Life
7 Steps To a Mardi Gras Party That'll (Almost) Feel Like You're Actually There
It's too late to snag a budget-friendly ticket to the big celebration itself, but that doesn’t mean you can’t partake in the fun. Mardi Gras is all about overindulging and we’ve gathered the essentials to throwing your own Fat Tuesday get-together, from rich party food to a DIY mask station. So send out the evites, STAT! After all, there's no better reason for partying and overeating on a weeknight (as if you even needed an excuse).
Cake Fit for a King
When it comes to overindulging, food is the guest of honor at a Fat Tuesday bash. Try this quintessential Mardi Gras recipe for king cake from Branny Boils Over. The cake’s roundness stands for unity of faith, while the colors stand for justice, faith, and power.
Cook up a crowd-size pot of gumbo or jambalaya for a bigger group, or check out our favorite decadent picks for the big day. And, as we’re all aware, Fat Tuesday’s food wouldn’t be complete without its fruity hurricane counterpart.
Dazzling Decor
Take the beads off and put them to better use. Cover food tables and your mask decorating station with the Mardi Gras staples, as well as a few doubloons — the traditional aluminum coins with the insignia of the the various float krewes. (Today, some even feature the images of famous musicians and other entertainers.)
Set up a makeshift photobooth in an unused corner. Drape the area in colored fabrics and boas, leave tons of beads, hats, and cheap masks as props. Switch out a nearby lightbulb for a colored one — purple or green, of course — to add to the ambiance. Leave a couple disposable cameras nearby and watch as instant party memories are made.
Jazz and Brass
While New Orleans is known for a multitude of musical genres, Mardi Gras is all about honoring the region’s traditional jazz and brass groups, from the marching bands that grace the Carnival parades to pop-up concerts on the streets. NPR has a great modern twist on the much-loved oldies to inspire your playlist. Better yet, create a public Spotify playlist and invite guests to add their Fat Tuesday songs to the compilation.
DIY Masks
During NOLA’s Carnival Season, masquerade balls are a dime a dozen. Since the best over-the-top masks have already been snatched off the shelves, theme your get-together around a DIY masquerade station. Buy a collection of blank masks in different styles (your local hobby store will have them), leave out glitter, ribbons, feathers, paint, and get to it. Your masterpieces may not be dry in time for this year’s celebrations, but your guests will be raring to go for next year’s bash.
Party Games
From “Musical Carnival Hats” — yes, played just like the childhood favorite, musical chairs — to the slightly more elaborate “Pass the Key,” Fat Tuesday is a day for games and laughs. To play the latter, create two teams of eight-10 people. Have two large paper keys attached to 70-foot strings on hand and pass one to the first person of each line. Each team must pass the key down their line with each member stringing the key through a piece of clothing. Whichever team gets the key threaded through a piece of each member’s clothing, wins.
Keep the excitement going with the ever-popular feather game. It’s easy: Toss a feather into the air and keep it from hitting the ground using only your breath. Both are played best after a few drinks.
Dress Code
Mardi Gras may have come a long way in terms of dress — today you’re more likely to catch scantily clad partiers and pop culture characters — but the celebration’s affinity for costumes hasn’t strayed one bit. Feel free to let your crazy flag fly on Mardi Gras. Aside from the expected masks, capuchon hats are one of the oldest Fat Tuesday traditions. If you don’t have any of the more common Mardi Gras get-ups, you’ll fit right in with outrageous color combinations and elaborate feather hair pieces — or as an oompa loompa.
Take-Homes
Don’t hand out the obvious Mardi Gras beads to your guests as they file out, full and probably slightly (or substantially) drunk. Surprise guests with mask-shaped cookies iced in royal purples and golden yellows, like these beauties from Sweetopia. Grab a few friends pre-party and get to baking. Cut your workload in half with a mask-shaped cookie cutter (like this one from Cake Girls). Top your cookies with flashy sprinkles and edible beads for added hostess points. House your baked goods in layers of purple tissue paper tied off with gold and green ribbon.
Mardi Gras Mask Cookie Cutter, $2.95, Cake Girls
