Mardi Gras Family Fun

Mardi Gras Family Fun

It is fun and enriching for children to learn about different cultures and traditions. This year, put the spotlight on Mardi Gras!!!

So… what is Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras is a celebration and Catholic tradition that marks the last day of fasting before Lent. This is a time of thanks and treating ones self to some delicious food before fasting begins. It is also known as “Fat Tuesday”.

In New Orleans, Mardi Gras has big parades featuring lots of lively music, costumes and floats. People in the parade throw beads, toys and stuffed animals, too.

Many people associate the colors purple, green and gold, which represent justice, growth and wealth.

Cincinnati Family Magazine has rounded up some great ideas of how your family can celebrate Mardi Gras right here in Cincy!

First up, order a delicious, colorful, festive King Cake.

These cakes are so yummy. Flaky pastry, gooey gooey icing and crunchy sanding sugar. Just so good.
Surprise! They hold a fun secret within. Each cake has a hidden plastic baby inside and the person who finds it in their slice of King Cake gets to either host the Mardi Gras party or buy the King Cake next year. It is also thought to be good luck to find the baby! More traditionally, the baby represents Jesus.

Check out these five local spots that sell amazing King Cakes!

The BonBonerie
2030 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH
Click here to visit their website and order ahead.

Servatii
15 locations in Greater Cincinnati
Click here to visit their website and order ahead.

Mardi Gras Family Fun

Jungle Jim’s
Fairfield: 5440 Dixie Highway, Fairfield, OH 45014
Eastgate: 4450 Eastgate South Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45245
Cheese King Cake, Cinnamon King Cake, King Cake with Praline Filling, Premium Mardi Gras King Cake COFFEE, King Cake beer, King Cake soda
Click here to visit their website and learn more.

Mardi Gras Family Fun

Graeter’s
17 locations in Greater Cincinnati
Click here to visit their website and order ahead.

Busken Bakery
4 Cincinnati/NKY Locations
Large or Small- Cheese, Cinnamon or Strawberry Cheese King Cakes
Click here to visit their website and order ahead.

Next, play some Mardi Gras Games and Activities

-See who can create the most festive Mardi Gras outfit using clothes in their wardrobe.

-Have a mini parade in your house. Line stuffed animals along the wall and try to throw beads around their head! See who can get the most beads beads on their stuffed animals in one minute.

-Hide some golden coins (or the baby from the King Cake!) in the house and send your pint-sized party goers on a treasure hunt. You can give rhyming clues to make them think or even play “hot” and “cold”.

-Have a Mardi Gras music dance party- listen to some brassy tunes and get moving.

-Hold up a Mardi Gras necklace, have kids guess how many beads there are!

Of course you will want to make some Mardi Gras Arts and Crafts

-String some beads and make a beautiful necklace to celebrate Mardi Gras. Practice fine motor skills, color identification, patterns and even spelling if you have letter beads.

-Print out our Mari Gras coloring sheets…