Mardi Gras is approaching, friends! In just a few short days, the celebrations will kick off in Orlando and around the country. If you’re local to the Orlando area and aren’t sure where to celebrate Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday, you’re in luck! We’re listing the local Mardi Gras events you should attend this year. Check them out!
And the main event, Universal Orlando's Mardi Gras is underway as of Friday, February 2, 2024.
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Mardi Gras Events in Orlando
Tibby's Mardi Gras Celebration
January 13-February 13
Get your boogie shoes ready because Tibby’s New Orleans Kitchen is turning back the clock to the funkadelic 70s for a Mardi Gras celebration.
From Saturday, January 13 through Tuesday, February 13 (Fat Tuesday), Tibby’s will be celebrating Mardi Gras in the grooviest of ways.
Their chefs are serving up a righteous spread of Cajun and Creole classics along with a special, limited time Mardi Gras menu:
- Classic King Cake ($23) – Perfected in conjunction with local bakery, Olde Hearth Bread Company. Daily limited supply.
- Cajun Kettle Chicken Wings ($12.95) – Returning to the menu for the Mardis Gras season, these crispy, juicy wings are tossed in Tibby’s house Louisiana Gold hot sauce.
- Southern Chicken Chili with Jalapeño Corn Bread (14.95) – Robust Chicken Chili, served with homemade Jalapeno Cornbread.
- Shrimp & Gritcakes Monica Style ($19.95) – A new take on a classic New Orleans recipe. Blackened Shrimp, Andouille Sausage, served over Boudin Grit Cakes. Topped with a rich cream sauce.
To complement the Mardi Gras menu, they're also offering new, handcrafted cocktails inspired by the vibrant spirit of Mardis Gras:
- Disco Twist ($12) – Vanilla vodka, amaretto, pineapple, strawberry, and mango served up in a 20oz. Disco Ball souvenir cup.
- Hurricane Bucket ($20) – Tibby’s signature cocktail. Served in a 32oz. bucket to share with family and friends. (Of the legal drinking age, of course.)
- Joccos Jester Ale ($7) – A custom cream ale brewed specifically for Tibby’s Mardi Gras Celebration by Hidden Springs Ale Works. A fantastic combination of King Cake flavors and a golden ale.
But it’s not just about the eats and drinks! Tibby’s will become the ultimate dance floor where you can shake your groove thing. Every Sunday enjoy a live band from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and brunch with bottomless mimosas and beer from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This month-long Mardis Gras celebration culminates with special festivities for the entire family to get down and boogie in all three Tibby’s New Orleans Kitchen locations:
- Friday, February 9 – Nola Night features a DJ spinning New Orleans Hits mixed with modern tunes; and a $10 Hurricane drink special. (Time: 6-11 p.m. Winter Park and 6-10 p.m. Altamonte Springs locations
- Saturday, February 10 from 1-4 p.m. – Family Gras features live family entertainment, balloon artist, and drink specials (for parents only). A perfect daytime chance to get the entire family in the Mardi Gras spirit!
- Sunday, February 12 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Dueling Pianos Brunch with bottomless specials. Request your favorite songs and sing-along during this high-energy Brunch event.
- Tuesday, February 13 from 5-10 p.m. – Fat Tuesday turns into an outdoor dance party with a stilt walker, live music, a DJ and $5 Hurricanes all day. (Winter Park: Musical Seduction and DJ Chino; Altamonte Springs: Tru Phonic and DJ Nonstop)
Friday, March 1, from 7 – 10pm
Forget bedtime stories – Pointe Orlando is throwing a Pardi Gras bash that’ll rewrite the definition of “playtime for adults!” They’re talkin’ beads flyin’ faster than confetti on Bourbon Street, live music hotter than a Tabasco habanero, a DJ droppin’ beats to make your inner flamingo strut its stuff, and a photo booth that’ll capture the craziness.
This Pardi for grown-ups is FREE! That’s right, no cover charge, no stuffy dress code (unless you wanna channel your inner Mardi Gras royalty, we won’t judge), just pure fun for anyone who knows how to let loose.
Universal Orlando Mardi Gras
February 3-April 7
Get ready for the biggest party at Universal Studios! The 2024 Universal Orlando Mardi Gras celebration features epic weekend concerts, full parade, and delicious food. This annual festival at Universal takes place Feb. 3 through April 7, 2024 and is perfect for date night.
It's the beads and fun of Mardi Gras and beyond! Enjoy Universal Mardi Gras, an awesome party inspired by Carnaval celebrations from around the world. Catch the spectacular parade, beads by the handful, live concerts on select nights, and amazing international cuisine along with sizzling New Orleans favorites
Mardi Gras at SeaWorld Orlando
February 8-18
Every year, SeaWorld Orlando throws a jazzy Fat Tuesday celebration full of fun flavors and colorful beads. Let the good times roll with limited-time food, cocktails, entertainment, and live music – Mardi Gras style as part of their Seven Seas Food Festival.
After spending the morning riding coasters and hanging out with amazing marine life, geaux to Wild Artic Plaza for an epic dance afternoon dance party. Next, take your Mardi Gras celebration to new heights with a parade featuring stilt walkers and zydeco tunes. And because SeaWorld’s Mardi Gras party coincides with the fan-favorite Seven Seas Food Festival, tasty treats abound.
Mardi Gras Sip & Shop Extravaganza
Thursday, February 8, 5:30-8:30pm
Oviedo Mall
Indulge in a night of festive flair and fabulous finds as you embark on a culinary adventure with our Food and Wine Stroll around the mall. Sip on delectable wines and savor mouthwatering bites while exploring the heart of Oviedo's shopping scene. Dress in your most festive Mardi Gras attire – masks, beads, and all things glittery are highly encouraged! Our vibrant celebration is sure to lift your spirits and add a splash of color to your midweek routine.
FREE
Mardi Gras at À La Cart Orlando
February 9-13
À La Cart Orlando
The annual Mardi Gras celebration returns to À La Cart February 9th until Fat Tuesday, February 13th. You can expect cajun dishes from each of their five food vendors, Zydeco music on the speakers, and a full lineup of craft beer from Louisiana.
Mardi Gras Music Festival
Friday, February 9, 2024, 6-9pm
Lake Concord Park
Everyone is invited to the 2024 Mardi Gras Music Festival and Casselberry Food Truck event at Lake Concord Park. This festive lively street party will feature lots of spicy Louisiana Cajun, zydeco and New Orleans R&B sounds to the stage. Between the music sets, Junkanoo dancers with lots of high energy will entertain the crowd with their drums, whistles, and colorful costumes.
FREE
2nd Annual Fat Tuesday Street Party
Tuesday, February 13, 2024, 5-11pm
Promenade at Sunset Walk
Prepare to celebrate Mardi Gras like never before. They’ve got everything you need for your Fat Tuesday experience. Put on your beads and masks, gather your friends, and come on down to the Promenade at Sunset Walk for a night of nonstop fun, and “Let the Good Times Roll!” / “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”
FREE
Mardi Gras Silent Disco
Friday, February 16, 2024, 8:30pm
New York Beer Project
The drinks will be flowing and the dancing shoes will be ON as you grab your switchable headset and dance the night away at NYBP's first Silent Disco of 2024!
Wear your mask or other favorite Mardi Gras ensemble (they've got you covered with beads!) as you sing and dance to your favorite beats with your friends on our Floor 2 dance floor. If you've been to a Silent Disco at the Beer Project, you know they are truly an event like no other. If you haven't…what are you waiting for?!
10th Annual Sanford Mardi Gras Street Party
Saturday, February 17, 2024, 4-9pm
Historic Downtown Sanford
Grab your beads and come enjoy the 10th Annual Sanford Mardi Gras Street Party in the ‘Famous L' between Celery City Craft and West End Trading Co. in beautiful Historic Downtown Sanford! The parade starts on 6th Street and Sanford Avenue! Gathering starts at 330pm and then at 4pm, sashay your way down Sanford Avenue down to West End Trading Co. with musicians, golf carts, dancers, artists, and the community! There will be food trucks, live music and tons of craft beer & cocktails to be had!
FREE
Voodoo Mardi Gras Party
Saturday, February 17, 2024, 7pm
Cocktails & Screams
Celebrating Mardi Gras, Cocktails & Screams style! They will transport you to Bourbon St complete with a live jazz band and other specialty entertainment performances from Eric Lopez & Ivy Les Vixens!
New Orleans Themed Spots in Orlando
Disney's Port Orleans Resort, French Quarter & Riverside
Revel in the romance and pageantry of New Orleans’s historic French Quarter without ever leaving Orlando at Disney's Port Orleans Resort.
Discover cobblestone streets, gas lamps, wrought-iron balconies, and fragrant magnolia blossoms, along with colorful Mardi Gras characters and the sounds of jazz. Then stroll along the lushly landscaped Sassagoula River to Disney's Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, where the bayou beckons, as do Cajun and Creole specialties.
Dining New Orleans Style
Disney's Port Orleans Resort offers eight New Orleans-style dining options to help you celebrate Mardi Gras in style. No visit to Port Orleans is complete without a stop at Scat Cat's Club – Lounge! Tap your toes to some swingin’ jazz and enjoy a full-service bar featuring Southern-inspired specialty cocktails, craft beer, and appetizers.
Don't forget to stop at Scat Cat's Club – Café just outside the lounge to enjoy specialty and Mickey-shaped beignets all year long! Favorites include the Baton Rouge Beignets, jazzed up with your choice of Bailey’s, Kahlua, or RumChata.
Make your way over to River Roost at Riverside for some southern-style libations and light snacks. This full bar and lounge with its hanging chandeliers and wooden furniture is a romantic spot where you can make some memories with your partner over some delicious drinks and bites. If you’re lucky, you may even have an opportunity to see the piano player, Yehaa Bob, crank out some tunes while you’re spending time together.
One of the best features that make Disney's Port Orleans a romantic hotel for couples is the boat transportation to Disney Springs. We love the Happy Hour deals at Disney Springs as well as the romantic restaurants at Disney Springs, and taking a lovely boat ride to and from makes it even better.
This resort offers boat transportation to Disney Springs. The ride to the shopping hub may take 20-25 minutes depending on whether or not a stop is made to pick up or drop off guests at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter resort along the way.
Horse Drawn Carriage Rides
The charm of the New Orleans French Quarter and the beauty of riverside manors are yours to enjoy on a horse drawn carriage ride through Disney’s Port Orleans Resort. This 25-minute ride will transport you in a way only Disney could provide.
Reservations are recommended. The cost is $65 for up to 4 people.
Pat O' Brien's Universal Orlando CityWalk
We love Universal Orlando CityWalk for date night. Between the most amazing karaoke bar, the super special Great Movie Escape, and all the great restaurants at Universal Orlando, it's always a party!
Best of all the Pat O'Brien's venue is almost an exact replica of the Pat O'Brien's in New Orleans itself!
Nearby Mardi Gras events worth the drive:
Busch Gardens Mardi Gras
January 13-March 3 (select dates)
Head on over to Busch Gardens Tampa for a Mardi Gras event like no other in the bay! Inspired by the vibrant colors and delectable flavors of New Orleans’ biggest celebration, Mardi Gras at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will transport guests to a festive realm of bayou-inspired fanfare.
Enjoy Cajun inspired culinary delights, a lively parade with new festive characters, multicolored beads, an authentic brass band playing live, and spirited entertainment offerings for the entire family. Mardi Gras is included with daily park admission, Annual Pass, or Fun Cards.
Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Parade
Tuesday, February 13, 2024, 7-8pm
Flagler Avenue – New Smyrna Beach
Enjoy Mardi Gras-themed music and food specials from host locations along Flagler Avenue before and after the parade! The parade will travel from South Atlantic Avenue beginning at Columbus and turn west on Flagler Avenue and end on Pine Street. Patrons can watch the parade along the route and cheer for beads! Thousands of beads will be thrown at Mardi Gras parade by participating businesses who showcase their Mardi Gras Themed floats!
