Did you think the holidays were over? Absolutely not. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It’s Mardi Gras season and it’s time to celebrate! Living in Dallas, we don’t get the opportunity to attend many Mardi Gras parades. We don’t get a break from school or work to celebrate with fun throws and king cake but that doesn’t mean we can’t bring a little bit of the carnival spirit into our homes. When the pink and red hearts from Valentine’s Day are a thing of the past, it’s time to bust out the purple, green, and gold decor for Mardi Gras on February 25, 2020!
My husband is a New Orleans native and I experienced my first Mardi Gras back in 2010. I immediately fell in love with the season, the spirit, and the culture. The tourists and locals celebrate together, eating delicious food and enjoying the fun and magical atmosphere. The thing that surprised me the most during my first Mardi Gras experience was how the parades are actually quite family-friendly! It was a joke among friends that the kids always got the best throws from the floats because they are so cute.
We have yet to take our own kiddos down to celebrate Mardi Gras and until we do I want to bring as much of that joie de vivre (joy of living) into our own home during this celebratory time. Even without a packed local parade schedule, there are still plenty of ways to create a festive and fun atmosphere with your family at home. What could possibly be more magical for a kid than finding the baby in the king cake, wearing all the fancy beads, and pretending to ride on a parade float?
Here are a few ways to celebrate Mardi Gras with your own family this season:
1. Order an authentic King Cake from New Orleans.
2. If you can’t order a King Cake – make one!
This recipe was shared by a friend and looks delicious!
3. Make your own Mardi Gras masks, crowns, tambourines, and beads.
Create your own little family Krewe and craft masks and tambourines! Don’t forget the throws – create your own necklaces with DIY duct tape beads.
4. Mardi Gras Mambo Dance Party!
Have a dance party to this curated playlist by my friend and New Orleanian Kat!
5. Make your own mini parade float.
The quintessential New Orleans kid craft – making your own mini parade float out of a shoe box. (Or better yet, decorate your wagon or stroller and parade around your neighborhood!)
Happy Mardi Gras, y’all! Laissez les bon temps rouler!
