Mardi Gras is a festival leading up to Lent. The last night of Mardi Gras, called Fat Tuesday, is the biggest night to party before Lent. Many people give up their favorite things for lent, so the night before they stock up and splurge on them.

If you cant make it to New Orleans, the traditional site of the biggest Mardi Gras festival, make your own! A party supply store has everything a person needs to plan and decorate for a Mardi Gras theme.

Send out invitations shaped like a mask. They also have motifs with Mardi Gras designs and using the colors. Mardi Gras colors are usually purple, green and gold, but you can use whatever colors you like. Paper products to match are plates, cups, silverware and napkins.

Decorations can include hanging the black masks worn by party revelers from New Orleans. Wall hangings, balloons and streamers also add a festive atmosphere to any theme party. Make copies of famous places in New Orleans and hang them around the room or house you are celebrating in.

If attending a town parade, or the activities that go along with parades, is not possible, hand out beads to everyone. Have a mini-parade down your street or in the backyard. Wearing colorful beads and a frilly hat youll look like any pro Mardi Gras attendee. Play Jazz music in the background and you wont even know you didnt make it to Louisiana to celebrate.

Food served at a Mardi Gras festival includes King Cake and Paczki. Any dish with Cajun spices, shrimp or gumbo also works. Have guests bring a dish to pass to make your preparation time easier. Alcohol is also a big part of Fat Tuesday, so concoct come new drink recipes or have the guest bring a bottle of alcohol and create a new one.