Mardi Gras, Lone Star State-Style

Texas and Mardi Gras are as perfect a pair as crawfish and King Cake — with a Texas twist, that is.

The “Let the good times roll” (laissez les bons temps rouler) mentality comes alive each February in Texas, and the state is dotted with a long list of road-trip worthy celebration destinations. Hit the streets of Oak Cliff in Dallas, take in the festive float down the San Antonio River, try a cowboy-style Creole gathering in Bandera, and enjoy Texas’s oldest Mardi Gras celebration that spans two weeks in Galveston.

Mardi Gras! Galveston

Take Fat Tuesday beachside with Galveston’s festivities, the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in Texas, dating back to 1840. In Galveston’s historic downtown, festivals take place over two weekends, with a variety of themed parades and special events to delight the senses. Funky Uptown Umbrella Brigade dances through the Entertainment District with nearly 2,000 bedazzled, decorated, and whimsical umbrellas. Run through the Entertainment District during the Jolly Jester Jaunt 5K or parade with zany golf carts, decked out cars, and fire trucks. The Fiesta Parade with marching and mariachi bands celebrates Texas’s rich Hispanic heritage with a stunning display of pageantry and costumes.

Cowboy Mardi Gras, Bandera

It wouldn’t be a Texas event without a little Western flare. The week before the holiday, check out Cowboy Mardi Gras in Bandera, complete with bull-riding, longnecks, and a bar where cowboys and cowgirls hitch the horses they rode in on. Located an hour northwest of San Antonio, Bandera combines all the fun of Mardi Gras with a country twist. This event has just about everything for a top-notch Fat Tuesday celebration. Kick off the festivities with live Zydeco music and get your fill of Cajun cuisine at the 11th Street Cowboy Bar. This famed Lone Star State establishment is known as the “Biggest Little Bar in Texas.” But come February, there’s nothing little about the celebrations. The town of nearly 1,000 welcomes more than 15,000 people for the weekend festivities.

Bud Light Mardi Gras Festival & River Parade, San Antonio

Mardi Gras transforms into a floating celebration in San Antonio. Here, the San Antonio River Walk and surrounding downtown area come alive with a glittery, beaded festival and procession of decorated floats. Top-tiered talent takes the stage at the Arneson River Theatre and the River Walk becomes a spectacle you’ll want a front row view to see the floating fun. Patrons walk through downtown sporting their best Mardi Gras garb, scoring your marks, beads, and costumes!

Go Oak Cliff, Dallas

While Dallas has a seemingly endless list of parties and celebrations to suit your Mardi Gras fancy, opt for the unexpected with Oak Cliff’s Mardi Gras Festival. Located just across the Trinity River southwest of downtown Dallas, the neighborhood hosts the biggest carnival celebration in North Texas with a parade down Davis Street. Attended by nearly 10,000 people, the parade is a cornucopia of vibrant sights and sounds. Nearby restaurants like Restaurant Beatrice pack the day with a crawfish boil. Afterward, toast to the day at 13 Barrels Craft House & Deli or Pour House Dallas.