Celebrating Mardi Gras in Philadelphia

“New Awlins Philly Style 2020!”

Why let New Orleans have all of the fun for Mardi Gras! We can have just as much fun right here in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection!

Mardis Gras, known as the Carnival Season, are events that begin on or after the Epiphany or Kings Day and wrap up on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is Tuesday, February 25.

Fact: Many tourists try to fit in and say N’Awlins, while locals will say New Awlins.

Get ready to feast your eyes and fill your stomachs on good New Orleans food, parades, dancing to live music and the threat of Hurricanes attacking Philly. Well, that’s the drink Hurricane, not the storm.

So get your beads, put on your best Mardi Gras mask and get ready to get down with these local festivities on Mardi Gras, February 25, also known as Fat Tuesday. (dates listed for special events outside the day of Mardi Gras)

• Mardi Gras Parade On South Street: February 16 – From 1 pm to 5 pm on and around South Street, enjoy The Wild Bohemians as they take you from bar to bar while wearing colorful costumes. The parade/bar crawl starts at NOLA-themed bar Fat Tuesday’s at 1 pm and continues to Copabana, PaddyWhacks, O’Neals and more. ~ More Info ~ 
• 12th Annual Mardi Gras Party & Silent Auction: February 21 – This event will be held at the Old Pine Community Center on Friday, February 1, from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm located at 401 Lombard Street. Enjoy New Orleans inspired food from Catahoula Restaurant, great drinks, live music, activities for kids of all ages, and last but certainly not least — a silent auction for a great cause, OPCC Outreach programs! $40 for adults ($50 at door) & $15 for kids. For tickets & info, Click Here. ~ Web Site Info ~
• Mardi Gras at XFinity Live: February 22 ~ Starting at 9 pm at XFinity Live, enjoy food & drink specials, contests, live performances by Go Go Gadget & more! ~ More Info ~ 
• Mummers Mardi Gras Parade: February 23 – Taking place Saturday from 11 am until 8 pm at XFINITY Live! at 1100 Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia. There will be 2 sessions (11 am – 3 pm & 4 pm – 8 pm)Here is your chance to enjoy the Mummers again, a few months after the Mummers Parade. Head on over to Main Street Manayunk for this blowout bash, as 16 Mummers String Bands strut their stuff. Celebrate Mardi Gras in style with the Mummers and after the parade, enjoy family activities such as face painting, photos with the Mummers, food trucks, drinks and more. The event helps generate exposure and raises money for one of the oldest traditions in Philadelphia. ~ Mummers Mardi Gras ~ 
• Catahoula: ~ February 25 ~ Opening at 9 am until 2 am! They will be serving their regular menu as well as a $7 menu that will include Jambalaya, Andouille Bites, Voodoo Shrimp, Jalapeno Hushpuppies, Alligator Sliders, Cajun Chicken Bites, Gumbo, Catfish Bites, Andouille Toast and Mac N Cheese Balls. They will also have specialty drinks  such as Hurricanes, Sazerca & Hand Grenades. They will be doing $6 Jameson shots, $4 Abita draft or bottles and $2.50 Miller Lite cans. Lastly, wear your Mardi Gras Mask at the party and receive a free gift. Catahoula is located in Queen Village at 775 South Front St.  ~ Facebook Event Page ~
• Khyber Pass Pub: ~ February 25 ~ Located in Olde City, a bar that’s been around for 4 + decades, has evolved into a pleasant watering hole with excellent food over the last several years. Enjoy etouffée, po-boys, creole sausage and vegan variations, along with sazeracs and hurricanes. More info about Khyber Pass Pub, Click Here.
• Chris’ Jazz Cafe ~ February 25 ~ 11 am to 10 pm. Nothing says Mardi Gras like the Hoppin John Orchestra. Join the parade at 6:15 pm which stuts around Broad & Chestnut Streets and then come in for this NOLA experience with drink specials, hurricanes, sazarac, crawdads, crawfish mac & cheese, crawfish cheesesteaks, Jambalaya, Gumbo, beads, feathers and lots and lots of FUN!! Free buckets of crawfish to the first 25 guests who order them. The Hoppin John Orchestra comes inside and plays at 7 pm – midnight for $15! For details & tickets, click here. Located 1421 Sansom St. 
• Beck’s Cajun Cafe: ~ February 25 ~ Beck’s Cajun Café is selling King Cakes for Mardi Gras now and days after Mardi Gras. These traditional pastries are made of braided bread similar to brioche, topped with icing or sugar in the colors of purple, green and gold. The large King Cake contains a small, plastic baby. Whoever finds the baby is believed to gain good luck. Beck’s will be serving up its award-winning menu of hearty gumbos, jambalaya, shrimp and crawfish pasta and more! Beck’s Cajun Cafe is located in the Reading Terminal Market and 30th Street Station. More info about Beck’s Cajun Cafe, Click Here.  
• The Thirsty Soul ~ February 25 ~ From 6 pm to 2 am! Enjoy Hurricane punch bowls, Muffaletta’s, Gumbo, beer by Fat Heads Brewery and live music by Drew Nugent & the Midnight Society. Located 1551 W. Passyunk Ave. More info, Thirsty Soul Mardi Gras.
• Bourbon Blue: ~ February 25 ~ Open 4:30 pm to 11 pm. $10 cover. This New Orleans-style restaurant in Manayunk will be serving 1/2 priced apps until 10 pm with $5 Soco Hurricanes & Nola Colas, $4 Abita, live music, beads & more! Their full menu will also be available. For more info regarding Mardi Gras at Bourbon Blue, click Bourbon Blue. 
• Fat Tuesday: ~ February 25 ~ Are you searching for a powerful Hurricane, this is the place to go. Fat Tuesdays’s Hurricane will be mixed with Rum, Hurricane mix and crushed ice. Just make sure to have your life preserver with you at all times. Fat Tuesday is on South Street  and is open from 11 am to 2 am. 
• Copabanana:  ~ February 25 ~ Opening at 11:30 am. The Copabanana on South Street in the Headhouse District, which is known for their margaritas and beef tacos, will be serving Hurricane specials, Oyster Shooters, and Abita Springs Louisiana beer as well as some Louisiana foods such oysters, Oyster & catfish po’ boys, Beignets, Gumbo and Crawfish Etoufee. More info about Copabanana, Click Here. (Feb 20 – waiting for 2020 update on specials)
• Bayou Bar & Grill: ~ February 25 ~ Open 11 am to 2 am. This will be the Bayou Bar & Grill’s 25th Fat Tuesday Celebration. Opened in 1993 in the spirit of a comfortable, laid back, Bourbon St tavern, the Bayou will have great drink and food specials. Specials: 25 cent Buffalo Wings, $2.50 Miller Lites All Day & Night & $4 Hurricanes (9 pm – 11 pm). For more info on Bayou Bar & Grill, located in Manayunk, Click Here. 
• Rex 1516: ~ February 25 ~ Enjoy good food and discounted NOLA cocktails. Enjoy their King Cake Burger (beef patty, cheddar, bacon, lettuce, house-made pickles, king cake roll), a pint of Newbold and a shot of Old Forester Bourbon for $18. They’ll also be serving up a Traditional Hurricane for $8. Located at 1516 South Street. 
• South ~ February 25 ~ Open from 4 pm to 2 am, explore the Magic & Mystery of the Sazerac in the lounge from 5 pm – 7 pm which is sponsored by Bastille. As always, taste new southern cuisine Fat Tuesday evening with a full dinner menu available, but they will have a special edition of our Southern Classics Menu (3-Courses for $25) featuring a New Orleans Style Mississippi Catfish! Then join them in the jazz parlor for Henry Tirfe & Chelsea Reed! Doors open at 6 pm. Located 600 N Broad Street. (waiting for 2020 update) 
• The Wild Bohemians & the West Philadelphia Orchestra ~ February 25 ~ $15. Held at Frank Bradley’s at 1320 Chancellor St Philadelphia, PA 19107. On Mardi Gras, come listen to the The Wild Bohemians upstairs from 8 pm to 9 pm at this 36th annual Mardi Gras celebration. The band’s music consists of Cajun, Zydeco, Dixieland, Mardi Gras Street Music, Jazz, R&B, and a specialty the Bohemians call Swamp Stomp. Then from 9:30 pm to 1 am, listen to the West Philadelphia Orhcestra. Doors open at 7 pm & show starts at 8 pm. For more information & tickets, Click Here.

Laissez les bons temps rouler! – Let the Good Times Roll!