Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebrations for LA Families

In New Orleans, it's Mardi Gras. In Venice, Italy, it's Carnevale. In Austria they call it Fasching, and in England Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day, or just plain old Fat Tuesday. Whatever the name, it's a party; and with its traditions of masks, music, and bling, this party deserves to be shared with kids. We've collected LA's most family-friendly Mardi Gras celebrations below, and they're all free! Of course, if you'd prefer to celebrate the British way, with a plate full of pancakes, IHOP makes that easy, too, with its Free Pancake Day a week later.

Mardi Gras at the Farmers Market
February 17-19 & 21
Original Los Angeles Farmers Market
6333 West Third Street
Los Angeles CA 90036
The annual event has been going on for more than two decades, with free music, kids' workshops, bead-flinging, New Orleans cuisine, and a doggie costume contest parade dubbed Mutti Gras.

Long Beach Mardi Gras Rainbow Harbor
February 18
Shoreline Village
Shoreline Drive
Long Beach, CA 90802
Long Beach celebrates the holiday with a parade, mask making workshops, plenty of music, and New Orleans-style food for the whole family.

Venice Beach Mardi Gras Parade
February 18
Ocean Walk
Venice CA 90290
We might not have gondolas and the Piazza San Marco, but then that other Venice doesn't have Muscle Beach - which is quite a setting for a Mardi Gras parade. The revelers of Venice Beach parade from Rose down to Windward and the Venice Bistro, where the music is more reminiscent of New Orleans than Italy.

Mardi Gras Children's Event
February 21
Olvera Street
Los Angeles CA 90012
Each year Olvera Street welcomes kids on Shrove Tuesday morning with typical Mexican and Caribbean music, a parade, piñatas, and family activities that invariably include creating masks.

Amoeba Mardi Gras Celebration
February 21
Amoeba Records
6400 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90018
Everyone's favorite record store celebrates the day every year with music, floats, DJs, costumes, and beads galore. Festivities climax with a cacaphonous parade through the store.