It may be a little chilly in Madison, but a blast of Louisiana heat is hitting the city with Mardi Gras festivities this week. Today is Fat Tuesday (which is what “Mardi Gras” roughly translates into), and here’s what you need to know to make the most of it in Madison.
🎉 What Is Fat Tuesday?
While many associate Fat Tuesday with New Orleans, it’s actually part of a global Christian tradition dating back to Roman times, celebrating one last day of indulgence before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. French settlers brought the Mardi Gras tradition to the Louisiana area and the first recorded Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans is believed to have been held in 1857.
🎺 Where Can I Hear New Orleans Music in Madison?
Mama Digdown’s Brass Band is a group of former UW-Madison pals who traveled to New Orleans every year to play in local clubs, earning the respect of native New Orleans bands. Having just celebrated 30 years together, the group is playing at the High Noon Saloon with another crackerjack Madison horn ensemble, Rare Element.
New Orleans native Johnny Chimes has been playing the music of his home town in Madison for decades. You can catch him every Friday night at the French Quarter-themed Louisianne’s in Middleton, but he’s playing a special full-band show at the restaurant tonight.
🦐 Where Can I Eat French Quarter Cuisine?
Several Madison restaurants are going all out for Fat Tuesday. Bierock will celebrate Mardi Gras with a special jambalaya version of its namesake savory entrees, along with Sazerac cocktails and a keg of beer from Louisiana’s Abita Brewing Company.
Merchant has a special $35 buffet dinner that includes gumbo, cornbread, and King Cake. You can also get a free welcome cocktail as you come in the door, get your photo taken with Mardi Gras props in their photo booth, and enjoy a live brass band.
In addition to King Cake, which I described on the City Cast Madison podcast as being like “kringle with a tiny baby inside,” the donut-like Polish treat paczki is also a big part of Mardi Gras celebrations. You can find paczkis and King Cake at several local bakeries, including Pasture & Plenty, Greenbush Bakery, and Rolling Pin Bake Shop.
🥳 Keep the Good Times Rolling!
If you wake up Wednesday and feel like you haven’t had enough French Quarter goodness, New Orleans blues pianist Marcia Ball is playing at The Bur Oak on March 5. And get a taste of Rio when the Handphibians host Madison’s 25th Anniversary Carnaval celebration on March 8.
