How to Mardi Gras in Dallas
While we may not be in New Orleans, that doesn't mean we can't don beads and sashay with the best of them.
The Mardi Gras celebrations here in Dallas certainly hold their own compared to anything they have down on Bourbon Street. From showcasing an extravaganza of lively parades, to tantalizing Cajun flavors, to flamboyant costumes here are six ways to channel all that New Orleans razzle-dazzle this February.
Updated February 2026
Restaurant Beatrice
1111 N. Beckley Dallas, TX 75203
Get ready with Patio Boils, The Voodoo Daiquiris, and King Cake.
The folks behind Restaurant Beatrice are advancing Cajun and Creole cuisine while also advocating environmental stewardship. Restaurant Beatrice is a James Beard Foundation Best New Restaurant Finalist for '23. Make sure to try their Mardi Gras menu, featuring the flavors of the Crescent City, available through February 17.
Find a Baby in Your Cake
King cakes and Mardi Gras go hand-in-hand. Tradition holds that finding a plastic baby in your slice of cake brings luck and prosperity. But where does one find these rich, circular, green, purple, and gold cakes? Thankfully, Dallas has several bakeries that make this traditional cake from scratch. Deep Ellum’s French bakery, Le Bon Temps, makes mini or full-sized King Cakes, while Empire Baking Co makes a Brown Butter Pecan King Cake. Native New Orleans Chef, Tilda, not only makes mini and full-sized King Cakes at Haute Sweet Patisserie, but also King Cake Bread Pudding.
Mardi Gras on Main Street
Saturday, February 14, 2026 | 11am-4pm
Celebrate Mardi Gras at The Village Dallas with an open-container street party featuring live music, street entertainment, games, and food and drink specials alongside NOLA-inspired bites and Louisiana boiled crawfish from the Cajun Crawfish Company. The free event invites guests to grab a drink and explore Main Street, with optional Hurricane King and Bourbon VIP packages for purchase that include drink tickets, beads, swag, and balcony access, plus a crawfish add-on. Free parking is available in the underground garage.
Plan a Good Old-Fashioned Bar Crawl
Saturday, February 14, 2026 | 6pm
Get ready to paint the town green, purple, and gold with the Annual Mardi Gras Bar Crawl. Revel in a day of quintessential New Orleans merriment as the crawl transforms Uptown into a Bourbon Street-style extravaganza. Arrive early for your shimming beds, stunning Mardi Gras Masquerade mask, and 16oz, color-changing stadium cup to hold their festive drink. The bar crawl is a self-guided journey weaving through seven vibrant participating bars. Enjoy discounted food and drinks as you immerse yourself in the party atmosphere with other revelers decked out in extravagant Mardi Gras costumes.
Run off those King Cakes
Saturday, February 15, 2026 | 9:30am
Mark your calendars! The annual Dash for Beads 5K is teaming up with the Go Oak Cliff Mardi Gras Parade to bring you a day of fitness and fun. The day starts off at 9:30am am with a 5K run, or for those who prefer a slower pace, a one-mile walk through the picturesque Kessler Park. And the fun won't stop there — after everyone gets their heart rate up, one of the finest Mardi Gras parties in all of North Texas starts. In addition to the fantastic Kid Zone, attendees can indulge in exceptional cuisine from local food trucks and refreshing adult beverages, including crisp Mimosas and handcrafted beer. This prime location on Davis Street assures everyone a splendid view of the parade. Best of all, the proceeds go toward local non-profits to promote physical fitness, healthy eating, and the arts.
Watch the Largest Mardi Gras Parade in North Texas
Saturday, February 15, 2026 | 9:30am
While you are in Oak Cliff, stick around for the largest Mardi Gras celebration in North Texas. The annual parade kicks off at 1pm and will run from the Kessler Theater along Davis Street. Music, floats, dance groups, colorful costumes, and a ton of beads, this parade has all the ingredients for a festive afternoon. Be sure to get there early to grab a good parade-watching spot.
Finish Off the Celebrations at a Block Party!
Saturday, February 15, 2026
Get ready for the Revelers Hall Mardi Gras Block Party, the ultimate celebration of music, community, and Carnival spirit! This high-energy event will feature live performances, parades, and a huge crowd, making it the biggest Mardi Gras party in town.
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