Merriment, misrule, moxie, and a caboodle of beadage can all add up to an effervescent, over-the-top, sound-the-trumpets to-do, the kind that has long been synonymous with Mardi Gras.
True, the beads and the moxie and the royalty and the well-costumed krewes and the fabulous floats are also synonymous with New Orleans, and the rollicking scene around the French Quarter as the Tuesday before Lent approaches.
But you can find some beads, some big-hearted music, and the quintessential flavors of Bourbon Street at a few spots around Southern California in the festive future.
Mardi Gras 2026 is Feb. 17, and, as is trumpet-y tradition, the Original Farmers Market will host a free party brimming with brassy songs and, nearby, the all-important beignets.
The beignets and jambalaya and po’ boys are for purchase at The Gumbo Pot, while entry is free to the Nervis Bros show, which will sound and stomp from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on the landmark’s East Patio.
The beloved eatery Harold and Belle’s Creole Restaurant, a SoCal staple since 1969, is famous for authentic Louisiana fare, from Country Cajun Meatloaf to Sweet Potato Pie, and on Mardi Gras each year? The Jefferson Boulevard restaurant welcomes revelers seeking amazing eats and the exuberant spirit of the celebration.
The Obscure in the Arts District, that atmospheric and season-driven cocktail experience boasting bayou style, will feast and revel on Fat Tuesday, with sazeracs, daiquiris, and catfish, along with live music from the Beaucoup Brass Band.
Cover charge information, and more must-knows about the beautiful and bespoke sips served at the theatrical destination, is available on The Obscure’s site.
And the evening after Mardi Gras, on Feb. 18? The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, the storied decades-old ensemble, will bring the rich flavor of the NOLA catalogue to The Soraya in Northridge, summoning “the history and musical traditions of the French Quarter” with every song.