Mardi Gras is just around the corner but New Orleans isn’t the only city with Carnival spirit. I’ll be celebrating my Cajun heritage this Fat Tuesday right here in Boulder. You can also enjoy the festivities at any one of these upcoming events:
Mardi Gras 2015 at Jax Fish House
Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar is one of several Boulder restaurants celebrating Mardi Gras with special dishes. Starting at 4pm on Fat Tuesday (February 17th), Jax will offer New Orleans style eats and drinks throughout the evening. You can enjoy traditional Louisiana seafood plates like fried catfish and crawfish étoufféé. For dessert, try King Cake—a New Orleans Mardi Gras staple. Carnival-inspired cocktails include the Hurricane, a $5 dollar rum-based drink sweetened with passion fruit, orange, cranberry, and raspberry liqueur. Jax is currently taking reservations for its Mardi Gras 2015 event so be sure to call soon.
Brazilian Carnival at Aji
For another type of Fat Tuesday celebration, check out the Brazilian Carnival event at Aji Latin Restaurant on Pearl Street. The party is on Tuesday the 16th from 6 to 9pm and will offer cocktail specials and complimentary Brazilian tapas. There will also be live Samba music to honor the Carnival traditions of Brazil. For more information or reservations, contact Aji at 303-442-3464.
Carnival 2015 at Centro
Centro Latin Kitchen will also be having an internationally themed Carnival celebration. The three-day festivities kick off on Sunday, February 15th with Brazilian music and dancing courtesy of Ginga. For dinner, Centro will serve a buffet style Cochinita Pibil, a traditional Mexican slow-roasted pork dish. On Fat Tuesday you can groove along to the music of Selasee and the Fa Fa Family. The band blends West African Highlife music with Reggae and American Pop, giving them a unique international sound. In addition to the World music and Latin food, Centro will also offer drink specials all three nights, which include $3 House Wines.
The Guardians of the Spirit at The Dairy
While Carnival season is a fun time for partying, it’s also a wonderful time to learn more about the various cultures of Mardi Gras revelers. The Dairy Center for the Arts will be honoring the Fat Tuesday traditions of New Orleans Indians with the exhibit The Guardians of the Spirit. The photo exhibit features the work of Russian born Alexei Kazantsev, who has spent time in New Orleans photographing the Black Indian parade krewes of the city.
The exhibit is open now through February 27th, with a special exhibit event on Fat Tuesday that includes a conversation with the artist, complimentary drinks and slices of King Cake, and the opportunity to make your own Carnival mask. Tickets for the event are $10 for adults, $5 for kids, and on sale now.
This Fat Tuesday in Boulder, you can enjoy the festive foods and music of the Carnival season while learning about different cultures that celebrate Mardi Gras. From Brazilian customs to New Orleans traditions, the diversity of events is really exciting this year. Don’t miss out on the celebrations, go out and enjoy the Fat Tuesday parties that Boulder has to offer!