Chicagoland families can have fun this Mardi Gras with these festive ideas and restaurants

Mardi Gras (aka Fat Tuesday, aka Packzi Day) is a celebration of excess that takes place on the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Lent. This year, the holiday falls on Feb. 17 and will be celebrated with music, parades, picnics, floats and tons of food. 

This family-friendly Mardi Gras guide offers you some NOLA-style recipes, crafts and activities to introduce your kids to the holiday. Get ready to throw your own spectacular celebration at home — minus the parade floats. 

Get cooking

The origins of Fat Tuesday date all the way back to medieval Europe when people would use up all the fat in their pantries by indulging in scrumptious treats before they began their Lenten fast. This holiday is the perfect way to introduce your kids to delicious New Orleans-style recipes. 

There are so many dishes you can include in your Mardi Gras menu, from chicken and sausage gumbo, shrimp etouffee and dirty rice to desserts like beignets and the traditional King Cake. Delish offers more than 20 Mardi Gras recipes and Southern Living features more than 30. 

Fat Tuesday in Chicagoland also means it’s time to put away a paczki or two, and while you can get some of these Polish-inspired desserts at most local grocery stores, you can’t beat the fresh paczkis offered at these local bakeries.

 

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Take out

If you prefer to have someone else do the cooking, don’t worry! These Chicagoland restaurants feature authentic Cajun menus sure to hit the spot. 

Luella’s Southern Kitchen

If you’re more of a brunch person, head to Luella’s Southern Kitchen for dishes full of Louisiana flavor, like shrimp and grits, salmon buttermilk biscuits, chicken gumbo and more.

• Address: 4609 N. Lincoln Ave,, Chicago

 

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Moe Joes

Moe Joes has a late-night Cajun-Caribbean menu offering blackened chicken, andouille sausage, jerk wings, po boys and other New Orleans favorites. 

• Address: 24033 W. Lockport St., Plainfield
  

   

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Lowcountry

With three Chicagoland locations to choose from, a meal at Lowcountry is a must for anyone who wants to celebrate Mardi Gras with southern seafood. Choose from shrimp, snow crab, mussels and more, then pair it with cornbread, potatoes or corn. And, of course, there’s beignets for dessert!

 

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Crab King Cajun Boil & Bar

Crab King Cajun Boil & Bar is a lively Cajun seafood spot in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood known for its flavorful boil-style platters and casual, fun atmosphere. Guests can choose from a variety of Cajun boil combos — from shrimp and clams to snow crab and sausage — with customizable sauces and spice levels, plus cocktails and sides to round out the meal.

• Address: 3443 N Broadway, Chicago

Storyville Chicago

Hosting Mardi Gras all month long, Storyville Chicago is a vibrant New Orleans-inspired restaurant and cocktail lounge in Chicago’s River North. Known for its Cajun and Creole-flavored menu, from gumbo and jambalaya to blackened catfish and shrimp & grits, the spot pairs bold, soulful food with classic French Quarter-style cocktails in a lively, stylish setting.

• • Address: 712 N Clark St., Chicago

 

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Mardi Gras activities 

Mardi Gras is often associated with the colors purple, green and yellow, which represent justice, faith and power, respectively. Start by decorating your home in these colors, then head to a party supply store to find festive bead necklaces and other party favors that kids will love. 

Once you have your home decorated, you can teach your kids more about the holiday and keep them entertained with these fun craft and activity ideas. 

• Watch “The Princess and The Frog.” It’s set in 1926 New Orleans and we’ve found plenty of Mardi Gras-inspired activities that go along with it. 
• Make a Mardi Gras mask. In the beginning, masks were worn during Mardi Gras to help the wearer escape class constraints. Masks are still worn today to add to the excitement of the holiday.
• Make some Mardi Gras slime. Kids love to make slime and this recipe from Premeditated Leftovers incorporates the traditional colors of the holiday.

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