• Dress-up is a fun Mardi Gras activity for children and grown-ups.mardi gras eyes image by Cinderella Morff from Fotolia.com
  
  Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is a spirited last hurrah of fun and frivolity before the seriousness of Lent, which in many Christian religions is a 40-day period of penitence and sacrifice. Mardi Gras is an over-the-top celebration of decadence, which makes it the perfect holiday to celebrate with an equally over-the-top party. When you're coming up with ideas for party activities for Mardi Gras, put fun first.
  
  

Costume Parade

• The Mardi Gras parade is one of the highlights of any Mardi Gras celebration, and putting together your own parade can be a great Mardi Gras activity. Encourage your guests to bring costume supplies--costume jewelry, feather boas, hats and old Halloween costumes are all good candidates. Let your guests dive in to create their own looks. Give such prizes as traditional Mardi Gras bead necklaces to the guests with the most creative costume and the silliest costume.
  
  

Masks

• Masks have become an integral part of a good Mardi Gras celebration, borrowing from Venice's Carnival the idea that a disguise gives celebrants license to indulge in behaviors that typically are forbidden. Provide your guests with inexpensive paper or plastic masks. Let them decorate their own Mardi Gras masks with feathers, beads, glitter and artificial flowers. Include plenty of items in the traditional holiday colors of gold, which represents power; purple, which is symbolic of justice; and green, which symbolizes faith.
  
  

Musical Chairs

• Music is an essential part of a good Mardi Gras celebration, and an old-fashioned game of musical chairs is a great way to bring music to your party. If your guests are up for it, have them make music themselves--encourage them to bring their own instruments or set up a karaoke machine. If your guests are not musically inclined, create a jazzy playlist before your party.
  
  

Coronation

• Crowning the king and queen of Mardi Gras is a big deal for traditional Mardi Gras celebrations, and having your own Mardi Gras coronation can be just as fun. Hold random drawings or competitions throughout the night to choose a king and queen every hour. Deck your royal guests out with plastic crowns and feather boas.