10 Mardi Gras Activities for Kids: Ideas for a Fun-Filled Celebration

*This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links at no additional cost to you.

Happy easter!

Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is a traditional holiday celebrated in many cities around the world, most notably in New Orleans, Louisiana. Before the start of Lent, the 40-day period of fasting and penance leading up to Easter, it is a time for celebration. Mardi Gras is celebrated with vibrant parades, vivacious music, mouthwatering cuisine, and of course, the throwing of beads and other trinkets. For people of all ages, it is a holiday that is full of fun, joy, and excitement, but it can be especially thrilling for children. It's understandable why youngsters look forward to Mardi Gras every year given the colourful costumes, eye-catching floats, and entertaining activities. So, get ready to let the good times roll and join in on the celebration with your little ones.

1. Mardi Gras Mask Making

Making Mardi Gras masks is a creative and entertaining activity that kids of all ages can take part in. You can make a lovely mask that will make your child feel like they are participating in Mardi Gras with just a few basic items. Feathers, glitter, paint, and a simple mask, printable mask, or a paper plate as a base are what you need to create a Mardi Gras mask. Allow your children to paint the mask's base in the color of their choice before letting them add glitter or other decorations like sequins, beads, and feathers. Once the base is dry, you can help your kids attach the feathers using glue or a hot glue gun.

2. Mardi Gras Parade Float Building

Creating mini Mardi Gras parade floats at home is a fun and exciting activity that kids will love. You can bring the excitement of Mardi Gras right into your own house with only a few simple supplies. You'll need supplies like cardboard, paint, glue, and any decorations you want to use, such as streamers, beads, or feathers, to construct a little float. Gather a piece of cardboard and first cut it into a float form, like a rectangle or a triangle. The float should then be painted in any color your children want. They can add decorations like streamers or beads once the paint has dried to give it a more festive appearance.

To add more fun to the activity, you can turn it into a competition where the most creative float wins a prize. You can also include a parade for the floats, where the kids can march around the house with their floats and have a mini parade.

3. Mardi Gras Themed Party Games

Mardi Gras themed party games are a fun way to get kids excited about the holiday. There are many games that can be played at a Mardi Gras party, and they're easy to set up and play. One popular party game is a Mardi Gras bead catching contest. To play, you will need a bunch of Mardi Gras beads and a small basket or bag for each child to collect their beads in. Set up a starting line and an ending line, and then let the kids race to see who can catch the most beads. You can also play a variation of this game where kids have to catch the beads using only one hand or using a spoon or a tong.

Another fun game is a Mardi Gras parade float piñata. You can make your own piñata in the shape of a parade float or purchase one, fill it with small candies and trinkets, and let the kids take turns trying to break it open.

A third game that can be played is a Mardi Gras treasure hunt. Hide small trinkets and treats around the house, and give the kids a list of things to find. The first one to find everything on the list wins a prize.

4. Mardi Gras Recipe Round-Up

King Cake

Mardi Gras is not complete without the delicious food that comes with the celebration. One of the most popular traditional Mardi Gras recipes is king cake. King cake is a sweet pastry made of dough, filled with cinnamon and sugar, and topped with icing and colorful sprinkles. It's a delicious treat that the whole family can enjoy making. Another traditional Mardi Gras recipe is jambalaya, a classic Creole dish made with rice, vegetables, and meat or seafood. These are just a few examples, but there are many other delicious Mardi Gras recipes that you can try out with your family.

Cooking with kids can be a fun and educational experience, but it can also be messy. To make the cooking experience more fun for kids, you can assign different tasks to them. For example, younger children can mix ingredients, while older children can help with measuring and cutting. You can also let them decorate their own king cake or make their own mini jambalayas. Additionally, you can make it a competition where the most delicious recipe wins a prize. Cooking is a great way to bond with your kids and teach them valuable life skills. So, grab your aprons, and let's get cooking!

5. Mardi Gras Coloring Pages and Activity Sheets

Coloring papers and activity sheets for Mardi Gras are a simple and enjoyable method to excite kids about the occasion. Online, you may find a selection of printable, free coloring pages and activity sheets. These pages include pictures of masks, floats, and parades that are related to Mardi Gras. They are ideal for children of all ages and can be an excellent way to keep them occupied as they learn about the holiday.

You can also use these coloring pages as decorations for the party or as a way to keep kids busy while they wait for the main activities. You can even make it a competition and have a prize for the most creative coloring page. Additionally, you can have different stations set up with different materials, this way the kids can mix and match and create their own unique designs. The coloring pages and activity sheets can be a great way to spend quality time with your kids while also celebrating the holiday. So, grab some crayons or markers and let the coloring begin!

Here are some fun and easy Mardi Gras coloring pages and activity sheets to make with your kids:

6. Mardi Gras Costume Ideas

Mardi Gras costumes are a fun and festive way to get kids excited about the holiday. There are numerous costume ideas that may be created at home with little work and with few supplies. Making a vibrant Mardi Gras mask out of feathers, glitter, and paint is one easy option. Another option is to create a costume with supplies you already own, like a purple, green, and gold t-shirt, matching leggings, and a hat or headband.

You can also make a Mardi Gras themed tutu using tulle, a t-shirt and leggings, and a pair of Mardi Gras themed suspenders. The possibilities are endless, and you can get creative with the design. Kids will enjoy the activity even more if you make it into a contest where the best outfit receives a prize. You could also construct a photo booth and have the kids pose for pictures while wearing their costumes. They can showcase their works by wearing the costumes at home or at a parade or celebration.

7. Mardi Gras Music and Dance for Kids

Children love to join in on the festivities of Mardi Gras, and music and dance are essential components of the festival. Kids can participate in a variety of traditional Mardi Gras songs and dances, including the "Second Line" and the "Mardi Gras Indian Dance". The Second Line is a dance that resembles a parade that started in New Orleans. To the beat of the music, you sway and stamp your feet in this enjoyable and simple dance. Children will also enjoy learning the Mardi Gras Indian Dance, also known as the "Indian Red," which is a classic dance performed by the Mardi Gras Indians.

8. Mardi Gras Bingo

Mardi Gras bingo

Mardi Gras Bingo is a fun and interactive way to get kids involved in the celebration of the holiday. The game is played like traditional bingo, but instead of numbers, the squares on the bingo card are filled with pictures related to Mardi Gras such as a mask, beads, or a parade. To play, you will need to print or create Mardi Gras picture bingo cards and corresponding picture cards.

To play, the host will call out the name of the picture, and the players will search for the corresponding picture on their bingo cards. The first player to get five pictures in a row (horizontally or vertically) calls out "BINGO" and wins a prize. The game can be played individually or in teams, and different prizes can be awarded for different number of bingo lines. This game is a great way to keep kids entertained while they learn about the holiday, it's also a great way to spend quality time with your kids while also celebrating the holiday. So, grab some bingo cards and let the games begin!

9. Mardi Gras Craft Ideas

Mardi Gras is such a fun and colorful holiday, and what better way to celebrate it with your kids than by getting creative with some Mardi Gras themed crafts! These crafts are not only a great way to get kids involved in the celebration, but they're also easy to make with minimal materials and effort. For example, you can make a beaded necklace by stringing together some colorful Mardi Gras beads. Or, why not make a glittery mask by decorating a plain mask with glitter, glue and any other embellishments you can think of. Another fun craft idea is to create a Mardi Gras themed wreath using a foam wreath, streamers and ornaments with Mardi Gras symbols. The possibilities are endless when it comes to creating Mardi Gras crafts, so let your imagination run wild and have fun creating something unique and special with your kids.

Here are some fun and easy Mardi Gras craft ideas to make with your kids:

10. Mardi Gras Scavenger Hunt

Mardi Gras Scavenger Hunt

A Mardi Gras scavenger hunt is an entertaining and engaging way to get kids in the holiday spirit. You can play the game either inside or outside. Print out a list of Mardi Gras-related items, such as a mask, float, or bead, then hide them about the house or neighborhood if you want to play. A list of items to find and a time restriction will be provided to each player or team. A prize is awarded to the first person or team to locate every item on the list.

Summary

We covered 10 entertaining Mardi Gras activities in this article that kids of all ages can take part in. These include making masks, building parade floats, playing themed party games like a Mardi Gras bead catching competition, making Mardi Gras foods, printing out Mardi Gras coloring pages and activity sheets, coming up with Mardi Gras costume ideas, dancing and listening to Mardi Gras music, playing Mardi Gras bingo, making Mardi Gras crafts, and going on a Mardi Gras scavenger hunt. These activities are a great way to spend time with youngsters and get them excited for the holiday. They may also be modified to suit different age groups and are simple to put up and play. Some of the activities include cooking, crafting, and scavenger hunting, which can be a great way for kids to learn new skills.

We appreciate you reading this article about kid-friendly Mardi Gras activities. We hope that you have found the material provided to be useful and that you can use it to provide your kids a fun and special Mardi Gras celebration. We hope that participating in these activities will give you the inspiration to start your own Mardi Gras traditions with your loved ones and that you will enjoy making these memories. Contact us at any time if you have any questions or comments. Enjoy your Mardi Gras and thanks for reading!