How To Throw The Best Mardi Gras Party in 2022

Mardi Gras is almost here, and in honor of that tradition, we are giving you everything you need to throw an epic Mardi Gras party this year! 

Mardi Gras is a holiday typically recognized by people of the Catholic faith, but the festivities date back thousands of years to early pagan spring celebrations.  Once the early Christians were introduced to these pagan festivities, they adapted them to their own beliefs.  Mardi Gras is also known as Carnival, Carnaval, and Fat Tuesday.  It’s celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Catholic tradition of Lent, which is 40 days of fasting leading up to Easter Sunday. Traditionally, Mardi Gras was used as a day to eat all the fatty, sugary foods and meat that one was going to be giving up during Lent to empty your cupboards in preparation.

These days, Mardi Gras is all about indulgence.  It’s about revelry, music, dancing, and having a great time.  The most famous Mardi Gras partying in the US takes place in New Orleans, where you’ll find brightly colored beads, parades, elaborate masks, and people just plain old having a great time! If you can’t get down to the Big Easy this year to partake in the celebration, then let this blog be your guide to bringing Mardi Gras to you and your friends!

Theme

When you’re talking about Mardi Gras, the colors that come to mind are always Green, Gold, and Purple.  So lean into this when you’re choosing your theme.  Some things are just iconic, and you really don’t need or want to mess with them!  You want to ensure that you get all the Mardi Gras classics that make the festivities so fun! So the must-have items include beads and masks or hats for your guests to accessorize and get into the Mardi Gras spirit!  The nice thing about sticking to a classic is that it is effortless to find decorations that fit the theme. A quick search on Amazon, and you’ll find Mardi Gras beads, masks, hats, balloons, and party supplies galore! You can find items in a massive range of prices to fit any budget, and it’s entertaining to see all the different ways you can decorate your space to make Mardi Gras really come alive!

Food

When you’re planning the menu for your Mardi Gras party, you have got to include Creole/Cajun food in your menu! From crab boils to Gumbo, no type of food better fits the Mardi Gras theme! If you’re a whiz in the kitchen and you’re looking to show off your cooking chops to your guests, then hit that kitchen and whip up a spicy seafood dish that will make your guests feel like they’ve just stepped into the French Quarter. If you’re not familiar with cajun cooking, check out Nolacuisine.com for an extensive list of great recipes! I recommend checking out the recipes for Shrimp or Crawfish Etouffee, and they look absolutely divine!

If you’re like me and you’re not much of a cook then you should consider having your event catered by a local Cajun/Creole restaurant.  If you’re in the Greenbay area, check out Millions Crab in Ashwaubenon.  They offer great seafood boils with many options for yummy sides and sauces to round out your meal!

Drinks

Mardi Gras just wouldn’t be the same without a fun and fruity drink in your hand! I recommend this New Orleans classic cocktail, the hurricane!  Check out this recipe from NewOrleans.com for a traditional hurricane cocktail!

• 2 oz. light rum
• 2 oz. dark rum
• 2 oz. passion fruit juice
• 1 oz. orange juice
• ½ oz. fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon simple syrup
• 1 tablespoon grenadine
• Garnish: orange slice and cherry

Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a hurricane glass filled with ice. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.

For an alcohol-free version of this New Orleans classic, just omit the rum and top off your drink with some bubbly sprite or for a delicious mocktail that everyone can enjoy.

Activities

You can do tons of things to make sure that your guests are having a great time and your mardi gras party!  The first and most obvious activity is dancing! Create a playlist of the classic Mardi Gras music, including jazz, blues, and zydeco, for a fun mix of incredible music that will have your friends and family on the dance floor all night long! 

You can also get your friends in a playful mood with some Mardi Gras themed games such as bead toss (have teams of two stand a few feet apart and try to toss a string of beads around their partner’s neck, the team with the most beads wins), casino games, and mask decorating. 

No matter what you decide to do to entertain your guests, you have GOT to include a photo booth at your event! At Snap and Pics, we’ve got tons of great props and backdrops to fit your Mardi Gras theme, and your guests will have a night to remember (and amazing photos to prove it) in our photo booth! 

Reach Out Today to reserve a photo booth for your event!