from around the globe who work collaboratively to enhance and expand on Disney’s legacy of immersive storytelling.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is ranked as the nation's best children's museum by USA Today 10Best. It is the world's largest children's museum, with 485,000+ square feet of public space, including 5 floors of 14+ indoor exhibits and 7.5 acres of outdoor play in the Riley Children's Health Sports Legends Experience. In 2025, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis celebrated 100 years of igniting joy, wonder and curiosity by creating powerful learning experiences for children and adults. For more information about The Children's Museum, visit www.childrensmuseum.org and follow us on social media @childrensmuseum. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is proud to partner with Riley Children’s Health, Old National Bank, Ice Miller LLP, and The Heritage Group.