Mardi Gras is, without a doubt, one of the country’s biggest, craziest, wildest parties! New Orleans turns into one huge swirling mass of masked revelers with one goal in mind – fun! Bourbon Street is famous for it’s party atmosphere so if you are hosting a Mardi Gras party your goal is to transform your house into the Bourbon Street of your neighborhood. It’s all about the music, the dancing, the eating, the drinking, and throwing beads at one another.
Decorations
Make your house vibrant with the traditional Mardi Gras colors — purple (representing justice), green (faith) and gold (power). There’s no subtlety in Mardi Gras, so the bolder the better.
For true Mardi Gras style, you need masks, streamers, confetti and doubloons. Balloons and beads are easy to come by and decidedly appropriate for this holiday. And don’t forget to decorate your drinks! Dress up your frozen concoctions with a paper umbrella or parrot.
Costume Ideas
Wondering what to wear to a Mardi Gras party? Beads, a fabulous mask and a smile. The bright colors of the holiday — purple, green and gold — are always popular.
Debauchery reigns supreme. Think pirates, showgirls, court jesters, anything your wildest imagination can dream up. Don’t necessarily feel the need to buy or rent a costume. If that isn’t in the cards for you, just put on a mask and cover yourself in layers of beads and gaudy jewelry and you will fit right in.
Activities
Feeling crafty at your Mardi Gras party? Set up a mask-making station so unadorned guests can make their own. Provide plenty of supplies such as feathers, sequins and glitter, and have a prize for the person whose mask is voted the best.
A costume contest is a must at Mardi Gras. Crown the best-dressed male and female the king and queen of your party.
Libations
It’s all about the hurricane. The hurricane is THE drink to celebrate Mardi Gras. Or enormous vats of beer. If possible, serve in obnoxious-colored plastic containers. I will warn you….hurricanes are delicious but also very potent! Be a good host and make sure you have a plan to get all of your guests home safely.
Hurricane
1 ounce vodka
1/4 ounce grenadine syrup
1 ounce gin
1 ounce light rum
1/2 ounce Bacardi® 151 rum
1 ounce amaretto almond liqueur
1 ounce triple sec
1/4 cup grapefruit juice
1/4 cup pineapple juice
Pour all but the juices, in order listed, into a hurricane glass three-quarters filled with ice. Fill with equal parts of grapefruit and pineapple juice, and serve.
Food
Think Cajun. Think spicy. Think seafood. Louisiana, and New Orleans in particular, are well known for their seafood and world famous star chefs (think Emeril Lagasse). Serve up a big pot of spicy hot gumbo, jambalaya or shrimp po’ boys. A big batch of red beans and rice would be a nice addition, too. The spicier, the better!
Music
Put on some Zydeco or terrific jazz and turn the volume up! Roll up the rugs and move your furniture out of the way so your masked party goers can have room to move – at this point, beads might be flying so move your breakables out of the way as well.
Lori is a content writer for Discount Party Supplies. She is married with three kids and hosts many family gatherings and parties. In her free time, Lori enjoys taking yoga classes and in her secret life she likes going to heavy metal concerts (but don’t tell the other soccer moms!).
