Family Gras 2025

Family Gras - February 21 - 23, 2025

Family Gras is a FREE celebration of Carnival and family that takes place two weekends before Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras Day), and is located just ten minutes from downtown New Orleans in the suburb of Metairie. It takes place on Veterans Memorial Boulevard, across from Lakeside Shopping Center. 

With crowds surpassing 80,000 each year, it’s big family fun just outside the Big Easy! Bring your kids to enjoy the traditional spectacle of Mardi Gras parades, authentic New Orleans cuisine, local art at the Art Market, a Kids' Court with face painting and interactive games, and free outdoor concerts by both national artists and Louisiana's own. 

The 2024 entertainment lineup included Amy Grant, Cheap Trick, Revisiting Creedence, The Oak Ridge Boys, Tyler Hubbard, Zebra, Amanda Shaw, Mad City, and The Creole String Beans.

In past years, the entertainment lineup has featured Martina McBride, Marie Osmond, Ann Wilson of Heart, John Oates, Michael McDonald, Brett Eldredge, B.J. Thomas, The Righteous Brothers, The Gatlin Brothers, Taylor Swift, Cyndi Lauper,  Cowboy Mouth, Blood Sweat & Tears, Wilson Phillips, Montgomery Gentry, The Drifters, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Tony Orlando, Kansas, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Monkees, Sheena Easton, Jesse McCartney, Brian Williams and The Marshall Tucker Band. 

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Of course, a big part of Family Gras are the fabulous parades rolling directly next to the Family Gras festivities, including the Krewe of Excalibur, the Magical Krewe of MadHatters, the Krewe of Atlas, and the Krewe of Caerus. Check our schedule for more information.

The Flambeau Food Court vendors "cook up" a good time with such favorites as jambalaya, crawfish pasta, muffulettas, pizza, and gator-on-a-stick, plus desserts like bread pudding and king cake.

 

Book your hotel room now and  Reserve your Mardi Gras package