Universal Orlando is celebrating Mardi Gras 2024 in the best way possible! The New Orleans-inspired festivities run from February 3 through April 17! This is the time of year to expect great food, a sparkling and upbeat parade, music, and extra fun to take over Universal Studios Florida. It’s as close as you can get to Mardi Gras without being in the Big Easy – and it’s family-friendly!
Let the good times roll!
Global Carnaval Flavors
One of Universal’s Mardi Gras must-dos? THE FOOD. Seriously, this is turning into Universal’s take on a Food & Wine fest. This year’s menus take inspiration from New Orleans to Brazil to Belgium and beyond! Universal consulted with their international Team Members to create over 50 authentic Carnaval menu items.
Here’s a peek at the 2024 menus:
Snack & Save – Be sure to pick up a Universal Orlando Resort Food & Beverage Card – this year they’re offering a $75 card for $65, and Annual Passholders have exclusive access to a $150 card for only $120.
2024 Mardi Gras Concerts
Music is a big part of Mardi Gras tradition, and you can expect to see some pretty big names perform live at Universal’s Carnaval festivities. These concerts are included with your park admission, taking place at the Music Plaza stage in front of the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster. While the complete 2024 concert lineup is scheduled through March 17th, the rest of the Mardi Gras festivities run through April 7th at Universal Studios. Pick your favorite and plan a party date!
-
- Feb 3 | Walker Hayes
- Feb 10 | All-American Rejects
- Feb 17 | Elle King
- Feb 18 | KC and the Sunshine Band
- Feb 24 | Barenaked Ladies
- Mar 2 | DJ Khaled
- Mar 9 | Ava Max
- Mar 10 | Queen Latifah
- Mar 16 | Luis Fonsi
- Mar 17 | Zedd
Mardi Gras Tribute Store & Merchandise
NEW Elements Parade Theme
Universal’s Mardi Gras parade is sure to get your toes tappin’. Nightly, the streets of Universal Studios Florida turn into one big family-friendly New Orleans party with confetti blowing, beads flying, and the contagious electricity of the energetic performers and sparkly floats.
This year’s Mardi Gras parade features six new floats inspired by earth, wind, fire, water, the sun, and the moon – joining Universal’s traditional lineup of New Orleans-inspired floats.
The parade steps off in Hollywood near Horror Make-Up Show, circles through Production Central and New York, and finishes back through the Hollywood parade gates. Daily parade times vary – be sure to check the Universal Orlando app during your visit!
Float Riding & Bead Throwing!
One of the most exciting parts of Universal’s Mardi Gras celebration is the parade. And did you know Universal allows guests to ride on the floats and throw beads to parade viewers? It’s true! Here’s how you can sign up.
- The best, guaranteed method? Float Ride & Dine Experiences. You can get a reserved spot on a parade float to toss beads and enjoy a 3-course meal from one of four restaurants at Universal Orlando Resort. (Choose from the full menus at Finnegan’s Bar & Grill, Lombard’s Seafood Grill, Cowfish, and NBC Sports Grill & Bar)
- Become a Passholder! Early each year, Universal sends out a link to register for float riding. They utilize an internal lottery system and send out another email closer to the Mardi Gras kick-off to RSVP for your chosen night. This includes one passholder and up to five of their guests.
- Not an Annual Passholder? Did you miss out on the dining experience? No problem! Each night, Universal offers a standby queue to fill any empty spots when passholders don’t show. The standby area forms near the Animal Actors entrance. If you’re chosen, you’ll ultimately end up inside the Animal Actors theater. Here, guests are divided up by float, given a colorful satin tunic to match said float, and learn the dos and don’ts of bead throwing.
Who doesn’t want to bring hundreds of fellow theme park-goers joy by throwing copious amounts of shiny beads while making eye contact and shamelessly cheesy-grinning? It’s way better than I’m making it sound, I promise.
Riding on a Universal Mardi Gras parade float is an experience you’ll never forget. But, if it’s not your thing, or you can’t snag a spot, catching those beads from the ground is just as fun!
The Party Continues in CityWalk!
The Cursed Coconut Club (one of the seasonal overlays of the Red Coconut Club) returns to CityWalk for the 2024 Mardi Gras season, offering an exclusive menu of themed cocktails and mocktails. Cursed Coconut will be open in the evenings beginning February 3rd, and there is no cover charge.
Discount Disney Theme Park Tickets & Hotels!!!
MiceChat brings you the BEST theme park ticket, hotel & package deals! (You’ll find extra nights free, big discounts, and special offers as well).
Check out the latest offers for Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Knott’s Berry Farm:
If you live in Southern California, there’s a very special ticket offer for you that runs from January 9th through May 25th:
(MiceChat works with Get Away Today to provide you with the best theme park travel deals and we may make a small commission on any sales made through our links)
Let Us Know Your Thoughts!
There’s no party like a theme park party, and Universal Mardi Gras has got it going ON. See anything you’d like to try? Are you interested in visiting Universal Orlando Resort for the Carnaval festivities? Share your thoughts in the comments!
If there’s confetti on the ground, you know it was a good time! Laissez les bon temps rouler!
You must be logged in to post a comment.