What makes a festival truly special?
Music, dancing, delicious treats, glittering decorations, colorful costumes, and joy shared with family and friends — Mardi Gras brings it all!
Mardi Gras, often called “Fat Tuesday,” marks a festive celebration before the Christian season of Lent begins. Traditionally, it was a time to enjoy rich foods, sweets, and fun before weeks of mindful eating and reflection. Over time, Mardi Gras grew into a grand cultural celebration known for:
- Bold colors
- Beautiful masks
- Parades and floats
- Beads and feathers
- Lively street celebrations
- Music and marching bands
- Family traditions and happiness
Although New Orleans is famous for its grand Mardi Gras celebrations, families around the world enjoy the tradition — especially children who love its bright colors and playful carnival energy.
If your little ones are not familiar with Mardi Gras, this is the perfect chance to introduce them to a new cultural event through art. And what better way to explore traditions than with fun, hands-on crafts!
🎨 What is Mardi Gras? (Kid-Friendly Explanation)
You can explain Mardi Gras to children like this:
“Mardi Gras is a joyful carnival celebration where people wear colorful clothes, masks, throw beads, dance, enjoy music, and have lots of fun before the season of Lent begins.”
The traditional Mardi Gras colors symbolize:
| Color | Meaning |
| 💜 Purple | Justice |
| 💚 Green | Faith |
| 💛 Gold | Power |
These colors appear in decorations, masks, and costumes — perfect inspiration for crafts!
🧠 Learning Benefits of Mardi Gras Crafts
These activities help kids:
- Understand cultural traditions
- Practice fine motor skills
- Learn symbolism through colors
- Express creativity and imagination
- Build confidence with art projects
- Explore geography (New Orleans traditions)
- Experience celebration through storytelling
Crafting builds artistic expression + cultural appreciation.
✂️ 20 Mardi Gras Crafts for Kids
Let the carnival crafting begin! 🎉
1️⃣ Mardi Gras Paper Mask
Cut a mask shape, decorate with feathers, glitter, and bright colors.
Perfect for pretend play and cultural lessons.
2️⃣ Beaded Necklace Craft
Use purple, green, and gold beads to make wearable Mardi Gras jewelry.
Kids can string beads and practice patterns.
3️⃣ Feathered Crown
Cut a crown from cardstock and add feathers, sequins, and shiny stickers.
A craft-and-wear project children adore.
4️⃣ Jester Hat Craft
Make a colorful jester hat with floppy points and bells made from paper or pom-poms.
5️⃣ Paper Plate Mardi Gras Mask
A fun preschool craft — paint a paper plate and cut eye holes, then add sparkles!
Make a stick wand with ribbons, bells, and shiny streamers.
Kids love spinning and dancing with it.
7️⃣ Mardi Gras Drum
Use a recycled can or container, wrap in purple/green paper, and add beads inside for sound.
Marching band ready!
8️⃣ Beaded Foam Crown
Stick craft jewels and gold beads onto foam cut shapes.
9️⃣ Glitter Carnival Collage
Provide glue, sequins, confetti, and craft foam shapes.
Kids create free-style Mardi Gras sparkle art.
🔟 Mask Stick Puppets
Print or draw mask shapes, decorate, and attach to sticks for puppet shows.
1️⃣1️⃣ Rainbow Feather Fan
Glue feathers to paper or cardboard handle — fan dancing fun!
1️⃣2️⃣ Cupcake Liner Carnival Faces
Flatten cupcake liners, add masks, feathers, and stickers to create carnival characters.
1️⃣3️⃣ Streamer Baton
Wrap a paper tube in colorful paper and tape ribbons to ends.
Kids can twirl and parade!
1️⃣4️⃣ Crown Jewels Sorting Activity
Cut jewel shapes from shiny paper — kids decorate royal crowns while learning shapes & sorting.
1️⃣5️⃣ Tissue Paper Mosaic Mas
Stick bits of tissue in purple, green, and gold onto a mask shape.
1️⃣6️⃣ DIY Carnival Confetti Shaker
Use a plastic bottle, fill with rice + glitter, decorate — musical fun begins!
1️⃣7️⃣ Parade Float Shoe Box Craft
Kids turn a shoe box into a “mini float” using beads, wrapping paper, flags, and tissue flowers.
1️⃣8️⃣ Feathered Mardi Gras Banner
String paper feathers & glitter shapes to create a party banner.
1️⃣9️⃣ Golden Paper Trumpets
Roll gold paper into trumpet shapes — kids pretend to play carnival music!
2️⃣0️⃣ King Cake Play-Dough Craft
Make play-dough mini cakes in Mardi Gras colors; add glitter sprinkles (non-edible decor for craft fun only).
💡 Tips for Crafting with Kids
- Set up a craft tray with feathers, beads, glue, ribbons, glitter paper
- Use mess mats for glitter activities
- Provide child-safe scissors
- Mix structured crafts with free-style creativity
- Play Mardi Gras jazz music for ambiance
Make it joyful and imaginative — let the carnival spirit shine!
🍩 Mardi Gras Snacks Kids Can Help With
Optional additions to your celebration:
- Mini “king cake” made from colored icing pastry rings
- Purple-green-gold fruit skewers
- Festive popcorn with colored sprinkles
- Mask-shaped cookies
Simple, kid-safe, and fun!
🎶 Extend the Celebration
Pair the crafts with:
- Mardi Gras music & dancing
- Picture books on Carnival traditions
- Map activity — find New Orleans on a map
- Story time about festivals around the world
Children love traditions when they feel and experience them ❤️
🌈 Final Carnival Thought
Mardi Gras is all about:
- Joy
- Family
- Culture
- Creativity
- Color & rhythm
- Community celebration
These Mardi Gras crafts help kids explore traditions in a fun, safe, artistic way — full of color, giggles, feathers, sparkle, and carnival cheer.
Let the little artists parade forward — and laissez les bons temps rouler (“let the good times roll”)! 🎭✨