Mardi Gras games can bring a party to life with the spirit of indulgence, exhilaration, and boisterous fun characteristics of this wild holiday. From Mardi Gras carnival games to easy party activities to bead toss games, there are many different outrageous party game ideas available to turn a plain Mardi Gras party into a boisterous celebration. Best yet, these Mardi Gras activities work for kids and adults alike.
Ideas for Mardi Gras Interactive Games
When you're looking for Mardi Gras party ideas, classic party games such as Pictionary and charades are easy to incorporate into a Mardi Gras theme with careful word choices and gameplay.
But with a little flash and creativity, you can make Mardi Gras games and activities all the more innovative and fun for hosts and guests alike. Some popular Mardi Gras games, and a few of our favorites, include:
- Casino Games: Taking chances is an inherent part of this holiday, and casino games can be a fun way for guests to press their luck. Colorful chocolate doubloons can double as gambling chips and indulgent treats.
- Karaoke Contests: Singing blues or jazz tunes is a fitting way to liven up any Mardi Gras party. Create categories for solo performers and group performances too.
- Talent Showcase: Give the party a carnival feel by having guests demonstrate their secret and unique talents for this festive and unique holiday. If you're taking part, try your hand at stand-up with Mardi Gras jokes.
Mardi Gras might be able to trace its roots all the way back to Medieval Rome and France, but since the early 1700s, New Orleans has been the place synonymous with Mardi Gras.
- Murder Mystery: A sudden murder with a Big Easy flair can be an intricate and mind-boggling game as guests become super sleuths to solve the crime.
- Mystery Masks: Give each guest a unique mask at the beginning of the party and encourage them to ask other partygoers yes or no questions to determine just who that mask represents.
- Pass the Beads: Teams of guests must pass a string of Mardi Gras beads from one end of a line to another, with the beads gracing every team member's neck in turn, without using their hands to move the beads.
- Masquerade Mixer: Create a theme like speak-easy or carnival. Invite guests to wear wild and crazy costumes to the party and exchange pieces of those costumes to create the most outrageous look.
The origin for masks at Mardi Gras was to keep identities a secret while people mingle, party, and drink across different classes of people without being recognized.
- Piñatas: Mardi Gras party piñatas can be fun for all ages - choose piñatas with mask, jazz instrument, or other Mardi Gras shapes and colors for added flair. Fill the piñata with beads, noisemakers, treats, and other trinkets in Mardi Gras colors, shapes, and designs.
- Cookie Decorating: This "Fat Tuesday" holiday is about indulgence, and a cookie decorating contest can offer prizes for the most colorful, craziest, or the most calorie-laden cookie creation.
- King of Beads: This game requires teams of players where one member is designated the "king of beads" and the object is to get them to wear as many strings of Mardi Gras beads as possible, and as creatively as possible. Party planners should be prepared, however; a creative and persistent team may use 100 strings of beads or more!
- Bead Stringing: A more laid back game and one suitable for younger guests is to create personalized strings of Mardi Gras beads from loose purple, green, and gold beads. Unique bead shapes and different sizes can add even more creativity to this craft. Don't forget to have plenty of string on hand!
- Bead Toss: This is a two-player game where party guests are given bead necklaces and try to toss as many necklaces around their partners' necks as they can in 1 minute. The team to get the most beads on their partner wins.
- Easy Party Word Game: Before your party starts, choose a Mardi Gras inspired word like beads or masks. When people come in hand them a string of beads and tell them the word of the day. When they catch someone saying the word, they get to take their beads. The one with the most beads at the end of the night is the winner.
- Mardi Gras Bingo: Using a blank bingo board printable, have people fill in their squares with themes they might see that night like blue beads, glittery masks, carnival costumes, finger foods, Mardi gras banners, and so on. They can cross items off as they encounter them to get a bingo. You might also make this a mingling game where they write down characteristics of other guests like hates cats or loves pizza. By mingling with guests, they can cross off squares until they get a bingo.
- Unique Mask Competition: Set up a mask creation station with construction paper, glitter, glue, scissors, jewels, feathers, etc. Have each guest create their own Mardi Gras mask. Guests can then vote on the best one and name a winner.
Mardi Gras Awards and Prizes
No party games are complete without prizes to inspire the best efforts of competitors. Mardi Gras beads are a perfect choice to give to all participants, while winners may receive more elaborate strings of beads or other trinkets such as small trophies, the honor of wearing a jester hat or crown, or some pivotal role in the next game.
Of course, the one who finds the baby in the king cake can be the master of ceremonies.
Interactive Mardi Gras Games for a Grand Party
Interactive games take standard Mardi Gras party games to the next level by involving all guests in the fun. Mardi Gras, in particular, is an expressive holiday full of lively sounds, sights, smells, and tastes. Adding social games to the party events can make it a fun time for everyone. Levels of interaction may vary, however, and reluctant or reserved party guests should not be intimidated into participating if they would rather observe. But choosing a variety of different party games, hosts can ensure there are fun activities for all the Mardi Gras revelers to enjoy.
