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Mardi Gras for Kids

Cupcakes at Mardi Gras for Kids

Though it has a reputation for its festivities, those of us who live in New Orleans know that Mardi Gras is much more than just a party, it’s a cultural, community, and even family tradition. New Orleans Mom believes Mardi Gras shouldn’t be just a celebration for the grownups.  

Our Mardi Gras for Kids section is filled with ways to create “Fat Tuesday” celebrations for family members of all ages, but especially on how to make the carnival an event that your kids will remember forever. 

There are a lot of reasons to get your kids and family involved in Mardi Gras. Here’s just five that show what Mardi Gras for kids is all about. While there are a lot of ideas in this section, the readers’ favorite is also one of the most fun. Highlighting what is a tradition for many New Orleans kids, our step-by-step instructions on how to make a Mardi Gras float from a shoebox is just one of the posts that keep bringing readers back.

Of course, our Mardi Gras for kids coverage has a healthy number of posts on the carnival’s favorite foods, especially that timeless classic, the King Cake. Here’s one of our recipes for the dessert that’s as much a part of the Mardi Gras as parades and beads. Speaking of which, we also talk about how to make beads as part of our Mardi Gras celebration. 

Our team of more than 30 writers are local moms, with years of experience parenting through Mardi Gras. So before you break out the beads, take a bite out of the King Cake or find your favorite parade route, turn to New Orleans Mom for everything you need to know about how to celebrate Mardi Gras with your kids.

The Best Homemade King Cake Recipe A few years ago, I set out on a quest to make a homemade king cake that would rival the ones we pay $20+ for at bakeries around town. (Though if cooking is not...
It's Mardi Gras time in New Orleans, and everyone's eating king cake! If you have a food allergy or sensitivity, though, traditional king cake may not be an option. Thankfully many bakeries offer gluten free king cakes, as well...
There is never a shortage of things to do in New Orleans with kids, but Mardi Gras takes the (king) cake! If you are looking for family-friendly Mardi Gras events in New Orleans and the surrounding area, we have you...
Throw Me Something Mista! :: 2022 Guide to the Best Throws from Mardi Gras Krewes Growing up in Nebraska, every spring my grandparents would send me a box of all their best throws from parades in New Orleans. I would...
The BEST Gluten and Dairy Free King Cake Recipe: A Way For Those With Food Allergies to Enjoy Carnival While the rest of the country is winding down from the holiday season, those of us in New Orleans are eagerly...
Mardi Gras Mambo begins playing in our house January 6th. Originally from Florida, the only parade I was used to was Calle Ocho, which is a festival meets parade in Miami to celebrate Latin Culture. I had obviously heard...
If you have recently moved to New Orleans, Mardi Gras with kids can be extremely overwhelming at first. But trust us - you want a Muses shoe, a Cleo cup, a Zulu coconut and all the beads you can catch!...
Mardi Gras has always been a part of my life. Being born here, my family celebrated the holiday annually just as we did birthdays, Christmas, Easter, etc. Our family did not head out of town for the school holiday....
Five Ways to Use All Those Mardi Gras Beads Ah, the parades are over, the kids are still home on Mardi Gras break, your feet and head ache, and the beads ... the beads have taken over! Here are five ways...
We love helping New Orleans families celebrate Mardi Gras with kids! Whether it is finding a fun Mardi Gras craft, making your own shoebox float at home or figuring out the best books for children about Mardi Gras ......
2023 New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade Schedule Below is the 2023 Mardi Gras parade schedule for the greater New Orleans area. If you are looking for the Jefferson Parish / Metairie parade schedule, click here. The Northshore parade schedule (Mandeville...
Must Own Mardi Gras Books for Kids Some of these titles may be found at local bookstores :: Garden District Book Shop, Octavia Books, Tubby & Coo's and Blue Cypress Books. If you wish to shop online, Amazon affiliate links...
2023 Metairie Mardi Gras Parade Schedule Below is the 2023 Metairie Mardi Gras parade schedule (and Jefferson Parish). If you are looking for the New Orleans parade schedule, click here. The Northshore parade schedule (Mandeville / Covington / Slidell) is...
10 Unique King Cakes to Try in New Orleans Note :: this post was first published in 2021 but has been updated for 2022. At the time of publishing, the author reflected, "Due to the cancellation of Mardi Gras parades...