Tracing back to 1699, Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday,” is the last day of the Carnival season. It refers to grand feasts held before the fasting and prayer season of Lent, in the 40 days leading to Easter Sunday. This guide contains some of the notable events happening in celebration. Be check to check with your personal favorite restaurants and bars for what they’re doing.
WHERE: Downtown Norman
WHEN: Saturday, February 22, 2020, from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Annual Norman Mardi Gras Parade will let the good times roll with floats, music, and more rolling down Main Street in Oklahoma’s longest-running Mardi Gras Parade and Norman’s original night parade. This is a family-friendly parade community, canine entries welcome.
Official King and Queen are Keith and Jill Wells, who have been volunteers for 25 years.
Plan to park early for a great spot close to Peters and Main, for those who do not like crowds, restaurants are open and Comanche is more chill, Main Street Event Center will have indoor fun for all.
The parade runs in circles. It starts from Jones at Main, East to Crawford, Commanche, then Jones and circles twice. For more information, including pre-party events, visit normanmardigrasparade.com
WHERE: Tower Theatre
425 NW 23rd Street, Oklahoma City
WHEN: Saturday, February 22, 2020, at 8 PM
SixTwelve, a nonprofit community education center located in the Paseo Arts District of Oklahoma City, is happy to announce their Sixth Annual Mardi Gras Ball and the celebration of their first five years of business. The party will take place at the Tower Theatre OKC at 425 NW 23rd Street in Oklahoma City from 8:00 to 11:00 pm. Tickets are $100 per person or $175 per couple. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.
This theme for this year’s event is “Carnival”, as in the Rio Carnival, so bright, tropical colors and feathers will dominate the visual experience. Spaceface, a psych-pop band out of Memphis, Tennessee and our 2020 SixTwelve music residents will headline the entertainment. Brothers Griiin, a local dj duo, the drummers of the Flaming Lips and our 2019 SixTwelve music residents and Latin Mojo, an Oklahoma City band that will honor the Samba tradition at the opening of the party will also perform. During the ball, SixTwelve will hold a silent auction of local and Georgia art. Food will be provided by Picasso Cafe, flowers by A Date With Iris and drinks by Tower Theatre. This year the nonprofit will crown the parents of SixTwelve co-founder and Executive Director, Amy Young, Dr. James O. Young and Virginia Young, king and queen of the ball in honor of all of the support they have shown since Young purchased the SixTwelve building ten years ago.
WHERE: American Banjo Museum
9 East Sheridan Avenue, Oklahoma City
WHEN: Saturday, February 22, 2020,
The American Banjo Museum will bring Bourbon Street and the spirit of the French Quarter to Bricktown with its annual Krewe de Banjo Mardi Gras Party on Saturday, February 22, 2020, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Festivities reminiscent of an evening at Mardi Gras in New Orleans will be on tap at 9 East Sheridan.
Proceeds from this special event go to support the American Banjo Museum. Tickets are $25 for museum members and $30 for non-members. Tickets may be purchased online at americanbanjomuseum.com or by calling the museum at 405-604-2793.
WHERE: Crabtown in Bricktown and Pearl’s Oyster Bar
WHEN: Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Celebrate Fat Tuesday all day long with Crabtown in Bricktown, including $2 Abita Ambers, $5 cocktail specials, $1 oysters. Face painter at 4 pm. Crawfish races!
WHERE: Enso Bar and Unicorn Club
230 East 1st Street, Tulsa
WHEN: Saturday, February 22, 2020
The 10th Annual Mardi Gras Parade is happening Saturday, February 22nd at 6 pm. Come out and line the streets the SATURDAY BEFORE FAT TUESDAY for an amazing time in the Blue Dome District!
After the parade, join the official after-party. LockHeart Productions and Oklahomans for Equality are celebrating Mardi Gras in their customarily lavish and wildly entertaining style. Groove to the sound of live bands playing blues, jazz, and top 40s dance music. Devour authentic Cajun cuisine. Entertainment includes character actors, showgirls, sideshow performers, stilt walkers, jugglers, magicians, and more.
For more details check their official website at tulsamardigrasmasquerade.com
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