Get your beads out but keep your shirt on. Here's how to do Mardi Gras in Dallas, in chronological order.
Restaurant Beatrice
1111 N. Beckley Ave. After the parade, or anytime between now and Tuesday, head to Restaurant Beatrice for authentic Cajun dishes. They'll have gumbo, beignets, king cake, etouffee, Hurricanes, Sazeracs and Hand Grenades (Midori, Haku vodka, fresh cucumber). See their full Fat Tuesday menu on Facebook. This award-winning restaurant is good any day of the year, but during Mardis Gras season they really shimmer. Crawfish Boil
Dude, Sweet Chocolate, 336 W. Eighth St. Saturday, March 1, 3-6 p.m. Even though Dude, Sweet Chocolate is widely known for their amazing dark chocolate (they have new Dubai bites, btw), think of this cornerstone house in the heart of the Bishop Arts District as a hearth. Chef Katherine Clapner is sort of a mama bear of the culinary community. And, naturally, she is hosting a crawfish boil on Saturday with boudin balls, cracklings — which Clapner says she learned to make at The Best Shop in Scott, Louisiana — gumbo and king cake. DJ Johnny Woodstock of KNON NOLA funk radio will be there. They want to start a new tradition: let's make it happen.
7th Annual Mardi Gras Party
Legacy Food Hall, 7800 Windrose Ave., PlanoSaturday, March 1, 12-10 p.m.On March 1, Legacy Food Hall will host an all-day Mardi Gras party with New Orleans-inspired foods, showgirls, fortune-tellers, live music and more. This free event is open to all ages and tables are on a first-come, first-served basis. And RSVP is encouraged (but we're not sure why) and there are a few tables and bays available for purchase. Get a 3-pound platter of fresh crawfish, sausage, corn, potatoes and bread from Dock Local for $39.95. Other specialties to try in the food hall include beignets at Philly Special, chicken and sausage gumbo from Roots Chicken Shak, the jambalaya taco from Velvet Taco and a Bacardi Hurricane from the bar. Yum.
Mardi Gras on Main Street
The Village, 5670 Village Glen Drive Saturday, March 1, 12-6 p.m. The Village Main Street is hosting a Mardi Gras party with a 500-pound crawfish boil (calm down, it's not one ginormous crawfish, its ...) This entertainment district has several restaurants and bars. Cajun classics available for purchase include king cake from Buzz & Bustle, a beignet station at Sandy Pickle and crawfish by the pound at Over Under. Other bites available include muffulettas, banana foster cold brew latte, hushpuppies with remoulade, King Cake shots, red beans and rice, shrimp etouffee and a Hand Grenade cocktail.
While the event is free, you can pre-purchase the Hurricane King Package for $25 (entry and two drinks) or the Crawdaddy Package for $40 (entry, two drinks and a 1-pound crawfish platter).
Bishop Arts Mardi Gras Parade
Sunday, March 2, 1 p.m. This parade through the Bishop Arts might be the largest Mardi Gras celebration in Dallas. The bands and floats will kickoff at 1 p.m. and head east along Davis Street from Nova. The organizers highly suggest taking public transportation or ride shares, but parking is available at Kidd Springs Recreation Center (711 W. Canty St.), the lot at Bishop and Ninth Street or at Methodist Dallas Medical Center's paid garage. Get there early to nab a good spot. Mardi Gras and Cajun Fest 2025
Trader's Village, 2602 Mayfield Road, Grand PrairieSaturday-Sunday, March 1-2 Trader’s Village will host a two-day Mardi Gras event this Saturday and Sunday featuring live zydeco bands, stilt walkers, food trucks and a parade starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. Attendees can, as always at Trader's Village, shop at thousands of vendors. Make sure to go to the big red patio pavilion area near the carnival rides for live music and 1-pound of crawfish platters $19.99. It's a fun Cajun Fest mixed with Mardi Gras — it will be an adventure.
Charlie's Creole Kitchen
2129 Greenville Ave.Charlie's brings big Creole energy to lovely Lower Greenville every day. On Fat Tuesday, they're pulling out all the beads with live music, crawfish and their signature Hurricanes served in a 22-ounce purple cup. One review on their site says that their crawfish Monica is better than Jazzfest. Well, damn, Monica. The Free Man
2626 Commerce St., Deep EllumTuesday, March 4, 6 p.m.This is a real one. Head down to The Free Man Cajun Cafe and Lounge in Deep Ellum for a march on Tuesday 6 p.m. This is an annual event, usually well attended and there will be live blues and jazz, drinks and Cajun cuisine favorites.
Aw Shucks and Big Shucks Oyster Bar
Multiple LocationsTuesday, March 4, 5:30-9 p.m. Aw Shucks and Big Shucks are bringing Big Easy energy to Dallas on Fat Tuesday. Each location will have Mardi Gras specials, including crawfish for $9.99 a pound, happy hour prices all day, $5 shrimp cocktail and $8 hurricanes. The Members Only Band will be at Big Shucks in Richardson (103 S. Coit Road) and Time Machine will be at Big Shucks in Dallas (6232 E. Mockingbird Lane).
