Fat Tuesday is March 4, marking the traditional end of Carnival and the celebration of Mardi Gras. If a trip to New Orleans isn’t in the cards this year, that doesn’t mean you have to skip the celebration altogether. Here are seven Mardi Gras parties and festivals to attend around the region. Samedi Gras 2025. March 1, 11 a.m. Cajun Jambalaya at Grace by Nia. ROBIN WINCHELL 2023. At Grace by Nia in Boston, indulge in a dish full of blackened jumbo shrimp, beef sausage, roasted chicken, crawfish, long grain rice Whether you’re looking for a huge party to celebrate the end of Carnival on Fat Tuesday, you just want to sip on a hurricane, or you’d rather eat king cake at home, there are plenty of specials on Tuesday, March 4, and leading up to the infamous celebration. Before Mardi Gras: St. Vincent Wine kicks off celebrations with a Lundi Gras bash Where: 760 Maine Ave., SW Mardi Gras at The Wharf in 2023. Photograph by Patrick Revord. Southwest DC’s Wharf will bring back its annual Mardi Gras parade and day-long party, complete with stilt walkers, a brass band performance on the pier, and fireworks right after sundown. Head to Shipgarten to celebrate the Lunar New Year and Mardi Gras, all in the same place. There will be samples of over 40 beers and ciders and games like Jenga and a snowball toss. After the festival is over, the event shifts gears to celebrate Mardi Gras at 8 p.m. Shipgarten: 7581 Colshire Dr., McLean, free . Mardi Gras at The Wharf This venue offers celebratory events almost every day of the week, like karaoke Thursdays and smooth jazz Sunday brunches. So, whether you need a place to ring in Mardi Gras or simply want to get in the spirit, a day or night spent dining at NoVA’s own little piece of New Orleans might just do the trick. 5442 Southpoint Plaza Wy., Fredericksburg Anybody who lives in New Orleans (or has come for a visit at the top of the year) knows Mardi Gras isn’t just one day of parades and parties. Festivities kick off in January, with many parades happening during the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday—which is all to say the city is buzzing for basically a month straight. The celebration of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, known for boundless revelry, balls, and parades, brings with it a quintessential glittering dessert: King Cake, a ring-shaped brioche-like confection, iced with bright purple, green, and gold frosting (symbolizing justice, faith, and power) and sprinkled with crunchy sugared pecans. Mardi Gras happening at Bourbon Bayou Kitchen, 44184 Ashbrook Marketplace Plaza,Ashburn,VA,United States on Tue, 21 Feb, 2023 at 12:00 pm The vibrant atmosphere and friendly service further enhance the festive experience, making Big Jones a top choice for celebrating Mardi Gras in Chicago. Provaré : Situated amidst the bustling culinary scene of Chicago, Provaré offers a refined fusion of Creole and Italian cuisines, presenting a distinctive choice for Mardi Gras celebrations. St. Louis restaurant openings and closings: February 2025; 10 spots to celebrate Mardi Gras in and around St. Louis; Where to eat and drink around Energizer Park this season; Side Project Pizza opens in Maplewood; New mobile fish fry from Grace Meat + Three coming to Crestwood; Afandi Kitchen showcases the bold flavors of Uyghur Cuisine in Mardi Gras, the holiday known for beads and boisterous parades, falls on March 4 this year. Its origins in the U.S. date back to 1870 in New Orleans. For those in search of restaurants for celebrating Mardi Gras, here are a few to consider. St. Vincent Wine is hosting their second annual Lundi Gras Party on Monday, March 3, with hurricane Come out for the Second Line parade and wear provided beads and decorated Mardi Gras masks. Special dinner choices will be available, along with Hurricanes and rum punch. 6 p.m. - 10 p.m., $25-$400, Norman’s Bistro, 1001 E. 43rd St., (773) 966-5821, eventbrite.com. February 21. Mardi Gras Interactive Cajun Feast at Get in the Kitchen A Mardi Gras celebration takes place at the New American restaurants from February 27 to March 4. Dishes include spicy jambalaya, shrimp Étouffée and chicken Creole. Dishes include spicy jambalaya, shrimp Étouffée and chicken Creole. Joe Mama's Bar & Grill in Colgate. Joe Mama's Bar & Grill has a Mardi Gras menu on March 4. This menu includes seafood gumbo, jambalaya and jambalaya mac, shrimp po’boy and Cajun tacos. WHAT: King & Company Certified Public Accountants and People's Bank present the 7th Mardi Gras celebration. The Mardi Gras-style event features food from over a dozen restaurants along the Mardi Gras Celebration Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Madison Kids ages 5-10 can listen to stories and do activities based on the traditions of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras at The Rose Shannon Rose Irish Pub, Clifton and Ramsey There will be a live jazz band, dinner specials and giveaways. February 17. Mardi Gras Bingo Brunch Asbury Ale House, Asbury Park Consider them a Mardi Gras offering. Costumes Are Encouraged (and Sometimes Required) If you’re not in a wig, sequins, or at least a feather boa, are you even doing Mardi Gras right? And on Mardi Gras day wear a heavy coat, shorts, tank top and sneakers because the weather changes from winter wonderland to summer by noon.- Tamsy Kambi This Mardi Gras celebration is a pet adoption, a dog parade, costume contest and a crawfish boil provided by Green Gator. There's also live music from Terence Bradford and the Congo Square.
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