I was fortunate enough to not only go to Universal Studios Mardi Gras party last year, but I also broadcasted from their radio booth, AND I got to ride a Mardi Gras float tossing beads to anyone and everyone! That’s when I first saw the ‘Bead Tree’. When you’re crossing the moving walkways between the parking garages and City Walk there is a tree just off one side that had become a kind of annual tradition. The tradition was for people to toss beads all over the tree and cover it in strings of cheap plastic.

The tree is also right next to a main thoroughfare in and out of the park, as you can see in the pics. This is probably why the tree is now blocked from people leaving Mardi Gras, to prevent throwing your beads on it. Reportedly there was an incident with beads and a passing car. There aren’t many other details given, but now there is a barrier and security guard blocking your way to get close enough to throw your beads on the tree.

I’m not totally against this since that many beads can’t be good for the tree, and while Universal surely cleans them up, some will slip through the cracks and possibly get washed out to sea.

But no matter how you feel about it, the ‘Bead Tree’, for now, is no longer a tradition at Universal’s Mardi Gras.

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