[?] Subscribe To This Site

Mardi Gras Party Ideas

Usher in Fat Tuesday... Host a Mardi Gras Party

Let's start planning your Mardi Gras party now. The Mardi Gras season begins on the twelfth day after Christmas and ends on the day before Ash Wednesday. Here in the United States, Mardi Gras was introduced by the French. It was first celebrated along the southern delta area of the Mississippi River, thus the strong connection between New Orleans and Mardi Gras. In French it actually means “Fat Tuesday”. The official celebration is always the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of Christian Lent. It falls between February 2 and March 9th. In 2012, Mardi Gras will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 21st.

So you’ve got some history.. here's how to plan your celebration. A Mardi Gras party is fun for all ages. We used to host one for all the kids but it is just as much fun for adults. These party ideas can also be adapted for a masquerade party.

Invites: Plan your party for the weekend before Fat Tuesday. You can make your own on the computer, download free printables from the internet or purchase pre-made ones at any party store. One year we bought decorated Mardi Gras eye masks and attached a tag with the party information. Everyone wore them to the party.

mardi gras decorations

Decorations: The Mardi Gras colors are purple, gold and green so decorate with them. Crepe paper, balloons, plus great banners and other items are all available at party stores,. Add colorful tablecloths and paper goods and you will create a festive atmosphere.

easy mardi gras recipes

Appetizers: Spicy crab or shrimp dip with crackers or chips. Here’s a a tasty recipe that is simple but has some Cajun kick!

Dinner: A big pot of Chicken Gumbo. It is easy to make for large groups and really adds some authenticity to your party. Here’s a quick and easy Chicken and Sausage Gumbo recipe. Serve with rice and some cornbread and you are set. I love the cornbread at Boston Market, tastes as good as homemade!

Dessert: Tradition calls for the "King Cake". Making one was such a lengthy process, that I used to just buy one. However, one year I came across an easy King Cake recipe. I will tell you it's quick and delicious. You can also bake your favorite cake or some sugar cookie and decorate with purple, green and gold sprinkles. If you are adding the Baby King toy or a gold coin into your dessert, warn your guests so no one loses a tooth when they bite in. Legend says whoever gets the Baby King or coin in their piece of the cake will have good luck for the year!

Mardi Gras Party Games

Mardi Gras Beads – You need to have tons of Mardi Gras beads. Bedeck your guests as the enter and hang them all over your house. Encourage the guests to adorn themselves further as they find them! Before dinner, have everyone count and the guest with the most beads wins! See prize ideas below. Here is a great deal on Mardi Gras beads, gold coin candies and a door decoration at Amazon. >

Gold Doubloons – You can get the chocolate ones covered with gold foil or buy bags of plastic ones at the party store. While you are hanging the extra Mardi Gras beads.. hide the coins and provide your guests with a Mardi Gras themed gift bag. Tell them to throw their coins in the bag as they find them. I had hundreds of them all over the place. After dinner, the person who has found the most gets a prize. It could be something good like a gift card, something creative like a t-shirt you’ve made yourself or a big light up Mardi Gras necklace! Here's how to make a personalized t-shirt!

Set up a Golden Coin Toss Table. Take 10 (12 -14 oz.) clear plastic cups, paint 3 purple, 2 green, 1 gold and leave 4 clear. Then arrange them on table in a big triangle setup,alternating the colors. Four cups form the base, then 3 cups, then 2 cups, then 1 is the tip of the triangle.Tape them to your table, add some marbles, pebbles or sand into each cup so they won’t tip over. Then paint 5 ping pong balls gold. Each guest gets 5 chances to toss. Land your gold ball in the cups and get the points as follows:1 point if it lands in a plain cup; 2 points if it lands in a purple cup; 3 points if it lands in a green cup; 5 points if it lands in the gold cup! Decorate some poster board and tape it to the wall to serve as a scoresheet. You sign your name and list your points at the end of your round. Best score wins a prize. You could also play co-ed teams as a means of determining the Mardi Gras King and Queen.

fun mardi gras party games

Crown your Mardi Gras King and Queen: You can also select the coronation candidates by choosing the male and female winner who found the most coins, has the most beads, came in the best costume. Purchase a crown and tiara and some special beads.. and hold a coronation!

mardi gras ideas

The King gets a kiss

Another great party game.. Play SECRET CELEBRITY

Give your SUPER BOWL party a Mardi Gras spin!

There are more family celebration ideas like this Mardi Gras Party here
Jump Back To Celebration Ideas Online Home Page

© Copyright 2008-2011 CelebrationIdeasOnline.com
This site has been copyrighted. All rights reserved.
No content can be reproduced for profit.
Click here for our PRIVACY POLICY

Check out all our new ideas for planning a Bridal or Baby Shower

"Green" Valentine Craft Ideas for kids
Easy, eco-friendly crafts

St Patricks Day FUN
Let the kids find Shamus the leprachaun and his pot of gold! If you love Elf on The Shelf at Christmas, you'll LOVE Shamus

The perfect place to shop for all your celebration gift needs!

Need party supplies, decorations, crafts for kids? Check out my favorite place for all of these! Lots for Valentines Day, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's day and Easter celebrations too!

MARDI GRAS is February 21st Host a Fun Mardi Gras party

Looking for a specific idea?
Search our site here

Custom Search

Join us
on Google+

St Patrick's Day is coming soon.
Celebrate your Inner Irish with this fun St. Patrick's Day party

EASTER is April 8th! Plan a special Easter celebration

Graduations On The Horizon? Ideas for planning a fun graduation celebration.

Send a HUG from Home. How to make great College Care Packages The most prized package on campus! Get busy now, they are back on campus and missing home already

Need Celebration suggestions? Need ideas for weddings, graduations, or any celebration? Ask our community here for Celebration Suggestions.

Boost spirit for your high school teams with these fun Athletic Booster Club Ideas

Learn how to make a diaper cake.

$10 off 1st order + $5 off every case of diapers - Code:

Need help planning a Wedding Rehearsal Dinner
? Here are some great rehearsal dinner ideas

A Big Anniversary Coming Up Soon? See how our kids planned a 25th Anniversary Party for us!.

Learn how to decorate hats! These easy,inexpensive and adorable straw hats make for a fun bridal shower, rainbow tea, garden party or tea party favor.

Learn how to make Cake Balls! Here's an easy dessert recipe perfect for a bridal shower, graduation party or any celebration
.