Ordinary Mardi Gras beads are colorful and fun, but flashing beads for Mardi Gras are absolutely extraordinary. Sometimes called "hot beads," flashing beads are visible from three city blocks away. If you want a set of beads to help you stand out from the crowd, these are the ones.

Flashing beads cost more than other Mardi Gras beads, but we think they're worth it. These aren't "throwing" beads--they're beads worth keeping. You'll want to wear them to your local Mardi Gras parade year after year. Simple watch batteries power up our flashing beads for about 30 hours. Depending on how much "party stamina" you've got, you may only need to replace the battery once every few years. Each blinking bead is lit from within by a light-emitting diode, or LED.

We sell a variety of LED beads, for Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day and beyond. Check out our full line of Hot Beads, including bright, blinking beer mugs, rubber duckies, parrots and dice. If you're a traditionalist, you'll want to pick up Hot Beads in the traditional colors of Mardi Gras: purple, green and gold. Hot Beads are available in red, green and white--a perfect choice for Mexican holidays like Cinco de Mayo, or Italian festivities like the Feast of San Gennaro.

If you're planning to be out during the daytime, try our super-bright DayFlash Beads. Enjoy a 20 percent savings by ordering 12 or more beads, and a 25 percent savings when ordering 72 or more beads. Buy flashing beads in your school colors in bulk, then re-sell them at the big game to encourage school spirit while raising funds.