Tune up the brass and get your purple, green and gold beads ready for Mardi Gras as it rolls into North Texas. The holiday celebrates the Carnival season, which is considered the last hurrah before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season.
Sure, the biggest and most well-known Mardi Gras celebrations might be held in New Orleans, but there is still fun to be had in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Here’s a list of eight Mardi Gras events to attend in North Texas. And you don’t see your favorite shindig, tell us about it in the comments below!
KREWE OF KOWTOWN MARDI GRAS PARTY
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Billy Bob’s Fat Tuesday celebration returns for its 33rd year. This year’s live music lineup features Blues Champs with Latin Express Horns, Zakk Webb, Claire Hinkle Band and James Hinkle.
DETAILS: Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at Billy Bob’s Texas, 2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth. General admission is $20.
MARDI GRAS CRAFT AND CREOLE DINNER PAIRING
Denton County Brewing Company is hosting an intimate Creole-inspired beer pairing dinner. Find a multi-course tasting menu crafted by Suzanne Johnson of The Chestnut Tree. The dinner is for 21 and up, and festive Mardi Gras attire is encouraged.
DETAILS: Feb. 17 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Denton County Brewing Company, 200 East McKinney St., Denton.
MARDI GRAS COOKIE DECORATING CLASS
Cookie decorators of all skill levels are invited to join in on this Mardi Gras-inspired cookie decorating class. Attendees can practice piping and layering colors to create festive cookies.
DETAILS: Feb. 7 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Tipsy Crawfish Event Center, 1910 N Stonebridge Dr., Suite 100, McKinney. Tickets are $60.
MARDI CRAWL LIVE
Texas Live! is hosting an epic Mardi Gras bar crawl that includes seven stops, games, giveaways and a brass band playing jazz, all set near the Texas Rangers ballpark.
DETAILS: Feb. 14 at 1 p.m. at Texas Live!, 1650 E Randol Mill Road, Arlington. General admission is $27.86.
MARDI GRAS MASQUERADE
Rollertown Beerworks is turning up and hosting a full-blown Mardi Gras celebration with three live brass bands. The bands include The Free Loaders, Unfaded Brass Band and the Reveler’s Hall Band.
DETAILS: Feb. 14 at 1 p.m. at Rollertown Beerworks, 6450 Main St., Frisco. Free.
OAK CLIFF 2026 MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL
The Dallas neighborhood’s Mardi Gras celebration is supposedly the largest in North Texas. Expect to see colorful parade floats, bands and drill teams in the Oak Cliff neighborhood.
DETAILS: Feb. 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. at 615 W Davis St., Dallas. Free.
THE VILLAGE PRESENTS: MARDI GRAS ON MAIN STREET
The Village Main Street will come alive with vibrant Mardi Gras decorations and entertainment. Plus, there will be live music, games, New Orleans-inspired snacks and boiled crawfish.
DETAILS: Feb. 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Village Dallas, 5605 Village Glen Dr., Dallas. Free.
THE 12TH ANNUAL BIG EASY IN LITTLE ELM
In honor of Mardi Gras, run a themed 5K or participate in a 1K fun walk. There will also be fun Cajun activities like a hot air balloon glow, a crawfish boil, live music by the Spazmatics, a King Cake eating contest, food trucks, shopping and fireworks.
DETAILS: Feb. 28 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Little Elm Park, 701 W Eldorado Pkwy., Little Elm. The 1K Fun Run is $35 and the 5K is $40.