8 Mardi Gras Destinations Across the U.S Outdoors

​​8 Great Places to Celebrate Mardi Gras in the U S ​

Where to find Fat Tuesday fun beyond New Orleans and beyond Fat Tuesday

VIAVAL / Alamy Stock Photo Universal Studios ​Expect extra-jubilant pre-Lent celebrations this year, since in 2021 , most were canceled due to . Major international carnivals in Rio de Janeiro, Venice and Trinidad are out of bounds for cautious travelers, but beads will be tossed and good times will roll again in New Orleans and less widely known U.S. Mardi Gras locales. Check schedule changes and before you go.​ ​ of

New Orleans

(Jan. 6–March 1) ​​ Carnival season starts in January and culminates with days of parades in late February and on , French for “Fat Tuesday.” Partiers on Bourbon Street sip rum-and-fruit-juice-based Hurricane cocktails in plastic go-cups. Dozens of social clubs called krewes strut their stuff down St. Charles Avenue and elsewhere, tossing trinkets to screaming crowds. The Zulu krewe gives out painted coconuts. Other coveted souvenirs include glittery hand-painted high-heeled shoes tossed by the all-female Krewe of Muses. Watch out for the Rolling Elvis: Elvis impersonators on motorcycles. Parade routes have been shortened this year due to COVID-related staffing issues.​ ​ of

Mobile Alabama

(Feb. 11–March 1) ​​ Billed as the original U.S. Mardi Gras bash, was started by French Catholic pioneers in 1703. The port city’s streets come alive with more than 40 parades starting weeks before the big day of indulgence. A signature feature: the tossing of chocolate-topped marshmallow Moon Pies. Other throws from floats representing Mobile’s “mystic societies” might include peanuts, packets of ramen noodles and stuffed animals. The Sunday before Mardi Gras, a visit to a cemetery and “people’s parade” honors Joe Cain, who brought back the city’s Mardi Gras season after the Civil War by starting an impromptu parade dressed as a Native American chief. In 2020, area events drew about a million spectators. Tourists can learn more about Mobile’s Mardi Gras history and view costumes, crowns and floats from years past at the wheelchair -accessible .​​ ​ of

St Louis

(Jan. 6–March 1)​​ The whimsical , begun in 1979 in the city’s historic Soulard neighborhood by merry residents with roots in France, is a standout on the St Louis event calendar. Appropriately, soulard means “drunkard” in French. The event includes a Cajun cook-off, a costumed 5k run and a bustling Budweiser Light party tent (beer maker Anheuser-Busch is headquartered here). A star attraction is the Purina parade on Feb. 20, a Guinness world record holder for biggest costumed pet extravaganza. That’s followed by the Wiener Dog Derby, in which dachshunds compete in categories from Cocktail Wieners (dogs up to age 4) to Ball Park Franks (8 years and older). The big event is the Feb. 26 parade, presided over this year by St Louis Cardinals center fielder Harrison Bader, selected Mardi Gras king. His duties include donning a purple cape and pitching beads from a float.​ ​ of

San Diego

(Feb. 25 and 26 and March 1 ) is basically a raucous bar hop. Revelers can buy tickets online, starting at $25. Dress to impress in carnival colors of green, purple and gold, and swarm 20 clubs and watering holes along Fifth Avenue in the historic Gaslamp Quarter. Admission comes with drink tickets. There’s no longer a parade, but that won’t prevent bead throwing and a sea of elaborate costumes. For the first time, a family-friendly Mardi Gras is being celebrated at SeaWorld San Diego, featuring music, Cajun specialties including jambalaya and po’boy sandwiches, face painting and the chance to join an exuberant parade. Don’t miss the Gator by the Bay Festival, San Diego’s “Mardi Gras in May” celebration, which will be held May 5 –8 this year and will include entertainers, mini parades, Cajun cooking demos and a New Orleans-themed food court. of

Orlando Florida

(Feb. 5–April 24)​​ Fun lovers of all ages flock to the Universal Studios Florida theme park for popular held over the course of a few months. Enjoy New Orleans-style treats including decadent frosted king cakes and concerts featuring big-name acts, plus a parade where you’ll get the chance to ride on a float and sling beads to the crowd. This year’s theme is “Planet Mardi Gras,” including six floats depicting rockets, aliens and more. As always, watch for the nearly 50-foot-long Big Gator. Music headliners include Styx, Seal, Lee Brice and Jason Derulo. A Bloody Mary booth dispenses mild and spicy versions. Admission is included with theme park tickets, though food and beverages must be purchased separately.​​​ of

Detroit

(March 20) ​​ The organizer of Marche du Nain Rouge (“parade of the red dwarf” in French) has called it “Halloween meets Mardi Gras, with a splash of Burning Man.” It’s based on the legend of a demon that brought bad luck to Detroit’s founder, French explorer Antoine Laumet de la Mothe Cadillac. Cadillac chased him away with a cane, and now costumed residents gather to be taunted by a parading scarlet imp. They symbolically drive him out of the city, to ward off doom and demonstrate Detroit’s resilience and springtime renewal. Tentatively scheduled for March 20 (check the for updates), festivities include the procession, which anyone can join, and live entertainment. Bars near the parade route do a brisk business, as alcohol is banned on city streets.​ ​ of

​Galveston Texas

(Feb. 18–March 1)​​ The state’s largest spectacle runs over two weekends, starting on Feb. 18 and ending on March 1. There are 22 parades, including zany events that are open to anyone who wants to participat e. You could, for example, decorate a brolly and march in the Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade as spectators cheer from decorated balconies in the city’s historic entertainment district. Be warned: No matter your intentions, you may get pulled into join ing in the merriment. The seaside resort’s bacchanal also includes a 5k with runners wearing jester hats, a decorated golf cart cavalcade and a pet parade dubbed the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux. Other events include Fiesta Gras, recognizing the city’s Latino heritage. The jollity ends with a grand Fat Tuesday parade showcasing the city’s krewes, dance teams and marching bands.​​ ​ of

San Francisco

(May 28 and 29)​​ Can’t take a winter Mardi Gras getaway? , celebrated in the city’s Mission District, doesn’t get underway till the end of May. For its 44th year, the festival’s theme is Colores de Amor (“colors of love” in Spanish), celebrating diversity and the Muxe community — made up of people who were born male but identify as other genders — in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. The free festival, with flamboyantly costumed participants, live music and a Grand Parade, also honors residents’ Latin American, African and Caribbean heritage.

Join today and save 25% off the standard annual rate. Get instant access to discounts, programs, services, and the information you need to benefit every area of your life. ​​​Kitty Bean Yancey, a former USA Today deputy managing editor, is a travel writer and the winner of multiple Lowell Thomas Awards from the Society of American Travel Writers.​​ ​

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