The Mardi Gras season is well upon us, and if you haven’t started getting ready for the Carnival season, there’s no time like the present than to get ready for the Mardi Gras Mambo. Whether you’re planning a Mardi Gras party, hitting up a few parades, or enjoying a gala or a simple affair at home, here are a few tips for getting into full-on Mardi Gras mode.
King Cake
The centerpiece of any Mardi Gras celebration, office party, or any gathering is the King Cake — that richly decadent oval cake dripping with delicious icings, sprinkles, and of course, the baby inside that declares who buys next year’s cake or who the king or queen of your party is. Make sure you order your king cake as soon as possible to ensure that you will have a fresh king cake for your occasion. Don’t wait to the last minute to get your cake. They go quickly this time of year.
Parade Outfits
Mardi Gras is all about fun and revelry. Whether you like to deck out in complete costume for your parade viewing or if you’re more comfortable with just a few splashes of the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold, it is definitely time to get your attire in order. You may already have a costume on hand or would like to rent something new for the occasion. If that is the case, definitely find your perfect outfit before all the glittery, glamour styles are gone. Go for the gold with your outfit selections. When else can you wear sequins and feathers and let out your inner extravagant side without anyone blinking an eye at you? For those that aren’t into dressing in costume for the parades, you’ve got to at least have a Mardi Gras t-shirt, parade marching boots, green, gold, and purple striped shirt, Carnival masks or hats, Mardi Gras flair suspenders, a colorful tutu for the girls, and a very colorful or decorated umbrella are essential for the parades. Plus, don’t forget to have your Mardi Gras bag to carry home your treasures.
Decorations
Get into the Mardi Gras spirit with a little or a lot of flair. There are glittery masks and wreaths that look elegant on your door, but usually during the Mardi Gras season, the more flamboyant the better. So make sure you stock up on some Mardi Gras-colored garland, lights, trees, beads, and just about anything green, gold, and purple. If you have some treasured “throws” you’ve caught throughout the years, bring those out to add to the fun and merriment of the season.
Hotel reservations
If you’re from out of town and coming to stay for Fat Tuesday or any of the weekends with Mardi Gras parades, it is certainly the time to go ahead and make reservations for your holiday trip. Rooms will be booking up fast, so make sure that you have that detail settled and confirmed.
Plan of Action
Make your plan or agenda of what parades you want to catch, so that you can make sure that you arrive to the parade route in time to get a good spot to catch lots of great throws. It’s always a smart idea to have a specific place to meet up with the members in your party in case you get separated in all of the action. For your parade day, make sure that you wear comfortable shoes because you’ll be walking and standing on your feet for a while. It’s also wise to take a few snacks to keep everyone happy while they are waiting for the parade. Maybe even a couple of books or toys to keep the little ones amused might be a good idea as well. Packing a first aid kit and some band aids are always a good ideal.
Mardi Gras is all about fun, enjoyment, and revelry! So get your game plan ready for your Mardi Gras occasion, and you’re sure to have the time of your life!