Mardi Gras returns to Busch Gardens Williamsburg featuring an ALL-NEW Mardi Street Party parade with ribbon dancers, stilt walkers, beads (of course), and more. Additionally, over 30 specialty menu items, such as Mardi Gras-inspired dishes like a Crawfish Boil, King Cake cinnamon rolls, and beignets, plus handcrafted cocktails!

Mardi Gras runs weekends Jan 27 – Feb 26, and Presidents Day, and we’re here with all the details on what you can expect. 

DETAILS

First of all, Mardi Gras is an event at Busch Gardens Williamsburg where you can celebrate with jazzy live music, classic Cajun flavors, and returning favorites like Carnaval Imaginique, an electrifying cirque show in the Globe Theatre. 

All nine of Busch Gardens’ villages will be open, including three world-class roller coasters, over fifteen rides and kid-friendly play areas. As a note, the coasters noted to be open for Mardi Gras are Verbolten®, Apollo’s Chariot, and Alpengeist. Pantheon is not announced to be open during the event, though obviously that’s subject to change. A park-wide masquerade scavenger hunt offers Mardi Gras fun for younger guests, as well as Sesame Street Forest of Fun and Land of the Dragons, which will both be open for the event. 

DINING

Of course, the main thing to look forward to at Mardi Gras is the food! Over 30 specialty menu items will be available at 7 different dining locations. 

Clancy’s Cajun Creations – Ireland

  • NEW! Oyster Po’ Boy
  • Shrimp Étouffée 
  • Chicken & Andouille Gumbo
  • Red Beans & Rice
  • Fried Okra 
  • Cajun Hushpuppies
  • Grasshopper (specialty cocktail)

Grogan’s Pub – Ireland

  • Cajun Meatballs
  • King Cake Shooter (cocktail)
  • French 75 (cocktail)
  • Hurricane (cocktail)

Café Lulu – France

  • Specialty Beignets
  • Passionfruit Hurricane

Creole Grill – New France

  • Crawfish Boil
  • Blackened Chicken 
  • Mardi Gras Corn
  • Fat Tuesday Rum Runner

King of Cakes – Germany

  • Banana Fosters Cheesecake
  • Mini Mardi Gras Funnel Cake 
  • Beignets

Bayou Bar – Octoberfest

  • Crawfish Dip
  • Bayou Margarita
  • Southern Spiked Lemonade
  • King’s Cup Daiquiri

Big Easy Spirits – Festhaus

  • King Cake Cinnamon Roll
  • Cajun Bloody Mary
  • Magic Mimosa
  • King Cake Shot

Sampler Cards are available, starting at $40. Select from 5 or 10 samples to enjoy entrees, desserts, beer, wine, specialty beverages and more. This is a good way to save some money if you’re planning on getting multiple items. 

SHOWS

In between food and beverage, make sure to spend some time enjoying the great shows, including the new Mardi Street Party, in the France Village, featuring colorful ribbon dancers and stilt walkers. Wave hello to the King of Mardi Gras and collect beads as his jesters pass by!

Carnaval Imaginique, a cirque themed spectacular, returns to the Globe Theatre. 

Immerse yourself in the brass beat as an emcee conductor takes the stage in Das Festhaus with a New Orleans Jazz Band.

The Samba Jamboree features wacky, wild court jester drummers as they make their way through Rhinefeld with a jazzy New Orleans rhythm.

The Killarney Village Band returns to the iconic Abbey Stone Theatre with this Irish jig band putting their own spin on Mardi Gras rock. 

And finally, in front of Das Festhaus, a Mardi Gras DJ will play today’s top hits.

WILL YOU BE ATTENDING?

Will you be attending this year’s Mardi Gras event at Busch Gardens Williamsburg? What are you most excited for? Leave us a comment on our video above, and while you’re there, hit the like button, and subscribe and hit the notification bell so you’re notified of our upcoming Busch Gardens coverage!