Mardi Gras Theme Party.

A Mardi Gras Theme Party can range from little jazz oriented get-together, to a full blown prom party with beads, costumes, props and all. A Mardi Gras party would be more in the category of an active, and whimsical party. Some of the games and activities may seem less "mature" than normal, but loosen up your tie, pull out your shirt tail, and enjoy the simple fun. If you are planning a really good Mardi Gras Party, Shindigz has a full line of Mardi Gras Party Supplies.

Mardi Gras Theme Party Invitations
If you don't want to buy invitations, you can download and print this free Mardi Gras Party invitaion.

Mardi Gras Theme Party Icebreaker

Mardi Gras' Family Car game is almost as old as Mardi Gras itself. The family car works best if you can find someone who is a good story-teller. The players sit in a circle and everyone, except the story teller, takes the name of some part of a car or its equipment. For example, a door, engine, wheels, etc. When all are ready, the story-teller begins a tale about an old car and what happened to it, how it went on a journey, broke down, was fixed, and started off again. Every time any part of the car is mentioned, the player who has taken that car part name must rise from his seat, make the sound of his car part, and then sit down again. Whenever the car is mentioned, all of the players, with the exception of the story teller, must rise and make the sound of their car part. Anyone failing to rise is out of the game.

Here is a link to so Mardi Gras Trivia, for a fun icebreaker. If your guests are not Mardi Gras savy, here is a little Mardi Gras history lesson:
No one really knows where or when the Mardi Gras custom started. Mardi Gras, which is a carnival, is celebrated all over the world. It is most popular in New Orleans and Brazil . Mardi Gras is French for fat Tuesday (mardi = Tuesday and gras = fat). In the middle ages the day before Lent people would sacrifice a fatten ox for a carnival feast. Mardi Gras is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. It is a holiday originating from ancient pagan traditions that were Christianized by the Catholic Church. The first historical evidence of Mardi Gras traditions in America dates to 1699 by French explorers near the Mississippi River, about 60 miles south of present day New Orleans. However some sources say that Mardi Gras actually started in 1703, in Mobile, Alabama. The Carnival season begins on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the Twelfth Night feast of the Epiphany. According to Christian beliefs, the Epiphany is the day that the three kings, or Wise Men, visited the Christ Child. People wear costumes and masks. Merrymakers dance and make music in the street. Krewes or organizations build floats and throw beads and other shinny, sparkly items to crowds of people.

Mardi Gras Theme Party Food
Ham and Sausage Jambalaya

2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 package of kielbasa
2 large onions
1 medium green pepper
1 cup chopped celery
2 cloves of minced garlic
3 cups of chicken broth
<1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 pound of cooked ham
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon of Tabasco sauce
1/2 teaspoon of thyme
1/8 teaspoon of ground allspice
1 1/2 cups uncooked rice.

Heat the oil in a saucepan add the sausage, onions, green pepper, celery, garlic, and cook until the vegetables are tender. Then add the chicken broth, tomatoes, ham, bay leaf, Tabasco, thyme and allspice. Cook it for 15 minutes then add the rice and cook for another 15 minutes.

Mardi Gras Theme Party Decorations

Mardi Gras loot bags tucked in basket can be a centerpiece and double as party prizes. Loot bags can be filled with candy, glow jewelry, or throw-necklaces

Mardi Gras Theme Party Favors
Party favors like masks throw-necklaces, and glow jewelry will create festive energetic spirit of a Mardi Gras Party Theme.

Mardi Gras Theme Party Games
Pass the Key. This game is loads of fun and will also work as a great icebreaker. For this game you will need two large keys of the same size, and two pieces of string at least 50 feet long. Tie each key to the end of a piece of string, so you have two long strings, with a key tied to the end of each. Divide the participants into two equal groups. The two teams line up side by side, and the key must be passed from the front player to the back – that is, by passing the key down each players’ shirts, trousers, dresses pants and the like. The first team to thread all their team-members together is the winner of this fun Mardi Gras party game.

Old Grannie Doesn't Like T. To play, the leader says: "Our old Grannie doesn't like T; what can you give her instead?" The first player must answer with the name of some food item that does not contain the letter “T”. For example the first player might answer, “Cocoa," which would be correct. If the next player answers, "Chocolate," he would be incorrect, because there is a "T" in chocolate. Each player in turn has 5 seconds to come up with an answer. Players who answer incorrectly are out of the game. Play progresses until there is only one player left.