Mardi Gras (Louisiana) 2027
Mardi Gras (Louisiana) 2027 is on Tuesday, February 9, 2027 (in 120 days), the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday", is a legal state holiday in Louisiana and is not a federal holiday.
- Date
- Tuesday, February 9, 2027
- Countdown
- In 120 days
- Federal holiday
- No
- Date rule
- 47 days before Easter (the day before Ash Wednesday)
- Possible dates
- February 3 to March 9
- Next occurrence
- Tuesday, February 29, 2028
Mardi Gras (Louisiana) dates by year
| Year | Date | Weekday | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | February 17, 2026 | Tuesday | 237 days ago |
| 2027 | February 9, 2027 | Tuesday | in 120 days |
| 2028 | February 29, 2028 | Tuesday | in 16 months |
| 2029 | February 13, 2029 | Tuesday | in 2 years |
| 2030 | March 5, 2030 | Tuesday | in 3 years |
| 2031 | February 25, 2031 | Tuesday | in 4 years |
| 2032 | February 10, 2032 | Tuesday | in 5 years |
| 2033 | March 1, 2033 | Tuesday | in 6 years |
| 2034 | February 21, 2034 | Tuesday | in 7 years |
| 2035 | February 6, 2035 | Tuesday | in 8 years |
Dates are calculated from the rule shown above, not copied from a list, so they stay correct for any year. See everything else happening that month in the calendar for February 2027.
How the date of Mardi Gras is set
Mardi Gras is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, 47 days before Easter, so it moves with Easter between February 3 and March 9. The Carnival season starts on January 6, the Epiphany, and ends on Mardi Gras. Ash Wednesday 2027 is on Wednesday, February 10, 2027. In 2028 Mardi Gras is on Tuesday, February 29, 2028.
Mardi Gras in Louisiana
The French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville held a Mardi Gras observance near the mouth of the Mississippi River in 1699, and New Orleans has held masked balls and parades since the 1700s and 1800s. The Rex parade of 1872 chose the colors purple, green and gold, which later came to stand for justice, faith and power. Louisiana made Mardi Gras a legal state holiday in 1875. Mobile, Alabama, claims an even earlier celebration, from 1703.
Krewes, parades and throws
New Orleans parades are organized by krewes, private social clubs that pay for the floats, costumes and "throws" that riders toss to the crowd: beads, doubloons, cups and stuffed toys. Rex, the king of Carnival, parades on Mardi Gras morning. The Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, founded in the early 1900s, is known for its hand-decorated coconuts, a prized throw. Mardi Gras Indians, who sew elaborate suits of feathers and beads, also march on Mardi Gras Day.
King cake and other traditions
King cake, a ring-shaped pastry decorated in purple, green and gold, is the best-known Carnival food. A small plastic baby is hidden inside, and tradition says that whoever finds it buys the next cake or hosts the next party. King cakes appear after January 6, the Epiphany, and are eaten until Mardi Gras. Rural Cajun communities in Louisiana have their own custom, the Courir de Mardi Gras, in which costumed riders travel from farm to farm collecting ingredients for a communal gumbo.
What is open and closed on Mardi Gras
In Louisiana, state offices are closed, many local governments and schools close for Mardi Gras and several days around it, and streets in New Orleans are closed for parades. Federal offices, the Federal Reserve Banks and the stock exchanges are open, and the U.S. Postal Service delivers mail as usual.
Frequently asked questions about Mardi Gras (Louisiana)
When is Mardi Gras (Louisiana) 2027?
Mardi Gras (Louisiana) 2027 is on Tuesday, February 9, 2027.
When is Mardi Gras (Louisiana) 2028?
Mardi Gras (Louisiana) 2028 is on Tuesday, February 29, 2028.
What does Mardi Gras mean?
It is French for "Fat Tuesday", the last day of feasting before the fast of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.
Is Mardi Gras a federal holiday?
No. It is a legal holiday in Louisiana, but federal offices and banks are open everywhere.
What are the traditional colors of Mardi Gras?
Purple, green and gold, chosen for the Rex parade in 1872. They stand for justice, faith and power.