Mardi Gras Party Ideas: Food, Drinks & Games for All Ages

Short answer: A great Mardi Gras party combines purple, green, and gold decor with classic New Orleans food, festive drinks, and activities for all ages. In 2026, Fat Tuesday falls on February 17, which lands on Presidents’ Day weekend. Host your party that Saturday or Sunday and let guests celebrate all weekend long.

• Serve king cake, gumbo, and build-your-own po’boys
• Set up a hurricane cocktail bar with mocktail options
• Create a mask-making station for kids and adults
• Host a mini second-line parade through the house
• Capture every moment with a shared photo album

When to Host Your 2026 Mardi Gras Party

Fat Tuesday 2026 is February 17, which falls during Presidents’ Day weekend. This gives you options:

• Saturday, February 14 or Sunday, February 15: Host your main party when guests can stay late (yes, the 14th is Valentine’s Day, so you can call it a “Mardi Gras date night” and save yourself a dinner reservation)
• Tuesday, February 17: Keep it simple with a king cake dessert gathering

The long weekend means guests can travel, recover, and truly embrace the “laissez les bons temps rouler” spirit.

Mardi Gras Food Ideas

The Essentials

Start with a pot of gumbo or jambalaya. These one-pot dishes feed a crowd and let guests serve themselves. Add red beans and rice for an authentic touch.

Build-Your-Own Po’Boy Bar

Set out sliced French bread, fried shrimp or catfish, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and remoulade. Let guests assemble their own sandwiches. It keeps the kitchen simple and doubles as a photo-worthy spread.

King Cake (Non-Negotiable)

No Mardi Gras party is complete without king cake. This ring-shaped, cinnamon-swirled pastry comes topped with purple, green, and gold sugar. Hide a small plastic baby inside. Whoever finds it is crowned king or queen of the party. For young kids, swap the baby for a visible gold coin under a slice to avoid choking hazards.

Modern twists: Cream cheese filled, praline, or Nutella. Some bakeries offer mini king cakes so everyone gets their own.

Mardi Gras Drink Ideas

Cocktails

• Hurricane: Rum, passion fruit, citrus. The signature Mardi Gras drink.
• Sazerac: Rye or cognac with bitters and an absinthe rinse. For whiskey lovers.
• French 75: Gin, lemon, topped with champagne. Add a purple sugar rim.

Mocktails for Kids and Non-Drinkers

• Virgin Hurricane: Passion fruit juice, orange juice, lime, and grenadine
• Parade Punch: Citrus punch with floating orange “doubloons”
• King Cake Shake: Cinnamon-vanilla milkshake with purple, green, and gold sprinkles

Set up both bars side by side. Use clear glassware and colorful garnishes for photos everyone will want to share.

Entertainment Ideas for All Ages

Mask-Making Station

Set out blank masks, feathers, sequins, glue, and glitter. Kids and adults can create their own Mardi Gras masks. Display finished masks on a wall for an instant gallery and photo backdrop.

Mini Second-Line Parade

Hand out parasols, beads, and noisemakers. Put on a brass band playlist and parade through the house or backyard. Kids love leading the line. Adults love watching them. Everyone loves the photos.

Bead Treasure Hunt

Hide plastic babies, coins, or special beads around the house. Kids hunt for treasures that can be traded for small prizes. It keeps little ones entertained while adults mingle.

Crown a King and Queen

After the king cake cutting, crown whoever finds the baby with a Mardi Gras crown. Snap a formal portrait at your photo backdrop. This moment is always a highlight.

Mardi Gras Bingo

Create bingo cards with icons like beads, masks, king cake, trumpets, and fleur-de-lis. Play during dinner or while music plays in the background.

Decor Tips

Keep it simple with these high-impact touches:

• Entryway: Bead curtain and a “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler” sign
• Photo backdrop: Purple, green, and gold balloon garland with hanging masks
• Table: Mardi Gras colors in tablecloths, confetti, and candles

Focus your decorating energy on one or two photo-worthy spots rather than covering every surface.

How Gather Shot Fits In

Print a Gather Shot QR code at your photo backdrop, drink bar, and king cake table. Guests scan to upload photos instantly. No app downloads, no chasing text threads. Every mask creation, parade dance, and king cake reveal lands in one shared gallery.

Display the gallery on a TV during the party so guests can see photos appear in real time. After the party, download everything at once and share with anyone who missed it.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Mardi Gras 2026? Fat Tuesday falls on February 17, 2026. It lands on Presidents’ Day weekend, making the Saturday or Sunday before ideal for hosting.

What food is traditional for Mardi Gras? Gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, po’boys, and king cake are the classics.

What is the baby in king cake? A small plastic baby hidden in the cake. The finder is crowned king or queen. For young kids, use a visible coin instead.

What are kid-friendly Mardi Gras activities? Mask-making, bead treasure hunts, second-line parades, and king cake decorating keep kids entertained.

Do I need a costume? Costumes are optional. Encourage guests to wear purple, green, and gold, or provide masks at the door.

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