Everything to know about Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras (2024)

What is Universal’s Mardi Gras

Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras is a grand international celebration that has graced central Florida every spring since 1996. This year it kicks off on February 3rd, 2024, and carries on until April 7th, 2024.

When you think of Mardi Gras, you first imagine the vibrant streets of New Orleans, jazz pouring through shuttered windows. Maybe you smell the sweetest scents of beignets filling your nostrils. Universal takes it all to the next level. Universal Orlando takes all the best aspects of the big easy and combines them with a celebration of world flavors, familiar cultures, live music, and family-friendly excitement. In the end, you’ll leave the park feeling as if you have traveled to far countries, tasted the spices that once ruled the world, and partied with the most lively people on the planet, all in one day. 

Come with me as we explore everything you need to know about Universal’s Mardi Gras. 

The Food 

Before the sun sets and the sparkling lights illuminate the streets, you’ll begin your party tasting and sipping. One of the staples and main highlights of Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras celebration is the food. At this party, Universal challenges you to expand your palate and take a few steps to travel to places you have never been before. But don’t worry, you won’t need your passport for this trip around the world. This year Universal uses its signature flavors to transport you to thirteen countries, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, New Orleans, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Spain, and Thailand, all in one park. 

The flavors begin with classic red beans and rice, jambalaya, crawfish, and sausage. Then they stretch to exotic pancit bihon of the Philippines and shrimp moqueca of Brazil. With the wide collection of food and drinks, you’ll find yourself piling your plate and overfilling your cup.

The Parades

When you think of a theme park, besides the rides, the shows, and the character meetups, you immediately think of parades right? Well, you’ve not seen a theme park parade like this one. No costumed characters are waving and blowing kisses at a crowd of jumping children and bored adults. Universal Orlando Mardi Gras parade gets the entire crowd involved. The entire family, children, adults, and even granny will be jumping with excitement. You’ll be feeling the adrenaline rush through your body as you try to catch flying multi-colored beads. 

This will be the most fun you will have at any theme park parade. It is a spectacular lineup of glittering and hand-painted floats representing Earth’s elements, celestial themes, and classic Mardi Gras imagery. If you are, for whatever reason, not jumping, your eyes will still glare in amazement at the beautiful floats and the confetti spinning through the air. 

The parade starts at the end of the Hollywood section. It comes out of the gate between Cafe La Bamba and The Horror Makeup Show, and turns toward the left. I recommend standing across the street next to Mel’s Diner or in front of the horror makeup show. This way the excited float riders with full buckets of fresh shiny beads will have enough to throw. Then once the parade ends and you’ve caught a few beads, you can run through Mel’s Diner and stand on the other side, by Transformers, to catch whatever beads are left as the floats come back around. With that positioning, a good height, and enthusiasm, there is no doubt you will end the night with a neck full of bright-colored beads and the confidence of a gold medalist. 

The Concerts

The past year has been the year of the concert, artists, and performances. However, most people find themselves having to miss out on a concert due to competition and thousand dollar nosebleed tickets. With so many things to pay for to enjoy a show, sometimes it seems not to be worth it. You find yourself watching a prerecorded showing of the concert or waiting for the tour documentary to come out. But what if you didn’t have to miss out on it? What if you could save your money and watch one of your favorite artists for the same cost as a theme park ticket?

That is exactly the experience you will be getting at Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras. The concert is free, included in park activities with the price of your normal day admission ticket. Not only do you get to enjoy thrills, rides, shows, and food from sunrise to sunset, but you also get to enjoy a thrilling and up-close live experience from popular artists. 

Now, whether you came for the show or the food, there is no denying that a free concert experience after a day of roller coaster riding, dancing, and eating, is a day made in heaven. This year’s Mardi Gras set lists include artists such as All American Rejects, DJ Khaled, Luis Fonsi, Zedd, and more. 

Concert Dates

The lineup is as follows: 

February 3rd: Walker Hayes

February 10th: The All-American Rejects

February 17th: Nessa Barrett

February 18th: KC and the Sunshine Band

February 24th: Barenaked Ladies

March 2nd: DJ Khaled

March 9th: Ava Max

March 10th: Queen Latifah

March 16th: Luis Fonsi

March 17th: Zedd

Each show takes place at 8:30 pm and only ever on a Saturday and Sunday. Since there is no queuing, ticket scanning, or seats for the show, if you really want to see your favorite artist, I recommend finding a spot in front of the stage forty-five minutes before the show starts. This way you can be front and center before nonfan partygoers show fill up the front spots. And if you are a nonfan partygoer and just want to feel the boom of the speakers and the pound of the drum echoing in your heart, I also recommend showing up forty-five minutes before. But also, you should listen to a few songs from the artists beforehand. That way you can shout and dance without looking lost or standing awkwardly. Enjoy yourself. 

The Deals

Among all the celebrations there is one aspect of Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras this year that outweighs everything else. Even better than the glitz, the glamor, the flavor, and the fantastic, are the deals. That’s right, the savings Universal is offering are phenomenal and even more reason to join the celebration. This year Universal Orlando is offering special tickets, bundles, and deals so you can save your money and focus on enjoying yourself. 

Food Deals

To start, it is a common to find yourself buying plate after plate and drink after drink. We can’t blame anyone for stuffing their face. However, at the end of the month when there are no more traces of cajun seasoning on your lips, you’ll find yourself shocked at your credit card statement. I always recommend trying everything. Don’t think trying everything means you have to break the bank. Universal is offering the food and beverage card this year. With this card, costing $65, you will be able to purchase $75 worth of Mardi Gras food. The benefit of the card not only saves you $10, but it also acts like a prepaid gift card. This way you can try all of the food you are most interested in and not worry about overspending. 

Ticket Deals

Then, in a time when overpriced tickets and underwhelming experiences have become the norm at competing parks, you might think you will have to break the bank and take out a loan to enjoy this trip. Luckily, the price of admission will not be a factor stopping you from partaking in the Mardi Gras festivities this spring. This season, Universal Orlando is offering Florida residents a buy one day, get two days free ticket anytime between now and June 6th, 2024. That’s right, all you are paying for is a one day ticket and you get to party for the whole weekend. 

Don’t fret if you are not a Florida resident, Universal Orlando is incredibly inclusive and loves to offer deals to everyone near and far. For the rest of the world, Universal is offering a buy two, get two ticket. If you buy a two day park ticket, you will be getting two days free. That is a total of four days of partying, food stuffing, bead catching, and adventure chasing for the price of a two day ticket. 

But what if you are not satisfied? What if you want more? Well, Universal Orlando is prepared to give you more. If, like me, you find yourself drawn back to the adventure after a trip or if you fill your hours with park videos, unable to get Universal off of your mind, Universal is offering a grand deal on its annual pass. Now, Universal is offering three months free on any annual pass. 

Will You Join The Party This Year? 

So now you know everything you need to know about Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras, the big family party of the year. Universal’s Mardi Gras fills you with the tastes, sounds, and feels of an international celebration and reminds us of what it really means to enjoy ourselves. This event will fill your stomach, get your body moving, your mouth singing, and your pockets thanking you. Now it seems, the question is not whether or not you will join, but rather what you will do first. 

Not interested in visiting during Mardi Gras? Check out the best time to visit Universal Orlando in 2024.