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Grab your beads: 15 ways to celebrate Mardi Gras in Atlanta
Grab your beads: 15 ways to celebrate Mardi Gras in Atlanta
By Avery Newmark
Updated Feb 13, 2023Hold on to your masks and grab your beads — it’s time to party! Mardi Gras, AKA Fat Tuesday, is the ultimate celebration before Lent starts. So mark your calendars because this year, the festivities are happening through the weekend until February 21! But don’t worry; you don’t have to fly to New Orleans to have a blast. Atlanta is cooking up some Mardi Gras magic of its own with these 15 fantastic ways to celebrate.
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From extravagant festivals to savory chicken and sausage jambalaya, there’s something for everyone. So, don’t miss out on the fun, clear your schedule and get ready to party like a true king or queen of Mardi Gras!
Go hog wild at a festival
- Mardi Gras on The Roof: Ponce City Market is bringing a slice of the French Quarter to its rooftop with a Mardi Gras extravaganza. Savor ‘Nawlins-inspired cocktails, juicy jello shots, drool-worthy beignets, delicious gumbo, and more. With two ticketed celebrations (day and night) prepare for endless entertainment, including stilt-walking spectacles, balloon artistry, juggling jamborees, beats straight from the Bayou, and, of course, an abundance of beads for everyone! Saturday, Feb. 18, from 11 a.m. to late.
- Mardi Gras at Reformation Brewery (Woodstock): Mardi Gras has arrived in downtown Woodstock and it’s time to let the good times roll. Join Reformation Brewery for a backyard bash featuring slushy sips, specialty cocktails, and all the fun you can handle. Saturday, Feb. 18 from 2-6 p.m.
- Mardi Gras Live! Atlanta: Live! at The Battery’s Mardi Gras celebration is going to be a wild ride! Indulge in mouth-watering Cajun dishes, a luxurious VIP low country boil buffet, groove to live music, have your future predicted by fortune tellers, and drink up with all-night specials and hurricanes. Saturday, Feb. 18 from 7:30 p.m. to late.
- Mardi Gras Midtown Block Party: Join the celebration with 20+ bars, clubs, and restaurants in the heart of Midtown’s entertainment district. Dress up, bring the Krewe, and experience Atlanta’s own Big Easy. With New Orleans-themed food specials, endless drink options, and exciting entertainment, this is a must-attend event for those 21+. Saturday, Feb. 18 from 5 p.m. to late.
- Mardi Gras at Avalon: The Avalon is gearing up for its annual Mardi Gras takeover! Bringing the French Quarter to Atlanta, get ready for some wicked specialty drinks, live music, and more. Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 5-9 p.m.
Get a taste of the Big Easy at one of these restaurants
- Fontaine’s Oyster House: Head to the Virginia-Highland institution for the ultimate feast featuring $5 Abita cans, $7 hurricanes, and a crawfish boil for $12. Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 4-10 p.m.
- C&S Seafood and Oyster Bar: Both of C&S Seafood & Oyster Bar’s locations in Vinings and Sandy Springs and Hugo’s Oyster Bar are celebrating Fat Tuesday with a party. All locations will serve a smorgasbord of festive food and drink specials. Tuesday, February 21.
- Bon Ton Atlanta: This Cajun, Vietnamese restaurant and cocktail bar is a great place to go year-round for NOLA-inspired food and drink.
- Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar: Get ready to celebrate Mardi Gras in Marietta. On Fat Tuesday, Draft Fish House is bringing the festivities to you with a menu full of delicious treats, including Oysters Rockefeller, chicken & sausage jambalaya, beignets, and specialty cocktails. Don’t miss out on the celebration — book your table now! On Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 5-9 p.m.
- Big Easy Grille: Join Big Easy Grille for its 22nd Mardi Gras Crawfish Boil — a double celebration on Saturday, Feb. 18 and Fat Tuesday, Feb. 21. This year’s festivities feature the first boiled crawfish of the season, refreshing hurricanes, flavorful Abita beer, bead-throwing fun, and lots of revelries.
- The Po’boy Shop: Mark your calendars for Saturday, Feb. 18 and Tuesday, Feb. 21! revelries. Head to The Po’boy Shop for a day of delicious food and drink specials, available on both dates. First come, first serve.
Embrace the sounds at a concert
- Wasted Potential Brass Band at Big Easy Grille: Join Big Easy Grille for its 22nd Mardi Gras Crawfish Boil on Saturday, Feb. 18 for live music by the Wasted Potential Brass Band, the first boiled crawfish of the season, refreshing hurricanes, flavorful Abita beer, bead-throwing fun, and lots of revelries. Saturday, Feb. 18 from 5-7 p.m.
- Mardi Gras Celebration at Northside Tavern: Head to one of Atlanta’s best dive bars for two nights of Mardi Gras celebration! Zydefunk will perform on Friday, Feb. 17 and Saturday, Feb. 18.
- World Reggae Meets Mardi Gras Benefit Concert: This benefit concert at Best End Brewing Company features Michael “Miguel” Paul and Itopia the Band. Dance the night away while supporting a local charity and enjoy food, drinks, vendors, live DJs and more. Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 7 p.m. to midnight.
- Mardi Gras Celebration at Blind Willie’s: On Fat Tuesday, head to VaHi blue’s club Blind Willie’s for a stomping good Mardi Gras celebration with The Mar-Tans. Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 7 pm. to late.