How to Host a Mardi Gras Party

Throwing a Mardi Gras gathering doesn’t have to be difficult! Events in Carnival season are endlessly fun and not that difficult to put together. Take the guesswork out of these unique parties with this ultimate guide that includes a ton of Mardi Gras party ideas. 

How to Host a Mardi Gras Party

Mardi Gras celebrations are some of the most fun parties of the entire year. Take it from someone who lived in South Louisiana who has thrown and attended many of these unique parties over the years. 

It’s so much fun to host one of these gatherings with your friends and family. And trust me — you can keep them clean and kid-friendly, if you want, or make them as adults-only as an evening on Bourbon Street.

Louisiana food is fantastic and a great way to mix up your usual party menu. Who can say no to a pot of gumbo?

So grab your colorful, sparkly bead necklaces, and let’s talk about the food, drinks, costumes and everything else you need. We’ve got ALL the fun Mardi Gras party ideas for you here.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

More party guides: How to Host a Potluck | How to Host a Backyard Barbecue | How to Host a Bake Sale | How to Host a Mexican Dinner Party | How to Have Valentine’s Day Date Night at Home

1. Choose day & time.

When to throw a Mardi Gras party is totally up to you! 

Typically, a Mardi Gras party is held the weekend before or ON Fat Tuesday (which is sometimes referred to as Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras Day, depending on where you live in the United States).

Fat Tuesday / Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent in Catholic and Protestant churches. The date changes each year based on the Easter calendar. Typically, it falls between the beginning of February and the middle of March.

The time of your party depends on what kind of vibe you are going for! An evening or late night party (6–10 p.m. or later) is better for an adults-only shindig, as you can give it the Bourbon Street glamour that Mardi Gras is renowned for. 

However, a brunch party (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) or afternoon party (12–4 p.m.) is better suited for a family-friendly or church event.

Relatedly, think about your guest list and who you’d like to attend! 

2. Send invites.

The Speckled Palate participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information about these affiliate programs.

You should plan to invite people about 3 or 4 weeks in advance, especially if it’s a themed or larger event. This gives guests time to make plans, RSVP and find festive attire. (Costumes are a MUST for Mardi Gras parties!)

Invite your party guests however you want. You can send an invitation in the mail, but if you’d rather invite via text or a simple email, have at it! Make it easy on yourself.

If you’re looking for something to make your Mardi Gras party feel a little more unique, try one of these ideas to make your party dazzling from the very first time guests hear about it:

Mardi Gras is a big deal in South Louisiana, so Cajun and Creole fare is typical! To me, making the menu is the easiest way to capture that Louisiana flair for your Mardi Gras celebration. 

But don’t worry, I have TONS of Mardi Gras recipes to make this Carnival season and beyond. And they are approved by my very discerning and knowledgeable Louisiana family members, so you can believe they are good. 

Once you know who is coming, ask about food preferences and dietary restrictions. You can incorporate dishes for any special diets so they don’t blindside you the day before and also help you ensure you’ve got something for everyone.

Mardi Gras party food ideas:

There are some classic Mardi Gras foods that are known and loved… but you know what? You need to do what’s right for you and your group.

I typically do something like this, though it varies a lot based on the number of people, who the people are and whatever we’re feeling that year: 

What is a king cake? 

A king cake is a sweet, circular pastry traditionally enjoyed during the Mardi Gras season. It features a cinnamon-filled dough and is topped with icing, as well as purple, green and gold sugar. 

Bakers usually hide a tiny plastic baby inside to symbolize luck and prosperity. The guest who finds it is said to have good luck — but they are often expected to host the next Mardi Gras party or provide the next king cake!

How much food to have for guests:

Obviously, you need to take into account the number of guests that you’re hosting to ensure there is enough food for everyone to eat. 

One thing you can do is ask every guest to bring a food or drink item, so you can ensure you’re going to have enough. This is great because you can focus on hosting, while everyone else helps to pad out the menu. You can even ask everyone to bring a beverage to share — this will help save on costs, too! 

4. Make a cooking timeline.

Every event I host, I write a timeline for the cooking so I know when I need to start cooking and can ensure that my dishes are ready at the time I want to serve them. Make the list, check it twice. 

I’ve written a detailed post on how to create a cooking timeline, but here is the general idea:

1. Print out any recipes first. Open up the cookbook(s) you are using, too. Don’t forget the drink recipes too! 
2. Get out a pen and paper, or the Notes app on your phone or computer. 
3. Write down how long every recipe takes to cook, INCLUDING times for brining, chilling, etc.
4. Make notes of anything that needs to be made the day of and dishes (or parts of dishes) that can be made in advance. 
5. Decide on your food serving time (which should be about 45 minutes to an hour after guests arrive) and work backwards to know when everything needs to start cooking.
6. Build in wiggle room. I like to leave 30-45 minutes of this for myself before serving, so I start a little earlier just in case something takes longer.

Once you know your start time, write out a detailed list of what goes into the oven (or on the stovetop/slow cooker/etc.) and when so you can stay on top of it throughout the party day.

Keep this list on your refrigerator or somewhere in your kitchen that is very obvious so you can check it as you prepare.

5. Design the party.

First, plan the seating. Will people need to sit to eat, or can they stand and nibble on appetizers? Do you need a card table? Do you need to rent chairs? Are the tablecloths/placemats ironed? Are you even going to use cloth tablecloths or napkins?

Next, plan the food and drink stations. Where will the food be served? Where will you keep the drinks, like wine and beer? What location in your home do you home that appetizers will be enjoyed? Where will you chill the champagne bottles, in the fridge or in a cooler? 

Think about all the spaces where guests will interact with the food. Make a list of what you’ll serve your stuff on and what you might need to acquire. 

I like to get out my dishes and label them with a sticky note to say what is going in them so I don’t forget or have the panicky moment when something comes out of the oven. (Yes, those happen.) Heck, you can label and put them back in the cabinets until the day of.

Here are some of my favorite dishes to use while entertaining:

That said, feel free to use whatever you have on hand and get creative! Your dishes don’t have to all be the same shape or pattern. Mix and match patterns to add some color and fun.

Also, remind your guests bring their own serving platters for their dishes — and remember to tell them to bring tongs and servingware, too! This comes in handy if you don’t have a ton of serving items at your house.

You can learn about My Favorite Easy Entertaining Tools and Products, too!

6. Grocery shop.

Get everything you could possibly need when you’re at the store, too. 

Grab your groceries up to a week in advance. Or place a grocery order for pickup or delivery, too, if that makes life easier. 

“Everything you could possibly need” means:

• Purchasing paper goods, like paper plates, cups and cutlery if you don’t want to use your actual plates, cups and silverware at the event. (Which, let’s be real, makes cleanup a lot easier. Also, if you’re hosting more than 4/6/8/10 guests, do you really have enough plates for everyone? Probably not.) (Also also what if the dishwasher goes out?) 
• Grabbing to-go containers for leftovers. If so, grab a package of those containers while at the store. We are big fans of these compostable compostable plates, compostable clear cups and biodegradable cutlery* (affiliate links) for parties, but you can use plastic or melamine reusable plates, cups and cutlery, too.
• Purchasing beverages like beer, wine and spirits. Add that stop to your list, especially if your state requires you to go to a specialty store, and purchase what you need in advance so you don’t have to run out the day-of. If you’re buying champagne, see if you can save money buying it in bulk at places like Sam’s Club, Costco or Total Wine. 

7. Make as much as you can in advance.

This step obviously depends on your menu and what you’re cooking. It also depends on what you can prep in advance, but not cook. For my slow cooker red beans and rice, i prep measure out everything the night before so that on the day of i can just toss it in and go. 

Whenever I host a holiday gathering like a Mardi Gras party, I like to include as many dishes as possible that can be made in advance — partially or all the way — because it makes my life a lot easier and less stressful. For example, I always make extra homemade Creole seasoning just for Mardi Gras! (And you can even send guests home with it as party favors.)

Obviously, this doesn’t work for every recipe, but getting out ahead of the cooking is a great way to be less stressed when entertaining.

Here are some examples of things you can prepare ahead of time:

• Chop fruits and veggies the day before. Obviously, some fruits and veggies will keep better than others, so use your discretion. For example, chopping an apple or a banana one day in advance is a bad idea. Strawberries are OK if you want them to have tons of juices, but otherwise, hold off. (You def don’t want to make chocolate dipped strawberries too early, though — they will get soggy!) 
• Purchase pre-chopped veggies at the store, like onions or even a bag of salad greens. Do what you need to do to make it easy on yourself! Frozen ones are okay too if they will work in your recipe. Frozen appetizers are also okay too — I love mini quiches and empanadas. 
• Make a drink (like this purple punch) the day before. Let it hang out in the fridge and infuse without the addition of the bubbles! Wait to add those until right before the party starts. If you do it too early, you risk it going flat! 
• Bake your dessert one to two days before your event. Many desserts can be kept on the countertop. Just be sure to wrap it in plastic wrap once it’s cooled completely! 

Obviously, these are all dependent on your menu, but think it through and see what can be done. Really sit with your menu and decide it intentionally so that you can give yourself as much wiggle room as possible.

8. Plan your Mardi Gras costume. 

Okay, let’s talk costumes, because costumes at Mardi Gras are a thing and SO much fun! They are a little different than the spooky costumes you’d see at a Halloween party, too.

Traditionally, people make and wear a costume on Fat Tuesday to watch the parades. More often than not, you’ll see people wearing statement outfits about current events or dressing as people in the news at the time.

Costumes are not necessary for a party, but it might be fun to ask guests to come in a current events costume! Another fun one is a masquerade theme — everyone wears (or makes) a Mardi Gras mask of some kind! 

If you are hosting or attending a Mardi Gras ball, the attire is a little different. These balls are hosted by Krewes, which are membership organizations that put on the various parades, and they are extremely fancy! These are black tie affairs where you expected to dress to the nines. Your at-home Mardi Gras-themed party is probably not going to be this snazzy — unless you and your guests want to!

One of my favorite costumes? When I was in college, a group of friends, my friend’s family and I all went as snowflakes because it snowed in New Orleans the Christmas before. We made all the costumes at my friend’s parents’ house, and it was a delightful group project! 

9. Set the ambiance.

Make your space as festive as you want — it’s a special night! Balloons, streamers and confetti are great Mardi Gras decorations, but you can keep it as simple or go as over-the-top as you like.

The colors of Mardi Gras are green, purple and gold, so festive decorations in that color scheme are lovely and on theme.

• Have fun! Garnish foods with Mardi Gras party cake toppers. Little bags of confetti are great only if you dare (and have a great vacuum cleaner)! AND of course, you’re going to need some colorful, sparkly strings of Mardi Gras beads for guests to wear! The dollar store usually has a good deal on these. 
• Festive paper (or fabric) napkins that match your gathering can add a pop of color to the tablescape! Chances are, you’ve probably got ‘em at home already. Guests can also use heavier Mardi Gras napkins to second line later in the evening, if desired.
• Make a bar! Turn a buffet table or another unused table in the dining room into a bar and offer up different mixers for everyone to make their own cocktails! Or set out the ingredients for one specific drink (like a Bloody Mary.) Print out the recipe and let everyone mix up their own.
• Add a pitcher or two of water, tea or lemonade to the table. Add colorful straws and purple grapes and lemon and lime slices (all in the color scheme!), so have fun with it! This will add flavor, height and color, as well as allow your guests to stay hydrated. We want those DDs to get home safely. 
• Set the ambiance with music! Strike up a playlist of Mardi Gras music if you want an authentic experience! Traditional music for Mardi Gras is a lively mix of jazz band, brass band, zydeco, funk and R&B, all rooted in New Orleans traditions. 
• Optional: plan activities. Consider fun activities you might want to have at your gathering. From a scavenger hunt to musical chairs, a costume contest, a Mardi Gras mask making table and more, there are lots of great ideas to incorporate into your Carnival celebration.

10. Take a deep breath, keep your cool and have fun!

The morning of your Mardi Gras bash, take a deep breath. The reason you’re doing this is because it’ll be fun. Of course, there might be other things keeping you busy before your late-night event, so keep your cool and try to enjoy all the activities. 

Here’s how I like to fashion the start of any entertaining day:

• Sip on a cup of coffee and collect my thoughts.
• Decide what I’m wearing, if I haven’t already. (Honestly, costumes stress me out so I plan my Mardi Gras party costume weeks in advance.)
• Go over my cooking timeline. Make note of when I’m going to get ready.
• Empty my dishwasher. This way, I won’t have dishes in the sink when guests arrive.
• Get started with my first task. I made the list weeks ago! 

When you’re hosting a Mardi Gras party, this line of thinking applies, too. Also, your friends might be in the kitchen with you finishing up their dishes, too. And if your guests offer a hand, let them help.

Make this fun for everyone — and everyone includes YOU. Your guests are here to celebrate with you, so spend time with them.

And do your best to let loose and have fun — let the good times roll! (Or, laissez les bons temps rouler, as they say in Louisiana!)