By best accounts, only one "float" in the early Mardi Gras Parades in the US (specifically - Mobile, Alabama). It was a huge bull's head pushed along on wheels by 16 men.
If you are referring to the Mardi Gras krewe, they have had as many as 36 floats in their parade.
"Throw me something, mister" is the typical solicitation chant for asking for throws from parade floats
Bulls heads on wheels
Floats, beads, naked people, drunk people, coconuts, hurricaines.
The doubloons are a souvenir of Mardi Gras. People on floats toss them to the crowd.
The Mardi Gras Parade at Coney Island - 1908 was released on: USA: September 1908
The Incas of South and Central America did not celebrate Mardi Gras. There is a group called "The Order of Incas" that parade during Mardi Gras season.
There is no official Mardi Gras theme. But each parade may have a theme chosen by its organizers.
Beads
The "Den"
Feb. 16
Usually about 45 minutes - an hour