Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, commences this year on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. But while the New Orleans holiday and the city’s famous parade prove far from Denver, the Mile High City has plenty of ways to celebrate right here.
For starters, get a king cake. Next, hit up a crawfish boil and dig in like they do in the South. Or, join one of the many fetes around the city, beads and masks encouraged. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Where to Get King Cake
Serve up King Cake for Mardi Gras. Source: Depositphotos
Before there were beads and copious amounts of booze there was king cake. In fact, this treat has been around since the Middle Ages, used as a way to celebrate the Catholic holiday, Three Kings Day (January 6).
Today the rich dessert is often made with a sweet buttery pastry and coated in green, yellow and purple frosting. The colors have meaning too, green symbolizes faith, purple is power, and yellow stands for justice.
There’s also a little plastic baby inside the cake, and who ever finds it is crowned king for the day and is said to have extra luck all year.
Rhinelander Bakery
For $31.98 you can take home a traditional king cake in five festive flavors including cinnamon, strawberry cream cheese, blueberry-lemon, almond and plain cream cheese. The cakes come with a plastic baby to hid inside, and beads to help you celebrate.
As a bonus, a portion of all king cake purchases gets donated the local Red Cross. 5721 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada.
Maggie and Molly’s Bakery
Find a yeast-based king cake — laced with your choice of cinnamon, cream cheese or apple — at this Denver bakery. Choose from small or large ($50 or $75). Both come with traditional colorful icing and lots of beads on the side. 2908 E. 6th Ave., Denver.
Katherine’s French Bakery & Café
Given that Katherine’s is a European-style bakery and the king cake came to New Orleans via France, it’s not surprising the Denver staple makes one. Customers muse pre-order the cake, and can pick it up from the bakery. Filling flavors include cinnamon-sugar, raspberry, chocolate, pecan or almond fillings.
Each cost between $48 and $54, and come complete with a feathered mask, beads, and the iconic plastic baby. 728 S. University Blvd., Denver.
Local Grocery Stores
You may want to check with King Soopers, Safeway or other supermarkets. Some stock New Orleans-based Gambino’s Bakery king cakes. Check their bakery or frozen food section.
Top Mardi Gras Events
Source: Depositphotos
Denver may not be as exciting as New Orleans when it comes to Mardi Gras, and really, who is, but there are many ways to celebrate the carnival season right here.
From full blown parties to a parade to a Mardi Gras murder mystery, hit up one of these events on and near the holiday.
Nola Voodoo Tavern
Celebrate Mardi Gras at Nola Voodoo Tavern. Photo by Nola Voodoo Tavern
On Fat Tuesday head to one of the biggest Mardi Gras parties in the city. The tavern opens at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17 and the owners plan to celebrate like they did in their hometown of New Orleans until closing.
There will be a Louisiana crawfish boil, drink specials, live music and more. Entry is FREE, but reservations are recommended. 2231 Bruce Randolph Ave., Denver.
School House Kitchen and Libations
Mardi Gras at School House is a festive evening of food, drinks, and live music on Tuesday, February 17. Performances by The Decaf Muchachos & Kara Kappachina from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Food and drink specials all day including fried catfish, gumbo, Jambalaya, red beans & rice and Cajun pasta. 5660 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada.
Live Brass Band March in Arvada
Photo: Olde Town Arvada Business Improvement District
Get into the NoLa groove in Olde Town Arvada on Tuesday, February 17 with a live show by Guerrilla Fanfare. The FREE event starts at 5:15 p.m. right in front of Carly’s Boutique.
As they roam playing through the pedestrian mall in Olde Town Arvada, the band will be stopping along the way for lively jam sessions until 6:30 p.m. Starting at: 7401 Grandview Ave., Arvada.
Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Celebration at Spangalang Brewery
Live entertainment starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17. Tickets to the event are $20, with a mouthwatering crawfish boil add-on for $30 per person.
For those seeking an enhanced and seated experience, exclusive table reservations are available for sale, offering premium seating. Get tickets or reserve a table here. 2736 Welton St., Denver.
Mardi Gras Masquerade Party at Full House
Englewood’s Full House Bar and Grill serves up red beans, rice with sausage and corn bread for $10. Bingo starts at 7 p.m. 4272 S. Broadway, Englewood.
Mardi Gras Party at the Louisville Underground
Join the FREE Mardi Gras party in Louisville on Saturday, February 21. The fun starts at 7 p.m. Weather permitting, The Guerrilla Fanfare Brass Band will play a few songs outside on the corner around 7 p.m. and lead a parade to the venue, then play a full set. Brother John rocks the house until midnight. Dress up and celebrate. No registration required. 640 Main St., Louisville.
Traditional Mardi Gras Feasts
Aside from king cake, the other traditional food eaten in New Orleans at this time is crawfish. Namely, a crawfish boil. We already mentioned Nola Voodoo Tavern is having one during it’s all-day fete (and the crawfish come in fresh, straight from Louisiana), but here are some other spots dishing out the shellfish.
Oysters are an aphrodisiac. Photo by Linnea Covington.
Stoney’s Bar and Grill 16th Annual Crawfish Boil
Get your crawfish boil on at this lively bar where 1,000 pounds of Louisiana crawfish will be served on Saturday, February 14 starting at 12 p.m.
Orders come in two- and five-pound increments ($30 to $60), and come with corn, sausage, mushrooms, and potatoes.
Join the party for FREE, crawfish or not, and hear Blue Krewe play live from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
If looking to eat, make sure to get a ticket ASAP, the event sells out each year. Ticket sales end Tuesday, Feb. 10 at midnight and no walk-up tickets will be sold on event day. 1111 Lincoln St., Denver.
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Last update on 2026-11-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API