There’s more to Mardi Gras in the United States than celebrations in New Orleans – and you don’t have to look very hard to find them.
Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday,” and it officially occurs on the day before Ash Wednesday. The annual event is closely related to Carnival, and similarly, many places celebrate for a week or longer. The time of year is beloved for its lively, spirited fun and the cultural elements that resonate with the local communities celebrating it.
Mardi Gras’ arrival joyfully transitions many Christians into their Lenten season, a 40-day period of fasting and intentional devotion that concludes on Easter Sunday. History notes that Fat Tuesday may also have pagan origins, as a time when some looked toward the coming spring and celebrated fertility.
Regardless of how it began, the truth remains that Mardi Gras festivities would be nothing without the local communities that fuel them. Irrespective of the destination, the event is known for its merriment, krewes, live music, throws, and parades.
What Are The Best Places To Celebrate Mardi Gras In The U.S.?
While there are Mardi Gras celebrations across the U.S., the best places to experience lively, meaningful versions of the event are in the South. The region is special because it’s home to the communities that first celebrated Mardi Gras in the U.S., as well as to their deeply rooted cultural and religious practices.
Though New Orleans Mardi Gras will always reign supreme for many lovers of the celebration, other cities’ festivities are more than worth their weight in beads. It’s another way to experience the joy of Mardi Gras, with smaller crowds, fewer tourists, and a cultural shake-up.
Here are some of the best alternatives to New Orleans for Mardi Gras in the U.S.
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is where Mardi Gras in the U.S. first started, with the city’s festivities traced back to 1703. With that in mind, travelers should put Mobile at the top of the Mardi Gras bucket list if they’re interested in soaking up the city’s over 300-year history of celebrating the annual event. A perfect place to learn is the Mobile Carnival Museum, which features photos from over a century ago and design insights into local costumes and floats.
In Mobile, Mardi Gras festivities span several weeks. You’ll definitely want to be in town for the “People’s Parade,” a fun-filled tradition through Port City’s streets that takes place on the Sunday before Fat Tuesday. During Mobile Mardi Gras, expect to eat sweet King Cakes and, at parades, to throw Moon Pies, beads, and doubloons. The city’s revelry is largely and proudly organized by its unique and secretive “mystic societies,” which are parade/carnival groups. If you’re lucky, you’ll be invited (or snag a ticket) to an organization’s exclusive masquerade balls, also known as a “bal masqués.” Mobilians place great emphasis on recognizing royalty, having coronations, and crowning Mardi Gras kings and queens.
Make an effort to hear the sounds of the Excelsior Band, a Black marching jazz band with a 140-year history that’s integral to the city’s Mardi Gras charm.
Memphis, Tennessee
Mardi Gras in Memphis is a three-day celebration happening February 6–8 this year. It’s the perfect time for a getaway filled with liveliness, the city’s musical history, and lots of memory-making.
While fun, Mardi Gras in Memphis also has an intimate charm, thanks to its focus on uplifting local heroes and building community. From the Mardi Parade, expect floats, battling big bands, dance troupes, Memphis’ car clubs, and celebrity performances. Then, at the city’s Block Party, support local vendors, enjoy food tastings and art installations, and delve into the culture.
The weather could be on the chilly side, but if you’re up for it, definitely visit Fat Tuesday Memphis for a good time. Expect a frozen cocktail, hookah, wings, a fry basket, beignets, and a great DJ.
Galveston, Texas
About an hour from Houston, Galveston is located on Galveston Island, a 27-mile-long barrier island off Texas’ southeast coast. Its first recorded Mardi Gras was in 1867. Celebrations were held annually until after 1941, after which private celebrations were held until 1985, according to Galveston’s official website.
Now, “Mardi Gras! Galveston” is the country’s third-largest, and it’s an annual two-week affair. Expect all the pomp and circumstance of Mardi Gras celebrations combined with Galveston’s beachy ease. Attendees are promised their fill of colorful parades, beads, live bands, and balcony parties.
Before attending, note that visitors ages 12 and older must pay a fee to enter Galveston’s Mardi Gras Entertainment District in its Historic Downtown area, where many of the parades and festivities will take place. Ticket prices vary, but the earlier you purchase, the more you’ll save.
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a particularly special Mardi Gras destination for families. Plan to visit Universal Orlando Resort, which has been throwing its weeks-long Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnival celebration for over 30 years. Expect days (and nights) of food sampling, live music, bead throwing, and parades. Sign up to ride a float if you want to be even more a part of the merry-making.
Uniquely, at Universal Orlando, you’ll get to try versions of traditional Mardi Gras and Carnival foods from places all over the world. Of course, you’ll also get to enjoy the theme park’s rides and attractions. Each person’s park admission includes entry to the festival.
Orlando also offers other Mardi Gras festivities. Options include visiting the DeLand Mardi Gras Dog Parade & Festival or Mardi Gras at SeaWorld Orlando. You can also find themed events at Live! at the Pointe Orlando and local bars.
St. Louis, Missouri
Known as Soulard Mardi Gras, St. Louis’ annual event is a six-week-long celebration that begins in early January. Naturally, the event’s heartbeat is in the historically French Soulard district of the city, one of St. Louis’ oldest neighborhoods.
This is a perfect Mardi Gras to attend if you want to enjoy the festivities with your four-legged friend. The city annually hosts the Purina Pet Parade, wherein pets wear their Mardi Gras best and participate in a costume contest. Winners are included in the “Court of Mystical Krewe of Barkus.” Separately, Soulard Mardi Gras organizers throw an equally cute, competitive, and funny Wiener Dog Derby, where tiny-legged dachshunds race to the finish line.
Soulard Mardi Gras blends the revelry, education, and culinary elements of the annual celebration in an enjoyable way. Other special highlights include the Bud Light Grand Parade, the Cajun Cook-Off, the Taste of Soulard, and the Mayor’s Mardi Gras Ball. Those who drink alcohol will likely enjoy the district’s designated bar crawls themed around history or game night.
