Miami Mardi Gras and Carnavale: Six Places For Beads, Drink, and Partying

Celebrate Fat Tuesday in Miami

​Ash Wednesday is February 22 this year. The first day of Lent in the 46 days preceding Easter in the Christian religion, it's the start of fasting, sacrifice, and prayer for the faithful worldwide. So what do certain areas of the world that love a good party (but are also widely Christian) do? They throw decadent festivals in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday, the last day before Lent.

  Whether you're into Cajun music, and girls trading a peep show for beads or Samba music, there's a place to party in Miami.

​Mardi Gras
When you think Mardi Gras, you think giant floats filled with Krewes throwing beads down Bourbon street in New Orleans. Costumed revelers dance in the streets and catch beads while giant vats of mud puppies boil, as a band plays zydeco music.

Dune Oceanfront Burger Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne is having an early Mardi Gras party this Sunday, February 19 at 3 p.m. Drink Hurricanes and nosh on traditional New Orleans fare like Andoille sausage ($19), mufalatas ($18), BBQ shrimp ($20), and oysters ($24 for a half dozen).

Fat Tuesday is the home of frozen blender drinks mixed with grain alcohol, slurped with a straw until first brain freeze, then a drunken stupor sets in. Pretty much every night is Mardi Gras here, come to think of it, but on Tuesday, February 21 plan to drink to live DJs and wear plenty of beads around your neck.  Both the Cocowalk location in Coconut Grove and the South Beach location on Ocean Drive will be jamming with girls displaying their wares for beads.

The Alibi celebrates Fat Tuesday with an authentic crawfish boil, $5 Hurricanes, authentic New Orleans jazz, poboys, beads, and king cake! Remember, whoever gets the baby in the king cake has to pick up the tab next year! The fun starts at 5 p.m., Tuesday, February 21.

Hogzilla's Inspired Barbeque is channeling the Big Easy on Tuesday, February 21, when Fat Tuesday comes to this South Beach barbeque spot. Get your party on with plenty of music, crawfish eating challenges, hot sauce contests, and a chance to win a $100 bar tab. Ladies drink free from 9 to 11 p.m. and plenty of beads will be tossed in the air.

The Fish House in Kendall is hosting their annual Mardi Gras blowout celebration. Starting at 4 p.m.on Tuesday, February 21, watch thousands of crawfish straight from the Gulf get boiled alive. Suck their little brains out while enjoying live music by The Fish House All-Stars, starting at 6 p.m. Plenty of drink specials and beads make this a party.

​Carnavale
Carnavale in Rio is called the world's biggest party. Tens of thousands of people from all over the world take to the streets awash in a sea of color, music, and beats. Some of the most beautiful people in the world samba until dawn in celebration.

Sushi Samba Dromo is turning Lincoln Road into Brazil on Tuesday, February 21, as samba dancers, drummers, and dj's keep everyone on their toes. Sip a Carnavale cocktail, a mix of Leblon cachaca, Domanine de Canton, fresh kiwi, and Champagne ($12), while you watch a live feed of the original celebration in Rio de Janeiro. A special Carnavale menu includes king crab palmito salad ($20), Copacabana crispy red snapper ($35), Carnavale rolls of tuna, salmon, shrimp, yellow chimichurri, and Brazil nut ($15), and banana splits ($14).

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