How to Mardi Gras in Dallas
While we may not be New Orleans, that does not mean we can't don beads and sashay with the best of them. The Mardi Gras celebrations here in Dallas certainly hold their own compared to anything they have down on Bourbon Street. From showcasing an extravaganza of lively parades, to tantalizing Cajun flavors, to flamboyant costumes here are five ways to channel all that New Orleans razzle-dazzle this February.
Posted: January 2024
Start things off with a good ole fashion bar crawl
February 10 @ 3PM
Get ready to paint the town green, purple and gold with the 4th Annual Mardi Gras Bar Crawl. Revel in a day of quintessential New Orleans merriment as the crawl transforms Uptown into a Bourbon Street-style extravaganza. Arrive early for your shimming beds, stunning Mardi Gras Masquerade mask and 16oz, color-changing stadium cup to hold their festive drink. The bar crawl is a self-guided journey weaving through seven vibrant participating bars. Enjoy discounted food and drinks as you immerse yourself in the party atmosphere with other revelers decked out in extravagant Mardi Gras costumes.
Find a baby in your cake
Anytime
King cakes and Madi Gras go hand-in-hand. Tradition holds that finding a plastic baby in your slice of cake brings luck and prosperity. But where does one find these rich, circular, green, purple and gold cakes? Thankfully Dallas has several bakeries that make this traditional cake from scratch. Deep Ellum’s French bakery Le Bon Temps makes mini or full sized King Cakes while Empire Baking Co makes a Brown Butter Pecan King Cake. Native New Orlean Chef Tilda not only makes mini and full sized King Cakes at Haute Sweet Patisserie, but she also makes a King Cake Bread Pudding.
Run off those King Cakes
February 11 @ 9AM
Mark your calendars! The annual Dash for Beads 5K is teaming up with the Go Oak Cliff Mardi Gras Parade to bring you a day of fitness and fun in Oak Cliff on February 11th. The day starts off at 9 am with a 5K run, or for those who prefer a slower pace, a one-mile walk through the picturesque Kessler Park. And the fun won't stop there — after everyone gets their heart rate up, one of the finest Mardi Gras parties in all of North Texas starts. In addition to the fantastic Kid Zone, attendees can indulge exceptional cuisine from local food trucks and refreshing adult beverages including crisp Mimosas and handcrafted beer. This prime location on Davis Street assures everyone a splendid view of the parade. Best of all the proceeds go toward local non-profits to promote physical fitness, healthy eating and the arts.
Watch the largest Mardi Gras Parade in North Texas
February 11 @ 1PM
While you are in Oak Cliff stick around for the largest Mardi Gras celebration in North Texas. The annual parade kicks off at 1 pm and will run from the Kessler Theater along Davis Street. Music, floats, dance groups, colorful costumes and a ton of beads, this parade has all the ingredients for a festive afternoon. Go Oak Cliff estimated about 10,000 people attended last year, so make sure to get there early to grab a good parade-watching spot.
Put your crawfish-eating clothes on
February 13 @ 11AM
Embracing the spirit of Fat Tuesday at the Rustic’s 13th Annual Mardi Craw party. Subdue the kick of Cajun spice with a frosty hurricane cocktail straight from the bar, dance to free live music all day and sip on Mardi Gras-themed drink specials at this traditional New Orleans crawfish boil. Throughout the day you can get your face painted, pose for photo ops and even be entertained by stilt walkers. The party starts early and goes late, so brace yourself for a long crawfish-filled day.
