Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, commences this year on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. But while the New Orleans holiday and the city’s famous parade prove far from Denver, the Mile High City has plenty of ways to celebrate right here.
For starters, get a king cake. Next, hit up a crawfish boil and dig in like they do in the South. Or, join one of the many fetes around the city, beads and masks encouraged. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Where to Get King Cake
Serve up King Cake for Mardi Gras. Source: Depositphotos
Before there were beads and copious amounts of booze there was king cake. In fact, this treat has been around since the Middle Ages, used as a way to celebrate the Catholic holiday, Three Kings Day (January 6).
Today the rich dessert is often made with a sweet buttery pastry and coated in green, yellow and purple frosting. The colors have meaning too, green symbolizes faith, purple is power, and yellow stands for justice.
There’s also a little plastic baby inside the cake, and who ever finds it is crowned king for the day and is said to have extra luck all year.
Rhinelander Bakery
For $29.98 you can take home a traditional king cake in four festive flavors including cinnamon, strawberry cream cheese, almond and plain cream cheese. The cakes come with a plastic baby to hid inside, and beads to help you celebrate. As a bonus, a portion of all king cake purchases gets donated the local Red Cross. 5721 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada.
Maggie and Molly’s Bakery
Find a gluten-free king cake laced with cinnamon at this Denver bakery. Choose from two types, a classic king cake either large or small ($75 and $50) or the gluten-free version ($42), which has more of a coffee cake flavor and texture. Both come traditional colorful icing and lots of beads on the side. 2908 E. 6th Ave., Denver.
Katherine’s French Bakery & Café
Given that Katherine’s is a European-style bakery and the king cake came to New Orleans via France, it’s not surprising the Denver staple makes one. Customers muse pre-order the cake, and can pick it up from the bakery. Filling flavors include cinnamon-sugar, raspberry chocolate, pecan or almond fillings. Each cost between $48 and $54, and come complete with a feathered mask, beads, and the iconic plastic baby. 728 S. University Blvd., Denver.
Top Mardi Gras Events
Source: Depositphotos
Denver may not be as exciting as New Orleans when it comes to Mardi Gras, and really, who is, but there are many ways to celebrate the carnival season right here.
From full blown parties to a parade to a Mardi Gras murder mystery, hit up one of these events on and near the holiday.
Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Celebration at Spangalang Brewery
Indulge in mouthwatering crawfish boil flavors (all-you-can eat for $20) while enjoying ice-cold craft beers straight from the tap and a live performance by Big Wheel at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13. Admission to the concert is FREE, allowing everyone to experience the magic of live jazz. For those seeking an enhanced and seated experience, exclusive table reservations are available for sale, offering premium seating and a complimentary drink to complement your evening of musical bliss. Get tickets or reserve a table here. 2736 Welton St., Denver.
Mardi Gras Party at the Louisville Underground
Join the FREE Mardi Gras party in Louisville on Saturday, February 10, and hear Tony Luke Band starting at 8 p.m. Dress up and celebrate until 11 p.m. Just make sure to register your spot via Eventbrite for a free ticket. 640 Main St., Louisville.
Nola Voodoo Tavern
Celebrate Mardi Gras at Nola Voodoo Tavern. Photo by Nola Voodoo Tavern
On Fat Tuesday head to one of the biggest Mardi Gras parties in the city. The tavern opens at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 13 and the owners plan to celebrate like they did in their hometown of New Orleans until closing.
There will be a Louisiana crawfish boil, drink specials, live music and more. Entry is FREE, but reservations are recommended. 2231 Bruce Randolph Ave., Denver.
Double Tree by Hilton’s Mardi Gras Take Over
While the fete at the DTC hotel isn’t cheap, starting at $125 for rooms at the hotel and tickets ranging from $49 to $150, it is less expensive than heading to New Orleans.
In fact, the property wants to make guests feel like they are in NoLa, and on February 10 at 7 p.m. until 12 a.m. the next day, the entire hotel will be dedicated to Mardi Gras.
Expect festive cocktails, costumes, Cajun food, marching bands, tarot readers and more. All you need to do is book a ticket via Eventbrite, and visit the hotel’s website for room reservations. 7801 E. Orchard Road, Greenwood Village.
Live Marching Band in Arvada
Get into the NoLa groove in Olde Town Arvada on February 21 with a live show by Guerrilla Fanfare. The FREE event starts at 5 p.m. right in front of Carly’s Boutique. Expect lot’s of cheer and good music as the band, and maybe you, walk around the neighborhood. Starting at: 7401 Grandview Ave., Arvada.
Traditional Mardi Gras Feasts
Aside from king cake, the other traditional food eaten in New Orleans at this time is crawfish. Namely, a crawfish boil. We already mentioned Nola Voodoo Tavern is having one during it’s all-day fete (and the crawfish come in fresh, straight from Louisiana), but here are some other spots dishing out the shellfish.
Fat Tuesday at SAME Cafe
On February 13 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., celebrate Mardi Gras with New Orleans inspired bites such as gumbo, vegetarian red beans and rice, and beignets. SAME Cafe is a unique operation operates on a donation basis, instilling the idea that anyone can go out to eat, no matter their economic status. 2023 E. Colfax Ave., Denver.
Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar
Oysters are an aphrodisiac. Photo by Linnea Covington.
Gear up on February 13 for NoLa-inspired food and drink specials at all five locations of Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar. We’re talking hush puppies ($5), gumbo ($5), blackened catfish ($19), chargrilled oysters ($19 for six), crawfish jambalaya fried rice ($16) and locally made king cake ($7). Plus all the French-themed cocktails, including a 24-ounce Hurricane for $20. Let the good times roll. Find your location and make a reservation here.
Stoney’s Bar and Grill 14th Annual Crawfish Boil
Get your crawfish boil on at this lively bar where 1,000 pounds of Louisiana crawfish will be served on Saturday, February 10 starting at 12 p.m.
Orders come in two- and five-pound increments ($30 to $60), and come with corn, sausage, mushrooms, and potatoes.
Join the party for FREE, crawfish or not, and hear Blue Krewe play live from 1 to 3 p.m. If looking to eat, make sure to get a ticket asap, the event sells out each year. 1111 Lincoln St., Denver.
Mardi Gras Celebration at School House Kitchen & Libations
In addition to food and drink specials, The Decaf Muchachos will be playing live at School House Kitchen from 5 to 7 p.m. on February 13. Order gumbo, crawfish and hurricanes, just don’t forget to don a festive mask. 5660 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada.
Party and Feast at Dickens Opera House
Though Longmont is a little far from Denver, the drive to Dickens Opera House for the Mardi Gras 2024 party is worth the drive. Not only does the place transform into a version of NoLa, but there will live jazz, plenty of beads and creole and cajun food. The event happens February 17, with two three-hour time slots available at 3 and 8 p.m. Tickets run $20 to $65 and can be purchased here. 302 Main St., Longmont.
Shrove Tuesday at Le Bilboquet
On February 13 this Le Bilboquet in Cherry Creek will party like the French do, with delicious food and drink. Special dishes include le poulet Cajun (or Cajun chicken, $34), le salade crabe et d’avocat (crab and avocado salad, $29) and crepes Suzette ($17). It’s on the higher end, but worth the splurge. 299 St. Paul St., Denver.
Get Some Mardi Gras Bling
- 128 Pcs Mardi Gras Accessories Party Favors Set: 8 pcs Sequin Mardi Gras Masks in 3 designs. 24 pcs Purple, Green, and Gold Mardi Gras Beads Necklaces and each color has 8 pcs. 72 pcs Purple, Green, and Gold Mardi Gras Coins and each color has 24 pcs. 8 pcs Mardi Gras Head Boppers, 8 Mardi Gras Temporary Tattoo Sheets (128 pcs) in 16 designs and each design has 8 pcs tattoos, 8 pcs Mardi Gras Rubber Bracelets. These Mardi Gras costume accessories can perfectly complement any Mardi Gras costume.
- Color & Designs: In traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold, the Mardi Gras plastic coins feature comedy and tragedy masks on one side and a crown on the other. These Mardi Gras headbands, Mardi Gras tattoos, and rubber bracelets feature fleur-de-lis, masquerade masks, crowns, comedy and tragedy masks, jester hats, Mardi Gras top hats, jester mask, maraca, feathers, and "MARDI GRAS". Fun Mardi Gras head boppers are accented with tinsel, feathers, and satin ribbon flutter.
- Size: Each Mardi Gras masquerade mask measures about 8.5" x 3.1" with an elastic band. Each Mardi Gras beaded necklace has a circumference of 31" with 7mm beads. Colorful Mardi Gras coins measure about 1.4" in diameter. Each Mardi Gras head bopper measures about 8.7" tall. Each Mardi Gras temporary tattoo measures about 1.5" in diameter. Mardi Gras rubber bracelets measure about 2.9" circ. These Mardi Gras party accessories can fit kids, teens and adults.
- MARDI GRAS BOA - 6 feet long / 72 inch - Made of premium quality fluffy feathers. You will love this huge oversized green, purple, & yellow boa for you Mardi Gras outfit, for women and men.
- SET OF 2 - Perfect set for Couple's Mardi Gras costume. This is a unique accessory to your Mardi Gras costumes women & men. Suitable for adults, teens, and kids.
- ACCESSORY - These Mardi Gras Feather Boas, are the perfect way to provide the finishing touch your Mardi Gras costume, for women and men alike and add a little extra pizzazz to your Mardi Gras Masquerade party
- 72 Pack - There are 3 Mardi metallic colors and 24 pcs of each color. Each necklace is 33" long and has 1/4" beads
- FESTIVALS: Fun party favors for Mardi Gras festival at New Orleans!, these small metallic beads are a must have to pass out to your guests or toss from balconies and floats
- MASQUERADE - Host a fun Mardi Gras celebration with this colorful bead assortment. The beads can also be used with Mardi Gras Mask to glam up special Mardi Gras party costumes.
- ★ Beaded Mardi Gras Earrings: Carnival is the time in Louisiana when we’re allowed to go a little crazy with our outfits and accessories, and our statement earrings fit you like a queen to wear on parade day! Available in 5 styles Carnival themed earrings, including crown earrings, mask earrings, flower earrings and letter earrings. Womens - be beauty, accessorize, no Carnival celebration would be complete without those finishing touches
- ★ Handmade Carnival Earrings: Let the good times roll! These beaded dangle earrings are attractive with a clash of purple, gold and green, embody the colors, spirit, pride and true feeling. Add fun and shine to your Fat Tuesday outfits it can make you wear more elegant and charming, will definitely attract people's attention at the party and become the most dazzling person
- ★ High Quality Holiday Earrings: Our elegant mask drop earring is the perfect accessory for your Carnival parade outfit! It made of high quality beads, rhinestones, alloy and felt materials, nickle free, lead free, lightweight and comfortable to long time wear. Length: about 2.2-2.5inch. They are so fashionable and fun, which would looks really adorable with a pair of our leggings
Last update on 2024-12-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API