Florida Mardi Gras 2006

Click here for Mardi Gras in Florida in 2007.

Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday) has been celebrated in the Southern states for centuries, particularly in Louisiana, Alabama and Florida.

It is always on a Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, as a precursor to Lent and is always 47 days before Easter Sunday.

You don't have to go to New Orleans to immerse yourself in Mardi Gras, there are plenty of places in Florida to celebrate Mardi Gras

Universal Studios

Every Saturday night between February 11 and April 22, Universal Studios will be celebrating Mardi Gras complete with 13 parade floats from New Orleans and authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine including Jambalaya, Shrimp Gumbo and Andouille Sausage.

Multi-coloured float riders and stilt-walkers throw strands of beads and doubloons in the crowds as they pass.

As well as the parade, there are also concerts featuring world famous acts. The provisional concert schedule includes
Hall & Oates (February 11),
Kid Rock (February 18),
LL Cool J (February 25),
Bonnie Raitt (March 4),
George Thorogood & the Destroyers plus Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes (March 11),
Earth Wind & Fire (March 18),
Gavin DeGraw (April 1),
Heart (April 8)
Kool & the Gang (April 15) and
KC & the Sunshine Band (April 22).

To help the music and the musicians of New Orleans recover from the terrible destruction of Hurricane Katrina, Universal Studios is also putting on a special "Celebrate the Music" program in the French Quarter Courtyard.

Confirmed acts include Don Vappie & the Creole Jazz Combo (February 11), Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hell Raisers (February 18), Lil Brian & the Zydeco Travelers (February 25), The Marc Stone Band (March 4), Chris Klein & the Boulevards (March 11), Big Sam's Funky Nation (March 18), Jumpin Johnny Sansone (March 25), Brian Lee and The Blues Power Band (April 1), T. Broussard & The Zydeco Steppers (April 22).

The Mardi Gras celebrations and concerts are included in the standard park admission plus you get free admission to Universal CityWalk so you can party away until 2 o'clock in the morning.

Selected rides will remain open during the evening parade and concerts.

Pleasure Island

Pleasure Island in Downtown Disney takes on a Mardi Gras theme from 7 p.m. on the nights of February 24, 25 and 28 when Disney celebrates Parti Gras until 2 a.m.

Special street entertainment includes live jazz bands, jugglers, face painters and Mardi Gras stilt walkers plus authentic New Orleans Cajun and Creole cuisine. Each night there are two parades at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. featuring the New Orleans Krewe of Caesar and like the parade at Universal Studios, there are lots of beads and doubloons.

Outdoor events are free but the Pleasure Island nightclubs charge a cover fee.

Pensacola

In Pensacola, the Mardi Gras celebrations start on February 2 culminating in the Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade which takes place at 2 p.m. on Saturday February 25 (the Saturday before Fat Tuesday).

In 2005, over 6,000 people participated whilst over 100,000 people watched the parade .

Hollywood

New Orleans comes to Hollywood from February 24 to 26 at Downtown Hollywood and then from February 27 to 28 at Hollywood Beach Broadwalk with New Orleans style music, food and parades.

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