Celebrating Mardi Gras in Middle Tennessee
Mardi Gras, also called Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday, is the Tuesday before the beginning of Lent, a Catholic tradition focusing on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Mardi Gras, in turn, is a celebration of all the activities and foods not allowed during the 40-day period of Lent. Since its inception in 1703, Mardi Gras has grown to become a festive occasion with its own traditions all over the world and is even recognized as a holiday in New Orleans! This year, Mardi Gras lands on February 21st, 2023. Keep reading to find out where you can celebrate Mardi Gras in Middle Tennessee!
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Assembly Food Hall’s Mardi Gras festivities begin at noon on Feb. 18th with live jazz and swing music from Rolan Barber & The Righteous Few! Entertainment throughout the afternoon includes a juggling show at 2pm, face painting from 2- 5pm, and a magic show from 4- 6pm! Assembly Food Hall will also be offering special Mardi Gras-themed drinks and menu items from a variety of eateries.
My Friend’s House’s annual Mardi Gras Ball will be held at the Embassy Suites in Franklin this Saturday! Their mission is to serve and advocate for at-risk boys aged 12-18 with a safe, encouraging environment as well as the opportunity to recover and succeed. Enjoy a night of dancing, dinner, cocktails, and music at My Friend’s House’s biggest fundraising event of the year!
Music City’s 3rd Annual Mardi Gras Bar Crawl will take place on Feb. 18 from 3- 10pm! Tickets include beads, a color changing cup, and masquerade masks for the first 250 people to register! Participating bars will offer discounted food and drink specials as well as no cover charge! Registration is from 3- 5pm at Kung Fu Saloon. Make sure to wear your most outrageous Mardi Gras costume!
Nashville’s Elegy Coffee will be serving a special King Cake Latte throughout the month of February. This limited time menu item consists of espresso, vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon, coconut milks, sprinkles, and your choice of steamed milk. Their King Cake Latte will be available at all three of their locations, so make sure to try it before the end of the month!
The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club in Nashville will be offering a reinterpretation of the frozen red daiquiris found on Bourbon Street called “Number One Customer”. This cocktail is featured on Forbes and made with Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum, lime stock, hibiscus, Underberg, and alpine bitters.
Celebrate the holiday at The Gumbo Bros, the official home of Nashville Mardi Gras! Leaning into their New Orleans roots, The Gulch Bros will transform into a restaurant parade float with a DJ on Friday and Saturday, a Jazz Brunch on Sunday, and a Mardi Gras-themed menu on Fat Tuesday! Reserve one of their Fat Belly Pretzel King Cakes before the celebrations!
Mardi Gras Monday at Smashin Crab
Smashin Crab in Hendersonville is offering a private dining experience for Mardi Gras on Feb. 20th with an exclusive Cajun-Creole 6-course meal, craft cocktails, and live jazz. Mardi Gras masks, beads, and energy are encouraged! Available seating times vary, so make sure to get ahead on the reservations!
Party Fowl’s Executive Chef Bart Pickens happened to be born and raised in New Orleans, making for a deliciously authentic Mardi Gras menu! Party Gras is their biggest event of the year with Chef Pickens’ creative Nashville twists on NOLA classics like Nashville Hot Chicken Jambalaya, Muf-Fowl-Letta, Hurricanes, and more!
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