Celebrate Mardi Gras in Washington, DC

Who says that Washington, DC doesn’t have anything to celebrate in February? Sure there’s Valentine’s Day or Presidents’ Day, but you don’t party on those holidays. But why do you need a holiday to celebrate? This February, make sure you head down and take in the Mardi Gras celebrations going on in the nation’s capital. Although the capital of Mardi Gras is in good ol’ New Orleans, if you can’t fly thousands of miles there, why not try something a little closer to home?

Here’s a list of the events taking place in DC between February 5 – March 1, 2008:

Clarendon Mardi Gras Parade
February 5, 2008, 8 p.m.
Veitch Street (by the Court House Metro station)
Arlington, VA
(703) 812-8881.
A local parade with floats, music, beads and fun.

Anacostia Community Museum
Mardi Gras Family Day
2008 Date to be Announced, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
1901 Fort Place SE
Washington, DC
(202) 633-4866
The museum will offer storytelling, musical entertainment, mask making activities and videos of New Orleans Mardi Gras celebrations.

MCCXXIII
Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball
2008 Date to be Announced.
1223 Connecticut Ave.  NW
Washington, DC

Mardi Gras Madness Party
February 2, 2008, 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Phillips Flagship Restaurant
900 Water St. SW Washington, DC.

Show Place Arena and Prince George’s Equestrian Center
Mardi Gras Ball
March 1, 2008, 7 p.m.
14900 Pennsylvania Ave.
Upper Marlboro, MD
(202) 397-7328.
Annual fundraiser for the United Way of Calvert County.

R.F.D. Washington
Mardi Gras Party
2008 Date to be Announced.
810 Seventh St. NW
Washington, DC

McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon
Fat Tuesday Celebration
February 5, 2008, 5 p.m.
2401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC
Beat the clock drink specials in honor of Mardi Gras.

Check the websites for more specific information and dates on what’s going on. Be safe. Don’t Drink & Drive. Have fun!