Best Mardi Gras Events in Denver

This year, it falls on February 25th and we are ready for it! We love a good "Fat Tuesday" celebration and Denver is a great city to enjoy this tradition — there's something for young and old here. While Mardi Gras is, of course, a great day to raise a cocktail, it can also be a family-friendly day or even a perfect date night. Here are some Mardi Gras events in Denver you won't want to miss — they’re guaranteed to close out the carnival season with a bang.

Mardi Gras With Friends

1. Oh, My NOLA! Social Wine Tasting – February 22nd

This month's wine social takes place just a few days ahead of Mardi Gras, but instead of Hurricanes, this year we'll be celebrating the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans with wine! You'll enjoy 21 different wines representing the city’s Spanish and French influence, as well as wines that are perfect for crawfish, etoufee, jambalaya, and more! Chef prepared appetizers will be served. Laissez les bons temps roulez!

Make sure to book a spot for you and your friends before the event is full.

Date Night

2. Denver Mardi Gras – February 22

Date night doesn’t always need to mean a sit-down dinner, right? How about you and your SO party it up this Mardi Gras at The Exdo Event Center which is turning into New Orleans Bourbon Street for one night. The evening is themed after the seven deadly sins and the event expects a whopping 2,000 guests to attend. You’ll be transported away to N'awlins through live bands, tarot readers, models tossing beads, face painters, and burlesque shows. Expect to hear DJs spinning Zydeco, hip-hop, dance hits and other Mardi Gras favorite tunes.

Are you and your honey the type to dress up in costume? You've come to the right place. At the end of the night a king and queen of the event will be crowned, so don your best festive gear. Or you can just enjoy cocktails (there will be hurricanes aplenty) with your date and soak up this lively celebration. Get your ticket here.

Family-Friendly

3. Petite Parade + Alley Party – Dairy Block, March 3

Most people think of a big, colorful parade when they think of Mardi Gras, and Denver residents will get to enjoy their own version this year at the Dairy Block's inaugural Petite Parade. Participants will get to build their own float starting with a shoebox base and decorating it to their heart's desires. There will be prizes awarded for Most Original Float, Best Team Theme, Best Family Float, Funniest Float and more.

The event starts at 11 am going around Dairy Block hosted by comedy anchors Mike & Kiki of the Handsome Little Devils and led by Denver's Tivoli Brass Band. This is a great event to bring your little ones as there will be circus performers and a kids mask making station.

Need an idea of what to cook on the 25th to celebrate at home?

Enjoy our Crawfish Étouffée recipe below!

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1-pound packaged Louisiana crawfish tails, soaking in 1 ½ cups water
3-5 cloves of garlic, minced
1 large onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
2-3 stalks celery, diced
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
Pinch Cayenne pepper
Salt and White pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3-4 scallions, chopped
1 cup long-grain white rice
French bread

Directions:

In a cast iron skillet, add oil and get it hot over medium-low heat, then add your butter. Once the butter's melted and mixed up into the oil, add your flour, and constantly keep the flour-oil moving, to avoid burning. Cook until a dark tan color. Toss in your veggies and sauté in the roux until the onions are translucent.

While the veggies are cooking, add the crawfish tails to 1 ½ cups of water to them. Stir them around so you get off all the juices. Strain the tails from the juice saving the juice, and set the tails aside. Once you're veggies are cooked down a bit, add the reserved juice to the pan. Bring this to a boil and add your salt, white pepper, garlic powder and cayenne.

Bring to a boil, lower to a simmer and let this cook for about 20 minutes. While this is cooking, in a separate pot or rice cooker, cook your rice.

After 20 minutes, add your crawfish tails and your scallions, stir and let cook another 5 minutes or so. Season to taste and serve with a scoop of rice and the warmed bread.