Tampa’s Gasparilla is filled with pirates, parties, and parades, but Mardi Gras in New Orleans is the ultimate celebration. Also known as Fat Tuesday, this festival is the last big blowout before Ash Wednesday, or Lent. Can’t make it to the Big Easy on February 25th? Enjoy all the fun and flavor of Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday right here in the Tampa Bay area at these New Orleans-inspired events and restaurants.
Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday Events Around the Bay
Mardi Gras Weekend Celebration
at American Social
#AmSo is bringing Bourbon Street to Harbour Island all weekend long! See below for all of the weekends events, specials, and promotions!
Mardi Gras Weekend at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay!
at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Join us for ALL-NEW Mardi Gras fun on February 22 & 23! ??
Mardi Gras in the Yard
at Grove Soho
Celebrate Fat Tuesday at Yard of Ale Soho! ? Mardi Gras in the Yard!!! ? Get ready to party New Orleans style and drink the night away! Tuesday, February 25th, 2020
Fat Tuesday Pancake Dinner
at Goody Goody Burgers
Meet up for dinner to celebrate Mardi Gras with the biggest pancakes in Tampa.
MacDinton's Mardi Gras
at MacDinton's
Celebrate Fat Tuesday at MacDinton's Soho! ? Mardi Gras!!! ? Get ready to party New Orleans style and drink the night away! Tuesday, February 25th, 2020
Mardi Gras Party - Hosted by USF
at Zydeco Brew Werks
Our USF Catholic Alumni, families, and friends are invited to a Mardi Gras Party at Zydeco Brew Werks! Delicious food, great beer, a 50/50 raffle, activities for kids, and of course...a king cake!
Go-To Restaurants for Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday
Tampa
Start your Mardi Gras celebration in the morning at Another Broken Egg Cafe, a Louisiana-based chain, at either location in South Tampa and Clearwater. The cafe puts a twist on New Orleans’ famous beignets with their sugar-coated biscuit beignets and honey marmalade. They also have flavorful, creamy shrimp and grits, a delicacy in the Deep South. Pair your breakfast with one of their cocktails like their Lady Marmalade Mimosa.
Big Easy Bar brings Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday to Ybor City every day with its fun atmosphere and Creole fare like their blackened shrimp Po’ boy, sauteed jambalaya, and New Orleans-style Cuban (a muffuletta sandwich on a baguette). Jazz up Fat Tuesday by grabbing dinner and drinks at the Big Easy [Bar]!
Tibby's New Orleans Kitchen in Brandon embodies the free spirit of the Big Easy with its funky-fun atmosphere and authentic Creole dishes. In addition to New Orleans classics, Tibby’s also serves creations like fried green tomatoes and crawfish and muffuletta spring rolls. They also have new takes on the shrimp po’ boy like Cajun sausage and Creole Parmesan po’ boy sandwiches.
A husband and wife team, the Brayboys opened Chiefs Creole Cafe in honor of his mother, who learned to cook Creole cuisine from her own mother. The menu features all kinds of Creole delicacies like shrimp po'boys, gumbo, spicy jambalaya, etouffee, and beignets, so this is the place to get a taste of New Orleans if you live in the St. Petersburg area.
At these New Orleans-inspired events and restaurants, there's plenty of Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday fun in Tampa Bay.
Find more things to do for Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday on our Tampa events page and register on 813area to stay connected to everything going on in Tampa Bay.
Cover photo courtesy of Adobe Stock Images
