_Agata_Gładykowska_Alamy.jpg?#)
Be the ‘life of the Mardi’ at these 14 best places to celebrate Mardi Gras outside of New Orleans
When most people think of Mardi Gras, they immediately think of New Orleans. It makes sense that the two are so closely linked, given that New Orleans throws the country’s largest and most popular Mardi Gras celebration. But the Big Easy is far from the only place to celebrate Mardi Gras — nor is it …
When most people think of Mardi Gras, they immediately think of New Orleans. It makes sense that the two are so closely linked, given that New Orleans throws the country’s largest and most popular Mardi Gras celebration.
But the Big Easy is far from the only place to celebrate Mardi Gras — nor is it the original U.S. city to mark the occasion (you’ll find that city on this list). Here are 14 other cities where you can jump-start the chaste Lenten season with a bit of Fat Tuesday debauchery (or a bit of clean, family-friendly fun).
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is a fitting destination to top this list because it is the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the U.S., with celebrations dating back to 1703. This year, Mobile will play host to more than 40 parades throughout Carnival season, beginning in February and rolling right on through to Fat Tuesday on March 4.
When you aren’t watching parades and catching beads, you can learn more about the city’s Mardi Gras history and traditions at the Mobile Carnival Museum, sample iconic dishes on a Mardi Gras-themed food tour and visit Mardi Gras Park, which commemorates the city’s status as the original host of Mardi Gras.
Galveston, Texas
Like many cities that go big for Mardi Gras, Galveston doesn’t relegate its celebration to just one day. The fun starts in late February and runs straight through Fat Tuesday; if you visit at any time during this period, you can attend concerts, parades and other events held within the Galveston Entertainment District.
There is a fee to enter the area where most of the entertainment takes place, but general admission tickets are reasonable at $15. If you want a more exclusive vantage point, you can pay an additional fee for balcony access.
Most daytime parades are great for families, so much so that the downtown district hosts a “Family Gras” celebration on the Sunday before Mardi Gras (March 2) with kid-friendly parades all afternoon long.
St. Louis
You don’t have to head south to celebrate Mardi Gras. St. Louis’ historic Soulard (French for “drunkard”) neighborhood is home to a lively celebration that kicks off this year Feb. 22 with a Run for Your Beads 5K run.
On the following day, dog lovers can attend the Purina Pet Parade, which is the current Guinness World Record holder for the largest costumed pet parade in the world, and the Tito’s Vodka Wiener Dog Derby, the nation’s longest-running wiener dog race.
The city’s premier Mardi Gras parade, the Bud Light Grand Parade, takes place the Saturday before Mardi Gras. The parade is free, but if you want an open bar, private restrooms and a place to escape the crowds, you can purchase a ticket to the Bud Light Party Tent.
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola has been celebrating Mardi Gras since 1874, so it knows a thing or two about getting a crowd excited. More than 250 floats roll through downtown during the Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade on the Saturday before Mardi Gras, tossing out thousands and thousands of beads — as well as handfuls of candy and coveted MoonPies.
To bookend the Grand Parade, you can attend the Krewe of Lafitte Illuminated Parade on Friday, followed by the Krewe of Wrecks Parade on Pensacola Beach on Sunday. Stick around through March 4 for the French Quarter Fat Tuesday festival with a Low Country boil, food trucks, music and the chance to see several of the krewes from the city’s parades.
Biloxi, Mississippi
When to visit Biloxi for Mardi Gras may depend on your travel party. If you’re celebrating with young children, you’ll want to visit Feb. 8 for the Children’s Mardi Gras Walking Parade and celebration. But if your friends are furry in nature, you won’t want to miss the Krewe of Barkloxi Pet Parade on Feb. 23.
The larger parades ramp up right to the big days of Mardi Gras, including the popular Krewe of Neptune Night Parade on March 1 and the Gulf Coast Carnival Association Mardi Gras Parade on March 4.
Orlando
Universal Studios Florida is the place to be for Mardi Gras in Central Florida. Now in its 30th year, Universal’s Mardi Gras celebration feels authentic because it is. The theme park collaborates with New Orleans-based Kern Studios — the country’s premier parade float studio — to design and build its floats.
This year, the theme park will celebrate Mardi Gras for two months, from Feb. 1 to March 30.
During that time, you can enjoy a nightly Mardi Gras parade, New Orleans jazz bands strolling the park, and concerts on most Friday and Saturday nights. All of these are included in the cost of your ticket. You can also try global cuisines from specialty food booths stationed around the park, shop for souvenirs in the themed Mardi Gras Tribute Store, visit the Cursed Coconut Club at Universal CityWalk for Mardi Gras-themed cocktails, and more.
Fayetteville, Arkansas
In Fayetteville, Mardi Gras starts on the Saturday before the big day, when the city’s family-friendly Fat Saturday Parade of Fools rolls through downtown.
When Fat Tuesday officially comes around a few days later, head back downtown for the first annual Fat Tuesday Pub & Grub Crawl. While you eat, drink and be merry at this Mardi Gras street party, you can dance to music from a brass band, meet krewe members from the previous weekend’s parade and load up on more beads.
Tampa
If you prefer your beads and beignets with a side of roller coaster rides, head to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay this Carnival season. This year, the fun started Jan. 11 and carries on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through March 2.
Guests can sample New Orleans-style food and cocktails, watch a nightly Mardi Gras parade, stop by the “Bead Balcony” to catch a few coveted strands of beads, and enjoy energetic jazz tunes. If it weren’t for those roller coasters flying by, you might forget you aren’t actually in the Big Easy.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
We can’t let New Orleans have all the Louisiana love. Baton Rouge hosts nine fun-filled parades in the days leading up to Mardi Gras, beginning Feb. 15 and running through March 3. A few notable parades include the pet-loving CAAWS Mystic Krewe of Mutts Mardi Gras Parade, where you can register to walk your dog in the parade or enter them into a costume contest; the all-female Krewe of Artemis Mardi Gras Parade, where, in addition to beads, the krewe members throw stuffed animals, footballs and more; and the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade, where attendees forgo the traditional colors of purple, green and gold for colorful pink costumes.
Don’t leave town without indulging in a king cake. In addition to traditional king cakes, look for king cake breakfast pastries, savory sausage king cakes, king cake doughnuts and more. Find them all in the city’s official king cake directory.
Washington, DC
On the Saturday before Mardi Gras, our nation’s capital will let the good times roll with Mardi Gras at the Wharf. The fun begins with an afternoon parade featuring stilt walkers, marching bands, musicians, jugglers and, of course, fanciful floats.
Following the parade, stick around for live music on stages around the Wharf and a fireworks send-off after the sun sets. Mardi Gras at the Wharf is free to attend, and specialty food and drinks will be available from area restaurants.
Covington, Kentucky
Just outside Cincinnati in Covington’s Mainstrasse Village, you’ll find a larger-than-life Mainstrasse Mardi Gras Parade … and we aren’t only referring to the 60 huge floats traveling down Main Street. Covington’s Mardi Gras Parade is known for its “big heads” — the massive papier-mache heads that many of the participants wear. This year’s big head theme is “superheroes,” so you’re sure to see your favorite caped crusaders with a Mardi Gras twist.
This year’s parade takes place March 1. While in the area, lean into the spirit and bar-hop up and down Main Street. Start (and/or end) at Up Over, the bar that organizes the city’s parade, and stop by other walkable watering holes like Mainstrasse Village Pub, Zola and Cock & Bull Public House.
St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana
St. Tammany Parish is only about an hour from New Orleans’ famed French Quarter, but this charming waterfront community doesn’t let that stop it from throwing a Mardi Gras celebration that rivals the Big Easy. This year, St. Tammany Parish kicked off Carnival season Jan. 6 — and the party won’t stop until the weekend after Mardi Gras.
Louisiana’s Northshore prides itself on being a family-friendly spot to celebrate Mardi Gras. Among the more than two dozen parades, be sure to catch the Krewe of Bilge floating parade Feb. 15, the Krewe of Kidz Wagon Parade on March 4 and the Mardi Paws Mardi Gras Parade on March 9.
Panama City Beach, Florida
Somewhere between the raucous revelry of New Orleans and the laid-back vibes of a beach vacation you’ll find the Panama City Beach Mardi Gras and Music Festival. The festival takes place Feb. 14-15 this year, featuring a mix of parades and live concerts.
This event is especially kid-friendly, with a Fun Zone for kids and a kids parade to kick off the weekend. You can also participate in a Mardi Gras 5K fun run and watch a fireworks spectacular to close out the event.
Lafourche Parish, Louisiana
If you would happily hand over all of your Mardi Gras beads in exchange for a sugary-sweet king cake, you won’t want to miss the Louisiana King Cake Festival in Lafourche Parish on Feb. 15. For $10 (or $5 for kids ages 3-11), you can sample and vote on the best king cakes in the city. Each ticket includes five tasting tickets and one voting token.
The city’s festivities continue through Fat Tuesday with several parades, including a kids parade Feb. 23 and a full day of parades and fun on Fat Tuesday.
Bottom line
Whether you’ve already done Mardi Gras in New Orleans and are looking to do something different, or you prefer to “laissez les bons temps rouler” closer to home, these 14 cities go all-out during the Carnival season.
Related reading:
