It's time to laissez les bon temps rouler- Mardi Gras kicks off this weekend at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay!
Mardi Gras has been celebrated in New Orleans since the 1600's and in 2024 we're continuing to celebrate and you don't even need to plan a trip to The Big Easy to do it. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is hosting Mardi Gras January 13-March 3.
The festivals at Busch Gardens are so much fun. In 2023, I went to the Food & Wine Festival and Bier Fest. I love the atmosphere the fests bring and of course all the delicious food and drinks they offer. It's all so good, and there's something for everyone.
What can you expect at Mardi Gras at Busch Gardens?
Starting this weekend, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay becomes the French Quarter. Mardi Gras features your favorite Cajun foods like gumbo and jambalaya, as well as traditional cocktails like the hurricane, as well as beer and wine. I highly recommend, if you plan on doing some sampling, purchasing a Sampler Lanyard. They start at $40 and come in quantities of either 5 or 10. It's the way to go and gives you the opportunity to try a little bit of everything. It can't be Mardi Gras without a parade and that'll definitley be something to experience, with plenty of beads being thrown and live music from an authentic brass band.
Best of all, Mardi Gras is included with your park admission ticket, annual pass or Fun Cards. And speaking of Fun Cards, there's a great deal going on right now. Purchase a 2024 Busch Gardens Fun Card for $138.99 and you'll get an Adventure Island Fun Card for FREE.
For more information on Mardi Gras and to purchase tickets, click here
Mardi Gras Party Videos
Today isn't just TikTok Tuesday. It is Fat Tuesday. Time to celebrate with a few Mardi Gras party videos. Have you been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans? It's crazy. Anything goes, however, that could be the description of New Orleans at any given time. Called "Carnival" worldwide, in the United States, New Orleans is THE premiere place to celebrate.
What is Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, also referred to as Shrove Tuesday and even Pancake Tuesday. Its roots can be traced back to medieval times in Europe. It's a time where Christians would consume all the fats and such in the house to get ready for a season of fasting, the season of Lent. Lent is the six week period leading up to Easter. Christians recognize this time in a variety of ways, a post for another time. Today is the grand finale, the big blowout before the strict reigning in. From decadence to discipline, it's the embodiment of the yin and yang in the Christian world.
My social media feeds have been full of Mardi Gras videos and not just from NOLA. The posts have been from similar parties not just around the country, but also around the world. Thank Carnivale in Venice. Regardless, I took the top five from New Orleans that crossed my TikTok feed last night and assembled them here. You don't have to have an account to view the videos. In addition, no logging in means no getting into trouble at work. Simply scroll down and hit play. Enjoy these top five Mardi Gras Party Videos, and let the good times roll today.
