It is Mardi Gras time at Universal again! I love all the festivities surrounding Mardi Gras and I always love the celebration put on by Universal.
Universal’s Mardi Gras Celebration runs from February 4th through April 16th. The parade and concerts are only on select nights, so if you are hoping to catch those (which I highly recommend), make sure to check out what nights they are on. I have included the dates and times below, but they are subject to change and I don’t want you to miss out on anything because of me!
Mardi Gras Parade
My personal favorite part of the celebration! The parade is so beautiful and so much fun! The performers always seem like they are having such a blast and there are riders on every float throwing out Mardi Gras beads to the crowd. You can get quite the collection of beads going, that’s for sure!
Here are the dates and times that can you build your Mardi Gras bead collection:
Parade starts at 6:15 pm on the following dates:
• Feb 5-9, 12-16, Feb. 26-Mar. 2
Parade starts at 7:30 pm on the following dates:
• Feb. 17, 20–24; Mar. 3, Mar. 6 – Apr. 16
Parade starts at 7:45 pm on the following dates:
• (Concert Nights) Feb. 4, 10-11, 18-19; Mar. 4-5
Mardi Gras Concerts
On select nights you can also watch a free concert (well, included with your admission to Universal). I have included the list of all the performers and dates below but as always double check on Universal’s site before you commit!
Saturday, February 4th: Patti LaBelle
Friday, February 10th: JVKE
Saturday, February 11th: Goo Goo Dolls
Saturday, February 18th: Maren Morris
Sunday, February 19th: WILLOW
Saturday, February 25th: 3 Doors Down
Saturday, March 4th: Sean Paul
Sunday, March 5th: Lauren Daigle
All the Food! International Flavors of Carnaval
There are so many food options! The booths are inspired by Carnaval celebrations from around the world and there are more than 20 booths for the festival! Check out the full menus here as I don’t want to bore you by listing out every dish they offer. There is something for every taste bud. From classic beignets and king cake to mofongo and chicken schnitzel.
I have not had the chance to try very many of the food options, but here is a recap of what we have tried so far!
India
Onion Bhaji: curry spiced crispy onion fritter with green chutney dipping sauce
I really enjoyed this one! The green chutney was yyyummmmmmyyy and super flavorful! The onion fritters are the perfect ratio of batter to onions in my opinion, and were nice and crispy!
The booths are located throughout Universal Studios and there were so many amazing-sounding options. I am hoping to return soon to try some more of the offerings.
Event Recap
I absolutely love Mardi Gras at Universal! The parade is so much fun and you can check out some amazing performers at their concerts. The sheer number of food booths is also incredible. There were so many delicious-looking dishes and I am hoping I can return soon to try even more food!
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about Universal’s Mardi Gras or anything Orlando related, hop down to the comments and let me know! I would love to hear from you!
Thanks so much for stopping by and reading! Happy Travels! ~Colette