You have probably been too busy collecting beads, eating a LOT and drinking more to even care what Mardi Gras (literally, “Fat Tuesday”) is: a feast before the fast that is Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday (this year falling on Feb. 14, so be prepared to skip that creme brulee on Valentine’s Day, lovers).
Here are some places across the Front Range to indulge before the big test of your self-control.
Bayou Bob‘s downtown is celebrating Mardi Gras from Friday, Feb. 9, through Tuesday, Feb. 13, with face-painting, beads, boiled crawfish, Hurricane specials and more.1635 Glenarm Place, Denver, 303-573-6828,
Dazzle Jazz marksFat Tuesday on Feb. 13 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with Denver’s own Badda Boom Brass Band. Tickets $15. 1512 Curtis St., Denver, 303-839-5100,
The Mardi Gras Alley Crawl sponsored by De Steeg Brewingis on Sat., Feb. 10, from noon to 11 p.m. Cost: $35 for a ticket book (purchase in advance or at De Steeg brewing any time) includes a $10 food voucher and $5 drink vouchers good at Atomic Cowboy, De Steeg or Local 46, or at the Stupid Awesome Food Truck on-site from noon to 8 p.m. Ticket also includes a prize pack with a king cake cupcake, T-shirt and special shaker pint glass. De Steeg will have its special Hurricane IPA on tap for the event. 4342 Tennyson St., Denver, 303-484-9698,
Diebolt Brewing is bringing in the Mile High Cajun food truck in for its crawfish boil on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 1 to 7 p.m. Cost is $10 per pound for crawfish with chipotle garlic butter; $13 per pound with sausage, potatoes, corn and chipotle garlic butter. through Feb. 9 to ensure your crawfish are there for you (but there will be extra on hand for walk-ins). Seatings are from 1 to 3 p.m., 3 to 5 p.m., and 5 to 7 p.m. The Flatiron Jazz Quintet will entertain from 5 to 7 p.m., and there will be king cakes and the release of five barrel-aged beers as well. 3855 Mariposa St., Denver, 720-643-5940,
Exdo Mardi Gras party planners are turning the center into Bourbon Street, and expect as many as 2,000 people to experience it on Saturday, Feb. 17, from 6 to 11 p.m. Live bands will play throughout the night, and there will be a parade, courtyard cafe, mini casino, hall of mirrors, voodoo bar and more.Costumes are recommended. .For a separate fee, enjoy a crawfish boil, with etouffee and gumbo, too.1399 35th St., Denver,
Celebrate Mardi Gras with music by Gumbo le Funque at Gunbarrel Brewing Company on Saturday, Feb. 17. The party runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, with the La Rue Bayou food truck selling crab cakes, gumbo, po’ boys and more. There’s also a Funbarrel Jog & Joyride earlier in the day: Put on your Mardi Gras costume and gather at noon for the mile-long run to Ampersand Coffee; prizes for best costumes.7088 Winchester Circle, Boulder, 800-803-5732,
Landlocked Ales is having its Mardi Gras Party on Friday, Feb. 16, from 5 to 9 p.m. Beer specials, king cakes and live music from 7 to 10 p.m., with Mile High Cajun providing the crawfish: $13 per pound with sausage, potatoes, corn and chipotle garlic butter, or $10 per pound without the additional items. Two seatings: 5 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Landlocked is also releasing a new blueberry wheat beer.3225 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, 303-284-8748,
It’s Carnaval 2018 at Maria Empanada. OK, so it isn’t exactly Mardi Gras, but since Brazil’s carnaval celebrates the same thing, we thought we’d include it here. OnSaturday, Feb. 10, from6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Maria Empanda at 1298 S. Broadway in Denver will hold a live samba performance, with free lessons and an open dance, as well as a costume contest. Happy hour discount for sangria makes it $3 a glass or $12 for pitchers. Call 303-934-2221 for more info.
Max Tapsis holding a Mardi Gras Crawfish Boil with food from — you guessed it — Mile High Cajun (lordy, those folks are keeping busy) on Sunday, Feb. 11, from noon to 6 p.m. Order your tickets in advance through Feb. 9 to ensure you get your share, but there will be extra on hand (along with shrimp and other goodies) for walk-ins. Crawfish are $13 per pound with sausage, potatoes, corn and chipotle garlic butter; $10 per pound without the additions. Three seatings available: noon to 2 p.m., 2 to 4 p.m., and 4 to 6 p.m. 2680 E. County Line Road, Suite A, Highlands Ranch, 720 550 8914,
Oskar Blues Grill & Brew’sMardi Gras party will be on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m., with Leon and the Revival at the Black Buzzard.The grill is offering an alligator sausage po’ boy for $14 and two choices for its crawfish boil: 2 pounds for $18 and 4 pounds for $35. And king cake donuts for dessert. Free admission; reserve your tickets for VIP section at . 1624 Market St., Denver,720-502-3535,
A Mardi Gras Crawfish Boil will be at Park Burger in RiNo on Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. All-you-can-eatentrance $40 at the door. Live music, prizes and craft beer.2615 Walnut St., Denver, 720-381-0126,
Stoney’s eighth annual Mardi Gras party and crawfish boil will be on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 3 to 10 p.m., offering 1,000 pounds of Louisiana crawfish and all the fixin’s (corn, sausage and mushrooms). You can pre-order your crawfish at $25 for 2 pounds, $50 for 5 pounds ahead of time at . But there will be plenty of crawfish that day for folks who didn’t plan ahead — and three-for-one Hurricanes to wash it all down. Blue Krewe will perform from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Tivoli Club Brass Bandfrom 7 to 10 p.m.1111 Lincoln St., Denver, 303-830-6839,
Of course, Mardi Gras isn’t just about boozing it up. Enjoy a family friendly Fat Tuesday celebration on Lincoln Street in Denver, on Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. There will be jazz tunes and Cajun food, king cake, beads, face-painting, a special Mardi Gras Menu (can you say “beignets?”) and $5 hurricanes. Later, bring the kids home and go back for the Black Light Mardi Gras party at Lincoln Station Bar. Admission is free, but meal tickets are $7.776 Lincoln St., Denver, 303-885-8589,
