Celebrating Mardi Gras In Style

Down on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Mardi Gras is a shiny blur of beads and live music. We wanted to tap into some of the fun of Mardi Gras and share how you can party like they do on Bourbon Street. Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, and the Mardi Gras season is a prelude to Lent, the 40 days of penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. It is believed that the first American Mardi Gras took place on March 3, 1699, when the French explorers Iberville and Bienville landed in what is now Louisiana, just south of New Orleans. One of best things about Mardi Gras is that this celebration is all about having fun. So let’s plan the perfect Mardi Gras-themed party filled with vibrant colors, great music, food and of course drinks… lots of drinks!

Decorate to Impress

A Mardi Gras favorite is the beautiful colorful masks. Mardi Gras and masks have been paired up from the very beginning. Masks worn during Mardi Gras allowed wearers to escape society and class constraints. Make sure you have enough masks to go around and add that element of mystery and intrigue to give your guests a sense of what Bourbon Street is like during this holiday. To truly capture the Mardi Gras feel, focus on decorations that are rich in green, purple and gold, as these colors are true to the celebration and have a special meaning. Green symbolizes faith, purple symbolizes justice and gold symbolizes power. Keep these colors in mind and you’ll be right on track. Try transforming a wall with gold or glittery colors and add some masks for the perfect backdrop. Not only does it add to your décor but it will even give your guests a place to take great Mardi Gras-themed pictures and selfies. You can even get creative and play a game of guess who is wearing the mask. Another way to add  to your décor is by adding glittery accents to your table by including multi-colored beads or Publix cupcakes for the perfect centerpiece.

Melodies for Mardi Gras

Don’t forget to make sure your friends are having fun – queue up the music! Mardi Gras music is a mix of what you would typically hear in New Orleans. Traditionally that means Dixieland, brass bands, zydeco, Cajun music, jazz and even some blues in any celebrations. You can find great music by searching for a Mardi Gras playlist. Having it play in the background will keep guests upbeat and in the spirit.

Party Throws

Make sure to have plenty of noise makers, toys, coozies or plastic shot glasses, and don’t forget the beads – tons of beads! Beads are a staple when it comes to a Mardi Gras-themed party. Have plenty on hand to give (or throw) to your guests.

Food and Cocktails

Cocktails and food are two key parts to any party. Some Mardi Gras inspired cocktails to try with your guests are the berry bourbon smash and the sweet Pirate’s Punch. Impress your guests’ taste buds with Sweet Heat Wings, which adds the best combination of sweet and spicy to any palate. A perfect entrée is New Orleans Shrimp With Cajun Beans and Rice. This dish will make your guests feel as though they are celebrating on Bourbon Street. Have a sweet finish to your party by including the tradition of King Cake. King Cake is a ring of braided baked dough, in which a small plastic baby is inserted. These are in honor of Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, which historically marks the arrival of the three wise men/kings in Bethlehem to deliver gifts to the baby Jesus. A really fun way to keep the tradition going year after year is by having the person who receives the slice with the baby inside host the next Mardi Gras party or bring the king cake to the next party.

This has been a long-standing celebration that is known to make even the quietest person come to  life! Tell us how you like to celebrate  this holiday and share your Mardi Gras inspired party with us!