17 Mardi Gras Games: Fun, Excitement, and Tradition for Your Celebration

Mardi Gras is a time of vibrant celebrations, exuberant parades, and festive parties, filled with music, dancing, and of course, games! If you're looking to make your Mardi Gras event unforgettable, adding some lively Mardi Gras games can take your party to the next level. Whether you're hosting a large celebration or a more intimate gathering, incorporating traditional and original Mardi Gras-inspired games will keep your guests engaged and entertained. From playful carnival-style activities to competitive challenges, these games can help capture the spirit of New Orleans and the colorful joy of this iconic celebration. Let’s dive into some unique Mardi Gras game ideas that will make your party the ultimate destination for fun and festivity!

1. King Cake Relay Race

A spin on the classic relay race, the King Cake Relay is a great way to bring Mardi Gras to life in a fun and energetic way. Set up a course with several stations that represent the steps to making the traditional King Cake. Each player must race to complete a task at each station, such as "decorating" a cake with colored sprinkles (using fake frosting and sprinkles), or finding a small figurine hidden inside a "cake" (which could be a plastic ring or a bean). The team that completes the race and finds the figurine first wins. It’s a fun and engaging way to incorporate the iconic King Cake into your games!

2. Mardi Gras Bead Toss Challenge

Beads are a hallmark of Mardi Gras celebrations, and what better way to make use of them than in a toss challenge? Set up a series of targets—hula hoops, buckets, or bottles—at varying distances. Players must toss beads into the targets, with each target corresponding to a different prize or point value. Add extra excitement by introducing challenges like "blindfolded tossing" or "the fastest toss" for a more competitive twist.

3. Jester’s Costume Contest

One of the most fun aspects of Mardi Gras is the colorful costumes! To make this tradition interactive, host a Jester's Costume Contest. Encourage your guests to dress up in creative and over-the-top Mardi Gras-inspired costumes. From jester hats to feathered masks, participants can strut their stuff down a makeshift runway. You can assign categories like "Most Creative," "Funniest," or "Best Use of Color," with small prizes for the winners.

4. Mardi Gras Mask Decorating Station

Set up a mask-decorating station where guests can design their own Mardi Gras masks using feathers, beads, glitter, and colorful markers. Not only does this allow guests to express their creativity, but they’ll also have a personalized souvenir to take home from the celebration. You can add an element of competition by awarding prizes for the most intricate or funniest mask designs.

5. Mardi Gras Scavenger Hunt

Mardi Gras is full of hidden treasures, from beads to trinkets, and a Mardi Gras-themed scavenger hunt is a fantastic way to keep guests moving and searching for goodies. Create a list of Mardi Gras-themed items that guests must find throughout your venue or party area. These can include a golden bead, a purple mask, a plastic fleur-de-lis, or a mini King Cake figurine. For added fun, include riddles or clues based on Mardi Gras history to make the hunt even more exciting.

6. Toss the Beads Balloon Pop

This game combines two favorite activities: bead tossing and balloon popping. Hang balloons filled with Mardi Gras-themed prizes like beads, masks, or small toys. Players must toss beads at the balloons in an attempt to pop them. Each balloon popped reveals a fun prize, and players can earn extra rewards by popping multiple balloons in a row.

7. “Catch the King Cake” Toss

In this game, players throw soft footballs or plush "King Cake" items into a target, such as a hula hoop or basket. The goal is to catch the King Cake in the target, with the winner earning a special prize. The game can be played with multiple rounds and different levels of difficulty, such as using larger targets or smaller cakes, depending on the age and skill level of the participants.

8. Mardi Gras Mask Relay

This relay race puts a Mardi Gras twist on the classic race. Players must wear a mask, then race from one side of the party area to the other, completing various tasks like jumping over obstacles, tossing beads into buckets, or balancing a "King Cake" plate on their heads. The team that completes the relay the fastest wins, and the best part is everyone looks fabulous in their masks!

9. Mardi Gras Trivia Showdown

Test your guests' knowledge of Mardi Gras traditions, history, and pop culture with a trivia contest. Create a series of questions related to Mardi Gras, such as “What are the traditional Mardi Gras colors?” or “What is the meaning behind the King Cake figurine?” Divide guests into teams and have them compete for the title of Mardi Gras trivia champion. Offer Mardi Gras-themed prizes, like beads, masks, or small King Cake slices, to keep things festive.

10. Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler Bowling

Take classic bowling and add a Mardi Gras twist with this unique game. Create makeshift pins using empty cans decorated in Mardi Gras colors, or use mini plastic bottles shaped like King Cake figurines. Players take turns rolling a ball (or a Mardi Gras bead) down an improvised alley to knock down the pins. You can assign points based on how many pins are knocked down, and keep the party atmosphere alive by cranking up some Mardi Gras music as players bowl.

11. Mardi Gras Color Run

For an active and outdoor Mardi Gras game, host a Mardi Gras Color Run. Set up a simple race course with various stations where participants can be splashed with colored powders in traditional Mardi Gras colors—green, gold, and purple. The run doesn’t have to be competitive; it’s all about fun, music, and getting into the Mardi Gras spirit while getting a bit messy!

12. Mardi Gras Crown Toss

This carnival-inspired game has players tossing colorful plastic crowns onto a stand or large target board. The more crowns that land on the board, the better the prize. You can even make the game more festive by having players wear the crowns they win for the rest of the party. It’s a fun way to incorporate Mardi Gras regalia while keeping the competitive energy alive.

13. Mardi Gras Balloon Race

This active game combines a race with a fun balloon twist! Players must hold a balloon between their knees and race to the finish line without dropping it. You can add a Mardi Gras theme by using brightly colored balloons or asking participants to decorate their balloons with festive symbols. To make the game more challenging, introduce obstacles, like weaving through chairs or jumping over small hurdles.

14. Jester Pinata

Who doesn’t love a piñata? A jester piñata is an exciting and festive way to add an extra element of fun to your Mardi Gras celebration. Hang a piñata shaped like a jester or in traditional Mardi Gras colors. Blindfold guests and have them take turns trying to break open the piñata with a stick. Once it breaks, colorful beads, candy, and small trinkets spill out, and everyone can grab their share of Mardi Gras-themed goodies.

15. Mardi Gras Tic-Tac-Toe

A Mardi Gras twist on the classic Tic-Tac-Toe game is an easy but fun game for all ages. Set up a large grid on a board or with sidewalk chalk outdoors, and instead of X’s and O’s, use Mardi Gras symbols like beads and masks. Players take turns placing their items in the squares, trying to get three in a row to win. It’s a simple and quick game that will keep everyone entertained.

16. Mardi Gras Wheel of Fortune

Create a "Wheel of Fortune" style game with a large spinning wheel divided into sections, each representing different prizes or challenges. Decorate each section with Mardi Gras-themed symbols such as masks, beads, or King Cake. Players take turns spinning the wheel, and whatever section it lands on determines their prize or activity. You can have small prizes like beads, candy, or themed tokens, or challenge them with silly tasks like "perform a Mardi Gras dance" or "tell a Mardi Gras joke."

17. Mardi Gras Sack Race

Add a festive Mardi Gras twist to the traditional sack race. Players can race to the finish line while hopping inside a large burlap sack, but to make it more fun, add colorful Mardi Gras decorations to the sacks. You can also introduce obstacles, like having players toss beads into a container along the way or balance a King Cake figurine on their heads while racing. The team that finishes first, with all tasks completed, wins the game.

Mardi Gras games are the perfect way to immerse your guests in the celebratory spirit of this amazing festival. From carnival-style activities to interactive challenges, the possibilities are endless for creating a festive, fun-filled atmosphere. By incorporating creative games, lively music, delicious food, and traditional Mardi Gras symbols like beads, masks, and King Cakes, your Mardi Gras celebration will become an unforgettable event. So, gather your guests, prepare your favorite Mardi Gras treats, and get ready to roll the beads for a fantastic, high-energy day of festivities and fun! Laissez les bon temps rouler—let the good times roll!