Mardi Gras comes to Breck

Cajun cuisine, dancing and just the right amount of New Orleans-inspired debauchery. Mardi Gras is coming to Breck!

No need to make the trip to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras. In fact, you don’t even have to wait until Fat Tuesday to get your party on in Breckenridge. Had you rolled through town during carnival season 15 years ago you would have found a small group of Louisiana revelers escaping the big party back home and stomping happily through town throwing beads and spreading love. But that was just the beginning.

Breck Seafood Boil
Feb. 28 through March 5
T-Bar Restaurant

It’s Mardi Gras at Breck! Get ready for a culinary adventure – experience Louisiana-style cuisine and atmosphere without traveling all the way to New Orleans. Lobster, shrimp, crab, crawfish and more, boiled in your choice of broth. Enjoy a day of skiing and riding, and then mosey on over to the T-Bar Restaurant at the base of Peak 8 and enjoy a seafood feast with family and friends.

Mardi Gras Ball
March 1, 6 to 10 p.m.
Beaver Run Resort

If your Cajun palate is tingling this time of year, you’ll be drooling when you see the pile of traditional New Orleans treats at the buffet, including a live crawfish boil, étouffée, hush puppies, fried green tomatoes, catfish and Po’ Boys made to order. Oh, and for dessert, there’ll be fresh beignets. Hurricanes will of course be flowing from the bar, served up in a custom-designed souvenir hurricane glass. Although the dress code is “Summit County formal” meaning, wear whatever you want – costumes, masks, boas and shiny accessories are encouraged. The party culminates in the naming of the carnival Rex and Queen. Be sure to bring comfortable dancing shoes because the floor will be bouncing with live music from the soulful and famously jubilant Hazel Miller.

Fat Tuesday Parade
March 4, 4:30 p.m.
Main Street

A rare opportunity to see a Snow Cat decked out in a bikini, the parade floats follow the Mardi Gras spirit in defying social tradition. In case you haven’t procured a set of beads yet, you’re sure to get some thrown at your or placed around your neck in memorable fashion. Hurricanes and other Fat Tuesday specials will be on tap at a number of local watering holes on and around Main Street and for the most authentic Cajun (gumbo of all varieties, fried okra, fresh beignets) you’re likely to find anywhere outside of Tremé, hit The Lost Cajun.

The Mardi Gras Ball is capped at 200 revelers. To register or to enter a float in the parade, visit the GoBreck Mardi Gras page.

 

First time attending Mardi Gras in Breck?
Get the inside scoop from Rachel Zerowin – Public Relations Manager for GoBreck:

What is your favorite part of the Mardi Gras event in Breck?

“I love that so many locals get decked out for the Mardi Gras Ball. Attire is “mountain formal,” which means that pretty much anything goes – you’ll see a mix of ball gowns, funky thrift store costumes, crazy face paint and more. And Hazel Miller is an incredible performer, it’s always a good time.”

Is the event family friendly? 

“The Fat Tuesday parade is family friendly. For parents looking to attend the Ball, we suggest Kids’ Night Out – drop the kids (ages 4-12) at the Mountain Top Children’s Museum for play, projects and dinner from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Mom and Dad can head over to Beaver Run for the Ball. Reservations for Kids’ Night Out are required.”

What are the costs for registering a float in the parade?

“Free!”

What aspects of the traditional Mardi Gras events do you bring to Breck?

“New Orleans-style cuisine (king cake, red beans and rice, crawfish, etc.) at the ball, and a free parade.”

 

Keep checking back to our blog for more information on Mardi Gras in Breck – and don’t forget to register or enter a float in the parade on the GoBreck Mardi Gras page.

 

– Shauna Farnell