MIMOSA's Mardi Gras Kickoff Guide

Shop our Mardi Gras collection.

We've packed this blog with our favorite ways to get into the Carnival spirit. You'll find info on all things Mardi Gras, including:

what to listen to
what to eat
how to decorate
which festive hashtags to follow
what to wear
and more — all in one easy-to-find place

**Be sure to share it, so we can all “laissez les bons temps rouler" together. ;)

FIRST — LEARN MARDI GRAS' BACKSTORY

If you’re looking for the best way to kick off Carnival season, head directly to the “Mardi Gras: Beyond The Beads” podcast by New Orleans Magazine editor in chief Errol Laborde and cohost @richcollins3.

They “dive into the history, tradition and modern celebration of New Orleans Carnival.” And when they say dive, they mean they go back to the beginning of time and track how we’ve come to where we are now. Once you’re caught up on how we got here, they go deep on every aspect of what Mardi Gras is today.

FOLLOW THESE FESTIVE MARDI GRAS HASHTAGS

From decor to house floats, fill your social feeds with Mardi Gras celebration!
Be sure you’re following:

PLAN YOUR MARDI GRAS MENU

Embrace the Mardi Gras traditions! King cake goes without saying, but the dishes that top the menu for most of us south of I-110 this time of year are crawfish étouffée, dirty rice, po-boys, jambalaya, crawfish... (omg, are you hungry yet??)

Manmosahandcrafted’s family has a tradition of Popeyes' fried chicken for Fat Tuesday, and Madeline Ellis from our team makes purple, green, and gold pancakes every year.

Mardi Gras Purple Green and Gold Pancakes

Mardi Gras Purple Green and Gold Pancakes

For a fresh, local king cake try:

CounterspaceBR in Baton Rouge

Keller's Bakery in Lafayette

Haydel's Bakery in New Orleans

*Search Google to find a king cake near you! If you can't find one, Gambino's Bakery ships king cakes nationwide for a little Mardi Gras wherever you are. ;)

Mardi Gras Food

Reve Coffee's "King Cake Cappuccino"
Dirty Coast's "The Big Book of King Cake" by Matt Haines
Reve Coffee's "King Cake Bites"

All photos courtesy of the artists.

GET DECKED OUT WITH MARDI GRAS DECOR

Magnolia Creative Co.'s "Zoo Band Art Print "
Hannah Gumbo's "Mardi Gras Print"
Lionheart Prints' "Parade Vibes Only Foil Art Print"

All photos courtesy of the artists.

After most Mardi Gras parades were canceled last year, folks began to dramatically AND thematically decorate their homes instead!

They're going ALL OUT. The decorations are over the top and instead of being limited to a parade schedule you have to hope you can make, they are available to view on a joyride anytime you like.

In 2021, The City of New Orleans put together this Yardi Gras teaser. You can either take a trip to NOLA for yourself to see the rest or look up #yardigras and scroll through all the festive house float posts.

You don’t have to turn your house into a float, but you can bring some of that Mardi Gras spirit inside! We’ve put together some of our favorites below.

Home Malone's "Mardi Gras Bunting"
Magnolia Creative Co.'s "Mardi Gras Trolley Door Hanger"
Home Malone's "Alligator Metal Art"

All photos courtesy of the artists.

Magnolia Creative Co.'s "Mardi Gras King Cake Plate Set"
Home Malone's "Mardi Gras Cypress Knee Santas"
Dirty Coast's "Mardi Gras Parade Ladder 3-D Puzzle"

All photos courtesy of the artists.

PICK OUT YOUR MARDI GRAS OUTFIT

If you have something gold, sparkly, or feathery, grab that! This is the day to wear that wild getup at the back of your closet you've been needing an excuse to put on this whole last year. If you’re not doing a full on face of paint, swipe on some glitter. Fat Tuesday is basically glitter appreciation day.

Here are a few easy outfit options:

Mardi gras clothes

Dirty Coast's "Our Trees Have Bling" Kids' T-Shirt
Parish Ink's "Fancy Mardi Gras Womens Tee"
Parish Ink's "Lache Pas Mardi Gras Youth Tee"

All photos courtesy of the artists.

MUSIC - MAKE YOUR MARDI GRAS PLAYLIST

I think we all need a spot-on playlist to help set the Mardi Gras tone this season! This Spotify playlist by Nicholas Persac will have you transported to a people-packed neutral ground waiting for that first float to roll by.

If you want to make your own playlist, we pulled together the ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE songs to get you started:

Ok ok. There are a whole bunch more, but we’ll stop here so you can go start listening!

YOUR MARDI GRAS SCHEDULE

8 a.m. — Roll out of bed and pour a cup of Community Coffee's "Mardi Gras King Cake" blend
8:30 a.m. —Warm up some king cake for breakfast. You’ve probably picked up at least one by now ;)
9 a.m. — Get dressed in your best Mardi Gras day gear
10 a.m. — Start cooking
12 noon — Sit down for lunch and share your favorite Mardi Gras memories
2 p.m. — Put on your Mardi Gras playlist and parade all through the house
4 p.m. — Take a #KreweofHouseFloats tour through NOLA
6 p.m. — Break out a festive cocktail — We recommend a "Mardi Gras Mambo Cosmo" from "Sipping on a Southern Porch."
8 p.m. — End your day the same way you started it — with another slice of king cake, of course. And settle in with a good Mardi Gras read. Home Malone carries the perfect "Mardi Gras in New Orleans" book for story time!

Photo courtesy of Sipping on a Southern Porch

"Sipping on a Southern Porch" is a collection of cocktails and appetizers from Mrs. Patrice Ellis - who also happens to be Manmosahandcrafted's mom!

She's put together a wonderful mix of pairings like her famous "Patrice's Brownies" and a Brandy Alexander. (pictured)

You can find this recipe, her Mardi Gras Mambo Cosmo, and more in "Sipping on a Southern Porch"!

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Shop MIMOSA Handcrafted's Mardi Gras Collection.

Published 2/4/21; Last Updated 1/12/23