How many of you celebrate Mardi Gras? Been to New Orleans?
I’ve never been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, or Carnival for that matter, but a little at home, family friendly Mardi Gras celebration next Tuesday, Feb. 21, seems like the perfect opportunity to teach your kids about a fun holiday that is celebrated all over the world.
Family Friendly Mardi Gras Celebration Ideas
Here are some ideas to help your family celebrate Mardi Gras this year:
1. Decorate masks.
2. Serve a traditional New Orleans style dinner.
3. Bake a king cake (or cupcakes).
4. Decorate the dinner table with Mardi Gras colors and symbols.
5. Listen to music typical of New Orleans such as zydeco, jazz & blues.
Mardi Gras Masks
Kids will LOVE decorating masks; just give them some supplies and let them go to work.
Use things such as feathers, sequins, pom poms, pipe cleaners, ribbon, and plastic jewels to embellish your masks. I wanted to keep everything in the traditional Mardi Gras colors – purple, green and yellow, which were easy to find at either Dollar Tree or Michaels.
Adults can join in the fun too, of course…I had a great time making my masks!
King Cake Cupcakes
King cake is a braided coffee cake covered with icing and purple, green and gold sugar. A small plastic baby is baked inside the cake and whoever finds it has to bring the king cake to the next celebration.
I personally am scared of yeast, so I didn’t attempt to make the traditional king cake…If you’re feeling brave, you might try Martha Stewart’s recipe.
Instead, I went for cupcakes decorated with purple, green and yellow frosting and dressed them up with free Mardi Gras printables from Kim at The TomKat Studio (one of the guest speakers at SNAP!).
In keeping with tradition, I baked a baby into one of the cupcakes and thought it would be fun to see who chose the winning cupcake. Of course the kids wanted to eat ALL the cupcakes to see who had the baby!
Tablescape
To decorate the dinner table, I started with a simple white tablecloth and then added some things to make it festive using the traditional Mardi Gras colors.
The centerpiece was created by placing some twigs painted white that I placed in a tall vase. I filled the vase with little green balls, adding some coins and beads hanging from the branches. Matching ribbon was tied around the center of the vase.
To add some color to the white tablecloth, I used a paper punch to cut out a bunch of fleur-de-lis shapes from purple, green and yellow cardstock and scattered them around the table.
For the place settings, I started with a shiny purple piece of scrapbook paper and then added the contrasting yellow paper plates and utensils wrapped in a green and white polka dot napkin. The napkin was secured with a yellow ribbon and embellished with more Mardi Gras party circles from The TomKat Studio.
To dress up the plastic cups, I again added some yellow ribbon and another party circle from The TomKat Studio. A purple and white striped straw is always more fun to drink out of, right??!! 😉
My kids are really excited for their special Mardi Gras dinner coming up next week. They’re probably most looking forward to the cupcakes again to see who gets the baby this time!
Are any of you planning your own Mardi Gras celebrations this year? What are some of your favorite traditions? I’d love to hear about them!
Oh, and if you get the chance, stop by Paisley Petal Events. I’ve just finished up Valentine’s Day and am looking forward to spring. I’ve got several great projects in mind, like this Mario Kart birthday party.
Kendra @ Key Lime Digital Designs says
What a great idea! I love the masks! We never celebrate mardi gras because well…. we just don’t but this looks like such a fun family party we might just start having too!
Tauni says
Kendra, Wasn’t Holly’s party completely amazing? I loved it and can’t wait to try some of her ideas next week with the kids 🙂
xoxo
Mindy says
We don’t celebrate Mardi Gras in our home, but this looks so fun! Great presentation!
Kristen Duke Photography says
I grew up in New Orleans, and we went to Mardi Gras every year. It really is a fun family friendly environment, its just too bad that all everything thinks of it is partying and ladies showing off too much. You just know where the family spots are, and the crazy parts and steer clear of them. I have fond memories as a child of being hoisted up in a ladder yelling, “Throw me something, Mister” and I even got to be on a float in a parade as a young child. Thanks for highlighting this fun holiday…I try to get a king cake for my kids to enjoy each year!
Tauni says
Kristen, I was in New Orleans last spring and had such a good time touring the area. I was surprised to see some of the beads still up in the trees months after Mardi Gras, but enjoyed seeing them nonetheless!
What fun memories you must have. Do you still celebrate Mardi Gras in your home?
xoxo
Mindy says
This looks like so much fun! I love your centerpiece on your table:) Thanks for sharing.
Tauni says
Holly really did a great job on the Mardi Gras table. I am so excited to put one together here next week!
xoxo
Caroline says
I love these ideas! There is something fun for everyone. Great decorations, and I especially like the idea of the cupcakes with the hidden baby inside. That is a good twist on the king cake tradition. Thanks for sharing.
ap says
Hello,
What kind of glue did you use for the shiny pipe cleaners? I tried tacky glue freon Joann’s, but it wouldn’t stay on the mask.
Thanks!
Tauni says
Hi! When you use the tacky glue you have to let it sit and dry for quite a while. If you need something that dried faster and is a bit stronger, opt for low temp hot glue. Good luck! xoxo Tauni