The parades in New Orleans leading up to Mardi Gras already began last week, but the party is just getting started at Universal Orlando. And now the theme park has revealed exactly how they plan on kicking it up a notch for this year’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval.
The event will begin on Saturday, February 3, 2024 and run all the way through Sunday, April 7; so unlike in New Orleans where the parades and festivities are done by the end of this month, you can be sipping Butterbeer while watching a band play well into the Spring.
But why would you want to sip Butterbeer (other than “it is delicious”) when there are 60 tasting options that pay tribute to Carnaval celebrations from New Orleans, to Spain, to China? Some samplings teased by Universal include a Fried Green Tomato Po’boy, Beignets from New Orleans, Chicken Schnitzel from Germany, and Chilaquiles Verdes from Mexico. But you can check out a full look at some of the food items in the gallery below.
Plus, The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen will offer a new Year of the Dragon Shake, there’s a Mardi Gras After Party at Pat O Brien’s, and the Red Coconut Club will transform in the Cursed Coconut Club for the season.
If you want to get even more extravagant, there’s a Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience, which includes a 3-course meal followed by the opportunity to be on one of the floats in the parade, tossing beads at crowds.
You’re also probably wondering about shopping. Great news: there are plenty of exclusive items available for the event. And as usual for Universal, that includes t-shirts, jean jackets, hoodies, bucket hats, cups and even a gator light-up popcorn bucket. They’ll all be available in the brand new “Tribute Store that will take guests on a haunted river cruise through the Mississippi complete with beads, treats and a gator or two,” according to a press release provided to TripSided.
And last, but certainly not least, you can enjoy a full concert lineup for the next two months featuring stars like DJ Khaled, The All-American Rejects, And More.
Click through below for the full concert lineup, as well as a look at some of the food and swag on offer.