From festive parties to delicious King Cakes, you can live the “laissez les bons temps rouler” lifestyle in Los Angeles this Fat Tuesday.
Courtesy of Carol Highsmith Library of Congress via Flickr.
Mardi Gras is next Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, and even if you can’t make it to New Orleans, you can party it up right here in L.A. Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler! – translated from Cajun French it means “Let the good times roll!” And Angelenos certainly know how to have a good time!
Here are the top 6 ways to celebrate Mardi Gras in Los Angeles:
Courtesy of Nawlins Sweet Treats.
These local L.A. bakeries bring a taste of New Orleans to SoCal. Grab a colorful King Cake and keep an eye out for the baby. Or chow down on a powdered sugar-covered beignet and feel transported straight to the heart of Mardi Gras.
Courtesy of Harold and Belle’s restaurant.
Harold and Belle’s restaurant has served up mouthwatering Creole dishes for over 55 years like Louisiana-style catfish, shrimp scampi, beignets, and bread pudding. It’s the very best spot in L.A. to savor the flavors of Mardi Gras!
Vegan Mardi Gras Celebration
Celebrate Fat Tuesday at Vegan Mardi Gras! Enjoy delicious vegan food, craft beer, shopping, live music, and more. Dance along to a live Mardi Gras band straight from New Orleans. Catch sustainable throws in lieu of beads. Plus, the two most festive attendees will be crowned Mardi Gras royalty!
Mardi Gras at The Original Farmer’s Market
The Original Farmers Market Mardi Gras is back on Saturday & Sunday, February 14 and 15 and Fat Tuesday, February 17 as New Orleans comes to L.A. with one of the Market’s most colorful celebrations. Mardi Gras grooves are back with authentic Zydeco and New Orleans bands, a Mutti Gras Pet Parade & Costume Contest, a beignet pop-up tent, gumbo, jambalaya, and more.
Mardi Gras at The Bayou WeHo
The Bayou WeHo on Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood is hosting a Mardi Gras 2026 celebration, featuring an authentic Cajun seafood boil with crawfish, shrimp, snow crab legs, and spicy andouille sausage leading up to Fat Tuesday on February 17, 2026. Known for its casual, NOLA-style atmosphere, the venue promises a full Southern menu and signature cold slushies.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band Mardi Gras Celebration
Mardi Gras returns to The Soraya with one of the most authentic of New Orleans ensembles. Steeped in the history and musical traditions of the French Quarter for more than 60 years, Preservation Hall Jazz Band taps into a musical continuum that stretches back to the city’s roots. Learn more here!