So, You’re Stuck in Austin for Mardi Gras…

Missed the party bus down to Galveston? Wanting to beat the crowds in New Orleans? Turns out, Austin knows how to have just as much fun for Mardi Gras without having to hit the road with a full tank of gas or splurge on a pricey hotel or beach house for the weekend!

With the weather looking more Netflix-and-chill than swim-and-tan anyway, we’ve got your guide to the ultimate Austin Mardi Gras week. From the tastiest eats to the best places to parade, party, and dance it out with your squad, tune in as we explore a bead-dazzled ATX.

Mardi Gras

Weekend Festivities – Saturday, February 22nd and Sunday, February 23rd 

Trying to keep the party animal within contained to the weekend? No problem! Austin has plenty of Mardi Gras events coming this weekend to keep you in the spirit now and on-track for later!

Need a furry fix? Swing by Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. on Saturday, February 22nd from 2-6 pm for their 5th Annual Mardi Gras Dog Parade! Admission is free, but all donations go to Pug Rescue Austin. The parade around the ABGB kicks off at 4 pm, with all costumed dogs eligible to win “Best Dressed.” Did we mention there will be pugs up for adoption? Featuring Jimmie Dreams & The Crescent Soul Revue playing at 5PM, plus tons of traditional Mardi Gras foods, King Cake, and beer options for days, this one is guaranteed to be a barkin’ good time!

Bring the kids! While some Mardi Gras festivities can get raunchy, you’ll find plenty of family-friendly fun at Mardi Gras Mambo by The Hive. This sweet South-Austin spot, known for its coffee, co-working, childcare, and events, is putting on a bash for all ages on Saturday from 3-6 pm. There will be live music by The Numbers, crafts, and FREE burgers (beef and veggie!) for all.

Want a taste of the south? Add this one to your calendar for sure and bring your appetite! Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden is partnering with Eastside Boilers to bring Austinites the first-ever Cosmic Crawfish Boil on Sunday, February 23rd from 1pm until they run out of food! There will be crawfish, shrimp, snow crab legs, and plenty of New Orleans-style drink specials to try! Corn, potatoes, and sausage are included with all ticket purchases, which can be made here up until the day before the event.

Sip, sip, hooray! We found a bar crawl just for you. Bar Crawl Events LLC found a way to turn 6th Street into Bourbon Street, and the party just won’t be right without you there! Tickets include beads, masquerade masks, souvenir cups, and plenty of great discounts on food and drinks at all cover-free bars! Snag a discounted ticket online or pay more at the door on Saturday from 3-5 pm, and then prepare the crawl all night long!

Want to spend some fun quality time with your squad this weekend? Whether it’s pre-parade or post-brunch, DivaDance is the perfect sexy, sweaty, stress-free dance experience for ALL LEVELS! All DivaDance classes start with community time to get to know the squad and kick off with a high energy warmup/stretch. Then you’ll get sexy and sweaty while you learn an all levels, low-impact cardio dance choreo routine. The class schedule this weekend totally fit the Mardi Gras spirit, whether you’re dancing to Queen Bey’s “Before I Let Go”  or shaking it to Lizzo’s “Soulmate” Come with your squad OR solo — just be prepared to let your hair down and have fun. Before we finish off with a sexy cooldown, you’ll have the chance to cheer on your fellow dancers and capture video of the routine on your phone. After class, join our private Facebook group to get access to your class video (participation in the video is totes optional). Don’t miss the fun, all-levels dance classes at DivaDance throughout the city! Spots are open now but filling fast. 

The Big Day – Tuesday, February 25th

We love a great mid-week celebration, and you’ll be feeling #blessed with the number of choices you have to party it up in style on Fat Tuesday! Let’s break it down-

Gimme that cake! First things first! Looking for that classic King Cake but don’t want to be #basic and grab it off the shelf at HEB? Try one of Austin’s better options to satisfy that sweet tooth! Is your party plan taking you up north this year? Preorder a traditional or special flavor-filled cake from Stuffed Cajun Meat Market in Cedar Park! Their unique combinations this year include cream cheese, bavarian cream, lemon, and cherry. Totes worth the hike! If you’re keeping things local on Tuesday, you can preorder a Kings Cake from Easy Tiger at The LINC or East 6th, try one of Louisiana native Abby Jane’s cakes (pre-order online for 2/23 pickup at Confitura’s or  2/24 pickup at Dolce Neve)

Let’s catch some beads! While the streets of Austin won’t be closed down and filled with giant floats, that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate the holiday in style! Check out Cypress Grill for their 18th Annual Mardi Gras Bash! This family-friendly party truly has something for everyone to enjoy! There will be face painting for the kids at 5:30,  Zydeco-style music starting at 6:30, and lots of beads, libations, and fun times throughout the night! 

Missing Bourbon Street? If drinks, wild times, and jazzy tunes are what you seek, make sure to snag a ticket to Lefty’s Brick Bar for a party you will NOT want to miss. The tickets are FULLY-INCLUSIVE with plenty of tunes, bites, and drinks to go around. Let your hair down, toss some beads around, and have a ball downtown!

Bonus sweet treat! Stop by any Lick Ice Cream location in Austin to try their limited edition King Cake Ice Cream– a brilliant concoction of Easy Tiger’s king cake and cream cheese icing swirls mixed into cinnamon ice cream. Yum!

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