Mardi Gras is my favorite event that Universal hosts!! It's a foodie paradise and so much fun for the kids with all the colorful decorations and bead collecting. Truly you can get some really delicious food here during Mardi Gras time. And I'm normally pretty skeptical of theme park food because especially here it's not the best overall, but Mardi Gras is different. Now, there are still a few things that aren't great (I'd stay away from the beignets, what a joke, and even the King Cake is lackluster), but there's just as much that's awesome. Every year they feature 10-12 countries that each have their own stall and serve famous delicacies from that region. It's really fun to see what's featured each year and try different things. Puerto Rico has consistently been a really good option, and outside of that you have to just go based on your own palette and honestly the workers can give you the real recommendations too. Then there's the parade. If you have kids, they will go crazy for this. The parade takes place every day with colorful, sparkly floats, enthusiastic dancers and the opportunity to collect beads thrown from the floats (if you know Mardi Gras you know that's a big deal). From the food to the parade to the fun art and hard work that goes into Universal's Mardi Gras year after year, it's a spectacular event that's not to be missed! read more

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Absolutely had the best time the other night at Mardi Gras! The atmosphere was great, music and catching beads... food... what more can you ask for? My only gripe were the little kids everywhere jumping in front of us trying to get the beads lol but what can you do? The food we ordered was just okay, but all in all, the weather was great and I had fun! Looking forward to next year! read more

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Another great year of Mardis Gras that I recently got to partake in earlier! Aside from how crowded it is as well as lines for food and drinks being very long, the food, drinks and atmosphere is amazing! I got to have a king cake that had a little plastic baby included on it as a cute little souvenir. The cake was big enough for 2 of us and I love how flavorful and colorful it was. The cake was dense but not in a bad way and the frosting had the perfect amount if sweetness. I decided for a drink, to get a la tormenta which had blanco tequila, lime juice, orange juice, Cuervo Tradicional dragon fruit purée, passion fruit purée and smoked sea salt in it. It was heavenly. It definitely could've been a little stronger but being a theme park it makes sense. I got it in an awesome 20 Oz souvenir cup that offers discounts on refills. The parade that's nightly is phenomenal and being able to catch some beads being thrown to us is so much fun! They also have concerts on the weekends and the place tends to get very busy with the more popular bands! read more

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Mardi Gras at Universal happens once a year. It mostly takes place at Universal Orlando park but there is usually a few things in City Walk. You do need a park ticket in order to enjoy the event. The event starts in February and ends in March/April. The event has food, drinks, parade, decorations and merchandise. The few weeks also include a concert, but it does not go the entire time. We always visit every year but I have to say this year I was very disappointed. We went towards the end because we really didn't like any of the concerts. We really wanted to enjoy the park, try some food and drinks and see the parade. The parade in March was very late, in years past, it started around 530pm, this year it was at 730pm. We usually don't stay that late so we were disappointed we missed it. Now the food. The food was terrible this year! We have had so many awesome items in the past. Also, I dent know if the team was over the event but everyone working the food stands had attitude, didn't want to be there and could honestly care less. As a passholder we could purchase a gift card for $120 that would give us $150 worth of food and drinks. I had pre-looked at food and decided we would be unable to spend that much. I am so glad we did not purchase it. We opted for the $60 gift card that gave us $75. We tried many booths and honestly everything was just not that great, it was either cold, no flavor, or just not good. There were only two places that we enjoyed. Germany had really great chicken schnitzel and Spain has a really great serrano ham and cheese sandwich. He actually forgot to add the chimichurri sauce but I think I enjoyed it more. I was just really surprised this year. It has been so good in past years, we went multiple times and tried tons of food. This year I just felt like they threw it together and didn't really care. The food was ok, nothing to really write home about, the team members were snotty, had their backs to us when we walked up and were just overall not very nice. I really hope that Universal gets it together next year. read more

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Had a great time visiting g Mardi Gras with friends yesterday! The decorations and atmosphere were lots of fun. We wanted to get food and drinks, the lines on Saturday night were extremely long so be prepared to wait! I felt $7 for 4 small beignets was a little overpriced. The spicy cold noodles were so spicy it was almost inedible, I wish there was a protein inside the dish. The espresso martini was excellent but expensive at $14, and the carnival paloma 12oz wound up costing almost $20 with tip and was not worth the money, tasted like a not-strong margarita. The parade was fun to watch, we caught a few beads. We also got to see The All-American Rejects which was a great offering that was free with entry. Overall, fun experience but be ready to wait in lines and spend large amounts of money for dining! read more

My drink was wrong and I kindly asked them to remake it since I have a couple of those a day I can immediately tell by the color of the drink if it is right. I know I modify the recipe but it is also not too difficult. The barista came out angry and started arguing with me that he did put the correct amount but it was not drinkable as is. He was confrontational and just added a few drops of oat milk to it not changing any of the mistake. At the end I walked away because I am not willing to expose myself to poor service but ended up throwing the drink away and sadly that is waste of drink and money. Buying my drinks is an effort I make as a reward and receiving a bad drink and not being heard when it was wrong was a bad experience read more

We had a wonderful experience at the Mardi Gras event at Universal. We did find the food to be a bit lacking, but the overall experience was great. The parade and decor was well worth it. Highly recommend. read more

Great food, drinks, all around the park this is honestly my favorite time to come to universal! It's not too hot or too cold perfect time. They have added lots of places to take fun pictures all around the universal park as well. They are doing remodeling the Mummy so that's the only ride that is closed. read more

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Before the pandemic, I left Universal and went to Disney for years because the food and beverage options also the quality. With all the changes that Disney made within the past two years, I decided to switch back and gave Universal a chance to try this year. I was pleasantly surprised the Mardi Gras event had evolved into International Flavors of Carnival. The variety of food, the tastes, and the prices are all great. For a annual pass holder, you can purchase a gift card with$150 for $120. Each time you make food purchase, you can still get 10 or 15% off of it depends on the type of your pass. The gift card also won't expire even after this year's event. I have got two of these cards and going to make multiple visits and maybe forget about Disney Epcot for a while. read more

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So there was a Mardi Gras celebration happening at Universal Studios while we were there, which meant that there were lots of exotic eats at various kiosks around the park. We passed one such kiosk that contained a Belgium theme, and one of their offerings was Brussels Frites ("crispy seasoned fries served with Andalouse and Joppiesaus sauces"). Obviously we had to get that, because how could it be anything but delicious? I'll tell you how, by serving lukewarm, soggy fries. The fries were really not good, and I've had better fries I've heated up at home from frozen. That being said, it wasn't as big of an issue as I feared because those two sauces are super flavorful and tasty. They were both incredible but my favorite was the joppiesaus, which contains a rich curry taste that I found completely irresistible. I can only imagine how delicious this would've been had the fries been fresh. read more

1st time ever at a Universal Mardi Gras event and was HIGHLY impressed! I've been to New Orleans twice for Mardi Gras and can say Universal really went all out to make it a fun experience for all ages. Their are photo ops everywhere. Instagram and Tik Tok approved! I went on a Sunday and the parade was at 7:45pm. The parades schedule changes based on day of the week so check before you go! The floats were stunning! The dancers were just as excited as the guests were and hyped up the crowd. OK, the food! I did more drinking than eating- shout out to Finnegan's on the New York street- but they had several booths spread out the park. I highly recommend using the app to check out the menu and have a plan of what you want to eat. The lines get long! While I didn't eat from the traditional New Orleans booths, the Brazil and Central America quick service were my favorites. The Arepa food truck next to Finnegan's is also a must try at anytime. I came home with 10 beads.. that's a fail so I'll be back! read more

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Ordered the red beans and rice and the chicken and sausage gumbo. took two bites and had to throw them away. they were horrible. how can you sell this food. read more

Attending Universal Studios Mardi Gras Festival has been a four year long tradition for our family. The great thing about living in Orlando in less than 45 minutes we could be submerged into an entirely different world. The Mardi Gras Festival is included with the certain annual passes so I'm not sure about the price although it seems that there may be an additional cost to occasional visitors. The added cost must be from the featured performances they have. Thus far this year has featured Macklemore and Pitbull although I attend solely for the festivities and the food. Annual pass members are invited to be float riders which is a blast and you even get a special dining event at the Bayou Broil. Be sure to look out for a notification in the mail for your mask and invite. Now to my favorite part the French Quarter Courtyard. I'm all about the eats and live cultural experiences. This isn't a traditional Mardi Gras with the skeleton band but they do have a few fun performers dressed in funky costumes to keep spirits and festivities up. Now to the food every year we have come to eat beignets, etouffe, and jambalaya. This year we checked out the twisted tots and a "specialty" drink and they were alright. Keep in mind the Festival consist of three things The French Courtyard (4pm), the parade (later in the day), and the special performances (later on in the night). It covers New York Street ways but that's as far as it extends. read more

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Every year the boyfriend and I attend concerts at Universal during Mardi Gras since we have been annual pass holders for a VERY long time and always have an amazing time. We have seen so many great bands there but feel the past couple of years the artist line up could have been better. This year is the first time we have actually been at the park at the correct time of day when there was no concert and were able to enjoy some of the special Mardi Gra New Orleans style food which was fun, delicious and filling. They did tasting sizes this year and you can purchase items ala cart or buy a tasting lanyard, we bought one of the pass holder lanyards for 15 items which costs $60, glad we only got one as we were only able to share 6 items so still have 9 for other times we attend....food was filling. Shrimp Po Boy was delicious as were the homemade chips that accompanied it. Gator can sometimes be tough and chewy but the ones here were tender and delicious, best gator bites I have ever had and the dip sauce was the bomb. Jambalaya was delicious and full of meat and topped with a yummy crawfish. Beignets were yummy as was the King Cake. Can't wait for our next Mardi Gras trips this year to enjoy more good music and great food! read more

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I've been in the Universal's Mardi Gras celebration/parade a handful of time, and I always have had a good time.This year I happened to go because a good friend had some tickets to the parks and invited me over, and they happened to be having the parade, it came as a surprise because we didn't know it was going on that day. I enjoyed the music, the parade, and the ambiance in general. Recommended read more

I have to start by saying that this review is based on memories as much as this years event. I love Mardi Gras season at universal because it is something my daughter and I did together for years when we lived here. The parade used to be only on the weekends and we would come for every single parade. My daughter, Kylie, has a bag with thousands of beads. When she was 15 we moved from Orlando to Michigan always wanting to be able to ride the float but never getting on. December 4, 2016 I lost my daughter and her fiance Jaylen in a car accident. Mardi Gras is one of those great memories that I have. I have come back here for the last two years. Last year on March 5th, Universal set my wife and I up on the float in honor of my daughter. We had an amazing time living out Kylie's childhood dream. We are back again this year as my son and his fiance rode the float for the first time. I know some people love Mardi Gras and some not so much BUT like everything else. It is what you make it. We had an amazing time and have another week to make new Mardi Gras memories. read more

Universal Studios Mardi Gras - Scorpio Float - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Such a great event at Universal! I have attended for the past 3 years. This event consists of a concert series, special foods, and a parade. The parade is an absolute must do if your Universal vacation falls on one of the parade days. I have ridden on a float as an annual passholder and I have also watched the parade. The floats are detailed and beautiful and everyone is just super excited to be catching and throwing beads. The food options are limited. There are really only 2 vegetarian options, so I will eat elsewhere during the festival. The concerts are great! There are usually some pretty big name artists that are playing. read more

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2017's Yelp 100 Challenge 55/100 What a fantastic experience being a part of this! We got to ride on the float a toss beads into the crowd during the parade, and let me tell you, the experience was by far one of the most exhilarating ones of my life! Riding the King Gator with so many other excited and enthusiastic people, and being escorted through the streets by the universal employees below was surreal! Especially loved being taken behind the scenes and wearing the Mardi Gras gear to get into the spirit. We danced. We sang. We had a good time! If you get the opportunity to do this, whither you are just going to the parade or are in the parade, it's definitely an experience of a lifetime! read more

Universal Studios Mardi Gras - Deshawn W. & I in our gear on top of the float! - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Love this event that Universal throws annually. It really takes you back to the bayou. From crawfish, to Bloody Mary's, live music and concerts, to the thrill rides and animation, it's a beautiful time. My family has annual passes so we just leisurely walk around and explore the different parades and stilt walkers and thrill rides. It's a nice time for the kids! read more

Universal Studios Mardi Gras - The universal sign - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I love Mardi Gras at Universal mainly for the concerts. I have seen some pretty great ones here such as Pat Benetar, Huey Lewis & The News, Heart, Winona Judd, Rick Springfield... and that's just to name a few. They have various artists who come every year, so make sure to check there website for who is going to be there and what weekend they are going to be there. The section they have setup for the concerts gets crowded very quickly, so I suggest you get to the "gate" where they allow people into the concert area at least 2 hours early to get yourself a good spot. This will mean missing the parade, but I've seen the parade more times than I can count. So, I'm just all about the concerts this time of year. And the concerts are "free" with the price of admission to the Park. As I just mentioned... let's talk about the parade. The parade they have is pretty darn cool. They have people dressed in costume walking on stilts, they floats are outrageous and they are throwing beads off of every single one of them. Even the people walking beside the floats and on stilts are handing out beads and throwing them into the crowd. It's a neat experience. If you're hearing during Mardi Gras time, make sure to not miss seeing the parade at least once. They also have an area set up where they have New Orleans style Cajun food. You'll find items like jambalaya, gumbo, and beignets. I was born and raised in Mississippi and I spent a lot of time in New Orleans growing up. I've tried the food items... once. I won't again. But I know what true Cajun food is suppose to taste like and this just ain't it, y'all. I'm sure for those of you who aren't familiar with traditional Cajun food will find it just fine, but it's a no go for my palate. It's also pretty pricey and they give you small portions. They also have liquor stands set up about every 10 feet and people walking around selling jello shots. There's definitely no shortage of alcohol! It's a definitely a good time. Just make sure you keep your hands on your kids once it gets dark because there will be a lot of drunk people walking around... or at least trying to walk! LOL read more

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This was a wonderful parade. When I went there, dancers and parade cars were lightning up brightly. I reccomend you go at nighttime because it's so bright and wonderful. Also, come here because they throw beads and it's fun to catch them! Very nice experience! read more

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Let's start with the best part about this whole Mardi Gras celebration is that it's free!! As long as you have admission to Universal Studios, you can join in the festivities. Just keep in mind that the live concerts are held on Saturday and select Sunday nights. While the party might be in New Orleans you still can get pretty wild and crazy at the Universal Studios Mardi Gras Celebration. If you are looking to celebrate Mardi Gras with the kids but still get your drink on well Universal Orlando is the place to be. It is a much more family friendly event. Once you enter Universal you know it's Mardi Gras. From the colorful street performers and stilt walkers to the traditional purple, green and gold decorations. The French Quarter Courtyard is the main area of the celebration and it's located in the New York area of Universal Studios (near the new Jimmy Fallon attraction). You will find tons of New Orleans style cuisine and drinks including shrimp gumbo, po-boys, gumbo and beignets. read more

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Wants some bead necklaces and some good food? There's a list of concerts and each year have different types of artists. I don't know how much will it be if you just want to go for the concert because I went with my annual pass. Concert is free with your annual pass and your ticket admission of that day. Come early if you want to be in the front. Prepare standing for at least 20 mins, waiting for the artist to come out. The parade is pretty fun. You get lots of bead necklaces. If you have an annual pass, you can sign up and pass out necklaces but you gotta sign up a head of time. Like weeks ahead of time and you have to get email confirmation that you're able to do it. There's a long hallway of yummy New Orleans food. I have gumbo with mixed rice and Philly cheesesteak sub with fries. They were pretty good. Decent prices for the amount you get for the sub. Gumbo was a bit pricey but it was yummy. Oh I also had the tornado potato stick. It was yummy and crispy. I recommend getting that and the sub if you're hungry. You'll feel hungry when you smell all the yummy food so might as well get some. Come out to this event :) read more

This was a blast! I wasn't sure what to expect from Universal for a Mardi Gras parade. I sure wasn't disappointed. Lots of floats and entertainers abound. Definitely no shortage of beads. Definitely a PG rated version of New Orleans! Plenty of food and drinks - adult beverages too! I flagged this as kid friendly as mine definitely enjoyed it. But you need to be open minded. They will see a lot of things that you may not wish to expose them to. Also great that it is followed up with a free concert. If you're looking for Bourbon Street - this isn't quite it. But it is fun and entertaining! read more

WOOOOOOHOOOOO! MARDI GRAS!! The only parade I've seen is in downtown SD and it SUCKED! This parade was AMAZING!! I've never seen anything like it. People were dressed up in the coolest costumes and walking on stilts. The floats were gorgeous!!! They did an awesome job with decorating the floats. Beads were flying everywhere and we were in the front row. We got so many beads! Too much fun! I'm glad we ended up getting the hopper pass to watch this. After the celebration The Roots performed. Another amazing performance! I wish I lived here I'd come to the Mardi Gras celebration everyday!!! Tons of performances to watch and tons of beads to catch!! I definitely recommended celebrating Mardi Gras here if you can. read more

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Welcome to Mardi Gras, Universal Orlando Resort's spring-time celebration. Running on select Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights from February through the end of April, the event includes a parade and free concert. Universal also transforms Battery Park (the park area across from Twister) into Bourbon Street, where they sell Cajun cuisine, cocktails and Mardi Gras themed gifts. The parade usually begins around 5:30pm inside Universal Studios Florida and features authentic floats straight from the Big Easy. Although there's lots of bead throwing, it always remains family-friendly. After the parade, the free concert kicks off at the Universal Music Plaza (http://www.yelp.com/biz/universal-music-plaza-orlando). Here is the 2011 lineup: Feb. 12: Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons Feb. 19: The B-52s Feb. 20 (Sunday): KC & the Sunshine Band Feb. 26: Pitbull March 5: Lynyrd Skynyrd March 12: Foreigner March 18 (Friday): Neon Trees ("Animal") March 19: TBA March 25 (Friday): OneRepublic ("Apologize," "Stop and Stare") March 26: Blake Shelton April 1 (Friday): Sean Kingston April 2: Ne-Yo April 9: Lifehouse April 16: Beach Boys April 23: Thirty Seconds to Mars Perhaps the best part of Universal's Mardi Gras Celebration is that the entire event is included with admission to Universal Studios Florida. So, if you're already coming to the parks anyway, this is a big plus. The negative hanging over Mardi Gras is that the music plaza can get really packed. If you are coming you should definitely expect crowds. And if you want to get close to the stage, come early! The other unknown is the weather. Last year it was freezing during some of the February and March concerts. Once the event wraps up for the night at Universal Studios, you can head over to Pat O'Brien's at CityWalk (http://www.yelp.com/biz/pat-obriens-bar-orlando) to continue the New Orleans Mardi Gras party. Insider tip: Like Universal Studios Mardi Gras? Then you might LOVE SeaWorld Orlando's Bands, Brews and BBQ (http://www.yelp.com/biz/bands-brews-and-bbq-orlando). read more

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My friends and family and I went to Universal Mardi Gras this past weekend and had nothing, but the worst customer service ever! It started at the ticket window. We waited over 35 minutes at the ticket window. Once, we arrived at the ticket window we were told that we needed to go to Guest Services for our tickets. We had waited 35 minutes in line. Could they bring the tickets over from guest services? No. Could we not wait in another 30 minute line? No. So after 35 minutes in line at the ticket window I went and waited in a 25 minute line at Guest Services before getting our tickets. Not cool Universal! Mardi Gras is a busy event. They know this. They should be better prepared and better staffed. We finally got in and went and rode the Mummy which is typically my favorite ride. However, the sequencing was off and it really stunk today. We got stopped right before the "bug scene" and could hear the bugs and saw the other car go backwards. When we got to the bug scene it was already happening and we sat there with a blank screen. Boo! I told a staff member that their timing was off and their response was, "It happens." Later that night it was starting to get chilly so I really wanted Hot Chocolate or Hot tea. We tried to go to Starbucks, but it easily had a 45 minute wait. Then we found out one of the Mardi Gras booths had Hot Chocolate. It was the crepes and coffee booth. I went to the restroom and he went and got in line. I came out of the restroom and waited in line with him. We get to the front and they say they don't have any hot chocolate. Okay, how about a cappuccino. Nope. Machine is broken. Could they have not announced that while were in line? Could they have put up a sign? Anything? That was 20 minutes of our lives wasted. So, we went to stand in front of the stage for the concert. Meanwhile, I am still freezing so I have this idea that since my efforts at a hot beverage have failed I'll get a cocktail and that will warm me up. So my boyfriend holds our spot and I go to get us a cocktail. Now, this is towards the end of the parade so I am really fighting crowds to get back to the bar. Once I get back there I order a beer for him and a cocktail for me. The bartender asks for the other person. I was like, "He's up front by the stage." "Well, then you can only buy one drink." So, you are telling me I have to buy his drink, fight the crowd to get back to the front of the stage, hand it to him, then walk all over people again to come and get my drink and fight to get back to the front again? You can't seriously think that is going to happen? Not to mention I would have to wait in line at the bar twice too. I am not mad at the bartender. If this is Universal policy, then he was just doing his job. I just think this a bad policy. Disney lets you buy two, and if the wholesome Disney lets you buy two, then why Universal won't is beyond me. I'm not asking to buy 3 or 4, but I would imagine it is pretty common that one person in a couple goes to buy the drinks rather than both. So I get the beer, not my cocktail and try to head back. Now Universal has but me off and makes me walk around the world in an attempt to get back to where my boyfriend is. It was just beyond a frustrating experience. I know it was busy and crowded, and trust me I expect that from Mardi Gras, but if any staff member had been even the least bit apologetic for all the inconveniences or attempted to help me out, it would have gone a long way. read more

I had a wonderful time at the Mardi Gras celebration at Universal Studios. The French Quarter Courtyard showcased Cajun food and I loved the Voodoo Punch as well as the Jambalaya. The parade is obviously the highlight and if you want a great spot, you do need to stake a spot at least 90 minutes before. read more

Universal Studios Mardi Gras - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

First time on Transformers. Cool ride kind of like Spiderman, but better. Would be good if they opened the food areas by 9:30am so you can buy drinks, etc. read more

This was an extra cost so we didn't purchase a ticket. The decor was festive and fun.

Did the Mardi Gras thing on March 19. Parade was awesome!! It started at 8pm and the concert started immediately afterwards. They tossed out a bunch of beads and the floats were dope. This was the best Mardi Gras experience I have had since the real Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The Roots were playing and they were amazing. They always put on a good show and they rocked it until 10pm exactly. read more

We have been to Mardi Gras for several years but normally come for the free concert series. They really know how to use crowd control effectively without letting an area get to overloaded. The lighting and sound at the concerts are well done and you have no problem with the volume. Plenty of drink stations are scatter so you are never without a drink in your hand. Lines can get long at some of the more popular bars but if you just need a beer, the drink carts are the way to go. Overall I have never had a bad experience here at Mardi Gras. read more

Always a good time at Universal Mardi Gras! The most recent concert we went to was Pitbull and the crowd control was a complete disaster. Other than that we had a great time and usually have nothing negative to say. read more

FUN! I went on a Saturday and after a long day in rides + jello shots throughout the parks streets came the marvelous MardiGras parade. It was a blast! And right after Kelly Clarkson gave an outrageous concert to end the night. read more

If you are looking for a family version of Mardi Gras, this even is a lot of fun to be a part of.

What a blast! Saw Neon Trees here and it was great. The parade was awesome, I collected a ton of beads and I didn't even have to flash the "girls" for them. :-) Thinking of going back with friends to see another group perform. read more