Mardi Gras interactive games can bring a party to life with the spirit of indulgence and exhilaration characteristic of this wild holiday. From Mardi Gras carnival games to easy party activities to bead toss games, there are many different outrageous party game ideas available to turn a plain Mardi Gras party into a boisterous celebration. These Mardi Gras activities work for kids and adults alike.
Ideas for Mardi Gras Interactive Games
When you're looking for Mardi Gras party ideas, classic party games such as Pictionary and charades are easy to incorporate into a Mardi Gras theme with careful word choices and game play, but innovative Mardi Gras games and activities can be much more fun for hosts and guests alike. Popular Mardi Gras games include:
- Casino Games: Taking chances is an inherent part of this holiday, and casino games can be a fun way for guests to press their luck. Colorful chocolate doubloons can double as gambling chips and indulgent treats.
- Karaoke Contests: Singing blues or jazz tunes is a crazy way to liven up any Mardi Gras party.
- Talent Showcase: Give the party a carnival feel by having guests demonstrate their crazy and unique talents for this crazy and unique holiday.
- Murder Mystery: A sudden murder with a Big Easy flair can be an intricate and mind-boggling game as guests become super sleuths to solve the crime.
- Mystery Masks: Give each guest a unique mask at the beginning of the party and encourage them to ask other party goers yes or no questions to determine just who that mask represents.
- Pass the Beads: Teams of guests must pass a string of Mardi Gras beads from one end of a line to another, with the beads gracing every team members' neck in turn, without using their hands to move the beads.
- Masquerade Mixer: Create a theme like speak-easy or carnival. Invite guests to wear wild and crazy costumes to the party and exchange pieces of those costumes to create the most outrageous look.
- Piñatas: Mardi Gras party piñatas can be fun for all ages - choose piñatas with mask, jazz instrument, or other Mardi Gras shapes and colors for added flair. Fill the piñata with beads, noisemakers, treats, and other trinkets in Mardi Gras colors, shapes, and designs.
- Cookie Decorating: This "Fat Tuesday" holiday is about indulgence, and a cookie decorating contest can offer prizes for the most colorful, craziest, or most calorie-laden cookie creation.
- King of Beads: This game requires teams of players where one member is designated the "king of beads" and the object is to get them to wear as many strings of Mardi Gras beads as possible as creatively as possible. Party planners should be prepared, however; a creative and persistent team may use 100 strings of beads or more!
- Bead Stringing: A more laid back game and one suitable for younger guests is to create personalized strings of Mardi Gras beads from loose purple, green, and gold beads. Unique bead shapes and different sizes can add even more creativity to this craft.
- Bead Toss: This is a two player game where party guests are given bead necklaces and try to toss as many necklaces around there partners neck as they can in 1 minute. The team to get the most beads on their partner wins.
- Easy Party Word Game: Before your party starts, choose a Mardi Gras inspired word like beads or masks. When people come in hand them a string of beads and tell them the word of the day. When they catch someone saying the word, they get to take their beads. The one with the most beads at the end of the night is the winner.
- Mardi Gras Bingo: Using a blank bingo board printable, have people fill in their squares with themes they might see that night like blue beads, glittery masks, carnival costumes, finger foods, Mardi gras banners, etc. They can cross themes off as they encounter them to get a bingo. You might also make this a mingling game where they write down characteristics of other guests like hates cats or loves pizza. By mingling with guests, they can cross off squares until they get a bingo.
- Unique Mask Competition: Set up a mask creation station with construction paper, glitter, glue, scissors, jewels, feathers, etc. Have each guest create their own Mardi Gras mask. Guests can then vote on the best one and name a winner.
Mardi Gras Awards and Prizes
No party games are complete without prizes to inspire the best efforts of competitors. Mardi Gras beads are a perfect choice to give to all participants, while winners may receive more elaborate strings of beads or other trinkets such as small trophies, the honor of wearing a jester hat or crown, or some pivotal role in the next game.
Tips for Playing Mardi Gras Games
Despite the best intentions of those planning Mardi Gras interactive games and other activities, they can be nerve-wracking or intimidating for shy or reserved guests. Hosts should never force anyone to participate who is not willing to do so, and having additional "assistant" roles for non-players to fulfill can help keep everyone involved without making anyone uncomfortable. Extra guests may keep score, serve as judges, or award prizes. Furthermore, in the spirit of fun and celebration, every guest's participation should be honored with a small, fun trinket or a kind word as thanks for participating.
Why Interactive Games?
Interactive games take standard party games to the next level by involving all guests in the fun. Mardi Gras, in particular, is an expressive holiday full of lively sounds, sights, smells, and tastes, and adding interactive games to the party events can make it a fun time for everyone. Levels of interaction may vary, however, and reluctant or reserved party guests should not be intimidated into participating if they would rather observe. By choosing a variety of different party games, hosts can ensure there are fun activities for everyone to enjoy.
