Celebrate Mardi Gras at Home: Fun Ideas for Families
Whether you live far away from areas that celebrate Mardi Gras or you just want to have a low-key experience, there are several ways you can celebrate Mardi Gras at home.
I grew up in the suburbs of New Orleans, so basically in the thick of Mardi Gras Central here in the United States.
King cake was a given at school on Fridays with whoever got the baby inside bringing one for the next Friday.
Parades were scheduled around the area practically every weekend during the season. Along with enjoying music from the bands and dance groups, you could do your best to catch a ton of beads, doubloons, plastic cups, and possibly other items.
What is Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras season is the time between Epiphany (Twelfth Night) and Ash Wednesday. It ends on Mardi Gras Day or “Fat Tuesday.” Sometimes it is called Shrove Tuesday.
For Catholics, the season of Lent means giving up many things. Lent can be a time for self-denial and quiet contemplation.
Catholics used to give up certain foods completely. Those final days before Lent became a time for celebration and using up those food items.
In the late 1800s, three colors (purple, gold, and green) became associated with the Mardi Gras season.
Along with their vibrance, the colors carry particular meanings for Mardi Gras. Purple symbolizes justice, green stands for faith, and gold represents power.
How do people typically celebrate it?
As I mentioned, there were key components of the season when I was a kid.
They all fit into the ‘buckets’ of Food (e.g. king cake), Fellowship (spending time with family and friends), and Fun (parades and parties.)
From Mobile to New Orleans and further west to the towns of Lafayette and Lake Charles, Lousiana, you will find people attending parades run by krewes.
These krewes often have a ball with fancy dress and then at the sponsored parade dress up (many times with masks on!) to ride on elaborate floats while tossing items like beads, doubloons, and other paraphernalia.
Each year the krewe has a King and Queen that typically have their own special float near the front of the parade.
Fun Ways to Celebrate Mardi Gras at Home
This is by no means an exhaustive list of things to do at home.
Rather, let this list be your inspiration to customize for a great time.
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Decorate Your Home
In 2021, many people around the New Orleans area decided to decorate the outside of their homes as if it was a float. Decorating for the holiday was already common, but some people took it up a notch.
The shift was in part thanks to parades being canceled and people choosing to remain home while the pandemic raged on.
A common theme I have seen in our area is the use of beads and wreaths featuring the trio of colors. Some homes have swags and masks added for an additional pop.
Decorate a Tree
You can opt to do like some areas around the Big Easy and hang beads in trees outside.
Or, you can use the classic evergreen tree (artificial) from the Christmas season with a shift to decorations that fit the holiday.
Ornament balls in purple, gold, and green along with small masks can create a great look.
Decorate a Mask
Whether you are making a mask to wear or to be part of your decorations, this is a fun activity for kids and adults alike.
Whether you use paint, glitter, fabric, feathers or other materials, designing one-of-a-kind Mardi Gras masks is a fun way to show off your unique style and personality.
If painting isn’t your thing, consider collaging fabrics and ribbons onto a mask for a distinct look.
Masks are also the perfect canvas for showing off some of your favorite colors – find coordinating colors to mix and match!
With a bit of creativity and imagination, Mardi Gras masks make fantastic accessories that will get you noticed this Mardi Gras season!
I found two different sites with free templates for making your own mask.
Sasquatch Willow has several options to use.
The Kitchen Table Classroom does as well.
You can print onto card stock and decorate.
Or, print onto paper and then use that as a template to cut out foam for a sturdier mask.
Make a Handprint Craft
This is a great option for anyone with a preschool or early elementary-aged child at home. It combines beads and the common phrase used by paradegoers, “Throw me something, mister!”
Hop over to Northshore Parent for the details on the Mardi Gras Handprint Craft.
Read Books with the Family
There are a few different books that work especially well with younger kids. Although, I know a few adults who enjoy them, too.
Gaston® Goes to Mardi Gras by James Rice
Mardi Gras from the Bullfrog Books: Festivals series by Rebecca Pettiford
12 Days of Mardi Gras by Melissa Thibault
Mimi’s First Mardi Gras by Alice Couvillon
The Little Purple Mardi Gras Bead by Julie Rowley
The Night Before Mardi Gras by Gail Perkins Nettles
Delphine Denise and the Mardi Gras Prize by Brittany Mazique
Mardi Gras in New Orleans by Madison Webb
For teens and adults, there are a few interesting reads on the season, and all they involve southern Louisiana.
New Orleans Carnival Krewes: The History, Spirit & Secrets of Mardi Gras by Rosary O’Neill
Cajun Mardi Gras: A History of Chasing Chickens and Making Gumbo by Dixie Poché
Mardi Gras Indians (Louisiana True) by Nikesha Williams
Carnival in Louisiana: Celebrating Mardi Gras from the French Quarter to the Red River by Brian J. Costello
THE HISTORY AND SECRETS OF MARDI GRAS NEW ORLEANS CARNAVAL KREWES GUIDE by Melro James
Mardi Gras Beads by Doug MacCash
Plan a Mardi Gras Themed Party
Mardi Gras is a great occasion to gather with friends and family for a fun, unforgettable night. This could be low-key with just your family or be more involved with an actual guest list.
Decorating for Mardi Gras should be easy – find some colorful beads to hang from the ceiling.
Gather up favors (e.g. beads) for your guests. I have seen options for bundles you can order that have a few masks plus things to deck the halls.
Play festive music like “Iko Iko” or “When The Saints Go Marching In”.
Liven things up by having guests dress up in Mardi Gras costumes and hand out Mardi Gras masks at the door. Don’t forget to serve traditional Mardi Gras desserts like king cakes, beignets, and pralines.
If you want to add something special to your party, you could also prepare New Orleans cocktail favorites such as Hurricanes or Sazerac.
If you will have kids in attendance, consider having a mini parade. We did this with a Cub Scout group with each den taking turns walking and tossing beads to the other boys and family members.
Bake a King Cake
This is a must for the season.
A King Cake is a ring-shaped pastry served at Mardi Gras gatherings (or just enjoyed for a snack during the day!)
It usually contains a trifecta of dough, cinnamon, and sugar – all coming together to create a tasty treat.
You can find mixes to order or you can try your hand at making one from scratch.
The King Cake recipe we’ve shared on the site came from long-time SE Louisiana friends. They sent the recipe for me to bake king cakes when living far away.
An alternative is to use your favorite cinnamon roll dough and form it into a giant ring for the cake.
My family all enjoy king cake with cinnamon sugar on the inside. A few of the boys also like the cream cheese mixture with fruit like blueberries or strawberries.
I plan to test out a few recipes for gluten-free options.
If you are baking from scratch and do not already have one, order a plastic baby to slip inside.
For those who want one to arrive on your doorstep ready to eat, there are bakeries like Caluda’s and Randazzos that take orders via Amazon.
Cook Up Cajun and Creole Dishes
Along with your king cake, you’ll want to have a few dishes that are common in southern Louisiana.
Some of our family favorites include:
Red Beans and Rice
Jambalaya
Shrimp Etoufee
Play Music That Gets Your Mardi Gras Spirit Reved Up
While there are a few songs specifically for the season, I tend to pop on playlists that feature New Orleans Jazz or some catchy Zydeco music from Cajun Country.
You can find a few collections of Mardi Gras music on CD. Or pick up a collection of Zydeco music.
Here are a few playlists on YouTube that you can stream through speakers. One of them goes for 10 hours!
Have you gone to Mardi Gras celebrations?
Have you ever celebrated Mardi Gras in your home?