11 Fun Ideas for Celebrating Mardi Gras

Now that we have celebrated Valentine’s Day, it’s time to look toward our next celebratory event ~ Mardi Gras. I went to Pinterest and discovered 11 fun ideas for celebrating Mardi Gras.

This year Mardi Gras is just around the corner next Tuesday, February 25th. If you didn’t know, Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday and it’s the day before Lent begins. Celebrated for decades in New Orleans, it’s celebrated with parades, costumes, balls, dancing, and great food. And let’s be honest, a whole lot of imbibing.

You may not be near New Orleans, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the festivities at home. I meant to stop at 10, but I couldn’t resist including all of these 11 fun ideas for celebrating Mardi Gras. Use them as inspiration and have a party of your own.

11 Fun Ideas for Celebrating Mardi Gras

I’ve been to Mardi Gras once. During college, I was in an organization called Angel Flight and along with the AFROTC guys, we took buses to New Orleans to march in one of the Mardi Gras parades.

To say the partying and carousing was an eye~opener is an understatement. The colorful costumes, floats, marching bands with trumpets and trombones playing jazz ~ it was all a new experience for these kids from Texas.

Side story: In those days the drinking age in Texas was 21 and it was 18 in Louisiana. I was 19 at the time. When our buses crossed over into Louisiana, we stopped for snacks and drinks. (Honestly, we stopped for beer!) Out of about 120 college students, I was the only one to get carded. Talk about being embarrassed! I was kidded and called babyface for the rest of the trip.

Although I’ve been to New Orleans more times than I can count since then, I’ve never been back to celebrate Mardi Gras. (Update: Sweet Shark and I did go to New Orleans the weekend after Mardi Gras a few years ago; does that count?) But I have been to a Mardi Gras party a time or twowew. It’s always a fun excuse reason to decorate for a party, socialize with friends, and enjoy great food and a cocktail.

I looked for decorations and party food that would be fun to make and create. In case you were wondering, the traditional colors of Mardi Gras (and the New Orleans’ Saints) are green, purple and gold ~ which means you don’t have to dream up a color scheme.

WELCOME GUESTS WITH A MARDI GRAS WREATH

Beads are a traditional Mardi Gras decoration and they are thrown from the floats to the onlookers.

Wreaths on your front door are a wonderful way to immediately let your company know that a party is happening. This beaded colorful and festive wreath from Simply Angie looks so easy to make. You could take the same process and use it for other holidays.

DIY MARDI GRAS MASKS

Wearing masks to balls is as traditional at Mardi Gras as beads and parades. Want to make some for your own party? Jen of 100 Directions shows you how and provides downloadable files if you have a Cricut and a template if you don’t. This would be a great project for kids to make.

MARDI GRAS CALMING JAR

This DIY project, I have to admit, was not anything on my radar and I would never have found it on a Google search. This is a really cool idea if you have kids and are trying to find ways to occupy them. I really, really wish I had known about calming jars when my son was little. ADD challenges were a constant. Today he is the calmest, most responsible young man you could ask for. But I digress.

Stephanie of MomDot shows you how to make this kid~focused project, but I know a few grown~ups who would play with it at a party.

MARDI GRAS DIY VOTICE CANDLES

This is a DIY project I honestly didn’t know you could do, but I can see how this would be awesome for every holiday party. Best Friends for Frosting shared this idea from The Confetti Bar. Pin this one ~ it’s so simple, why didn’t I think of doing this to add light and ambiance to any party? Hint: glitter is involved!

20 CENTERPIECES FOR A MARDI GRAS PARTY

Lori from Design Enthusiasm is known for her wonderful tablescapes and home decor. She helped a friend decorate 20 tables for a Mardi Gras party. Using the traditional themes of jazz instruments, masks, feathers and more, they created an amazing array of stunning centerpieces for this party.

CLASSIC MARDI GRAS TABLESCAPE

A Louisiana native, my sweet friend Kim of Salvaged Living created this tablescape for her own home Mardi Gras celebration. This is one you can easily replicate. I love how she made her own Mardi Gras plates.

MARDI GRAS TABLESCAPE INSPIRED BY PURPLE PLATES

Inspiration for tablescapes can come from anywhere. Ciao Newport Beach used these beautiful vintage purple transferware plates as the focal point of her soft and lovely Mardi Gras tablescape. Amethyst glass stemware adds to the vintage feel that is highlighted by gold vases, gold silverware, and green and gold beads.

KING CAKE DIP

Another tradition of Mardi Gras is the King Cake, a sweet confection that hides a baby charm. The baby charm symbolizes luck and prosperity to whoever finds it in his/her slice of cake. That person is also responsible for purchasing next year’s cake, or for throwing the next Mardi Gras party. In some traditions, the finder of the baby is designated “king” or “queen” for the evening.

Looking for something a bit special, I found this King Cake Dip from Homemade Hooplah. I love the idea of keeping the same food tradition but making something different. From cake to dip, how creative is that? Love the pretty sprinkled pretzels for dipping. This is one of the prettiest dishes you’ll ever see. Wouldn’t this impress your guests?

KING CAKE OREO TRUFFLES

Another variation of the King Cake, these sweet little Oreo Truffles from Take Two Tapas would be snatched up at any party. I love mini~desserts and these would be pretty on any table.

MARDI GRAS COCKTAIL TO CELEBRATE

You can’t celebrate Mardi Gras without a yummy cocktail. This beverage is decorated to the nines for the celebration. Just Plum Crazy certainly knows to create a beverage that adds to the decorations and the menu.

FIZZY FEMININE COCKTAIL

Girls, girls, girls, we have to have a celebratory drink just for us. Nothing says celebrate like Champagne. Greta of Style on Main created this bubbly cocktail with Chambord (a raspberry liqueur) and Crown Royal Apple topped with sparkling wine. A drink fit for a queen of Mardi Gras.

Wamt more Mardi Gras party ideas? Take a deep dive with these 21 Amazing Party Ideas ~ Decor, Dishes and Drinks.

You now have ideas for decorations, centerpieces, tablescapes, food, and drinks for your Mardi Gras party. It should be a smashing success. Pretty please invite me over. Please visit all these party givers and Pin their wonderful creations. Tell them I sent you.

Since I’ve gathered all these fun ideas for you for celebrating Mardi Gras, be sure to PIN them.

As they say in New Orleans during Mardi Gras: Laissez les bon temps rouler  ~”Lay-say le bon tom roo-lay” ~ Let the good times roll.