Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday and Shrove Tuesday, is a holiday with Catholic roots that has been celebrated for hundreds of years beginning in the New Orleans area of the United States. Today, there are Mardi Gras celebrations, festivals and benefit events that occur all over the country that include traditional Cajun cuisine, King cakes, Mardi Gras beads and more.
We found a few great events that happen right here close to home in the Carolina where you can go and celebrate Mardi Gras! Here is list of 5 Mardi Gras events in 2016 happening across the Carolinas:
- 5th Annual Charlotte Mardi Gras - Parade of Beads Celebration (Charlotte, NC)
Charlotte will be hosting its annual Mardi Gras festivities at the EPICENTRE on February 6th beginning at 7pm. The EPICENTRE will be fully decorated and transformed into a New Orleans French Quarter including creole menus and more. Events and entertainment include a parade, street performers, local team mascots and live marching band performances.
- Asheville Mardi Gras Parade ’16 (Asheville, NC)
Asheville’s “Saints vs Sinners” Mardi Gras parade will be held on February 7th, 2016 at 3:05pm. Along with the parade, Asheville will also host its Annual Cajun Cookoff on January 31st, 2016 which includes live music, libations, a silent auction of fine art and handmade oddities.
- Durham Mardi Gras 2016 (Durham, NC)
The Durham, NC celebration of Mardi Gras promises to provide a great celebration of the New Orleans tradition with “North Carolina flavor.” This year’s parade will be held at 7pm on February 9th, 2016 and will include live entertainment throughout the city’s music venues with no cover charge including The Blue Note Grill, Fullsteam, Motorco, The Pit and The Bar Durham.
- Mardi Gras Columbia (Columbia, SC)
Columbia’s Mardis Gras events include a 5k, a parade and a festival. The 5k event will begin at 8am, is a mostly flat course and is an official event of the Columbia Running Club. Th e
- 9th Annual Folly Gras Parade & Festival (Folly Beach, SC)
Folly Beach is hosting its 9th Annual Folly Gras Parade and Festival on Saturday, February 6th, 2016. The parade starts at 12pm and the street festival begins at 1pm through 5pm. Entertainment will include live music including Gaslight Street, Soul Fish, Shakin’ Martinis, Jordan Igoe, Ashes of Old Ways and Nick Clyburn Band. Festival activities also include children’s pet parade, local artisans, food booths and nonprofit vendors. These events will all take place on Center Street in Folly Beach.
We hope you enjoy the New Orleans tradition by celebrating at one of these great Carolina events! If you know of any other great events, let us know, we’d love to hear about it!