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If you want to celebrate Mardi Gras in Orlando, then Universal Studios Florida is the place to be!
The theme park has been celebrating Mardi Gras each year for over 25 years. And this year, the event is bigger and better than ever! The New Orleans-style fun lasts from February 1 until March 30, 2025.
In this Universal Studios Orlando Mardi Gras guide for 2025, we’re going to go over the fun things to do and food to eat. And then we’ll share some resources that will help you save money on your next Universal vacation!
Mardi Gras Parade
The Mardi Gras parade at Universal Studios Florida is a wonderful way to enjoy an authentic Mardi Gras parade outside of New Orleans. The floats are even created by Kern Studios, the company that’s been making floats for the New Orleans version of the parade since 1932.
How to Be in the Parade
Speaking of beads, guests also have the opportunity to be the ones tossing the beads! A limited number of guests get to ride a float and throw beads during the parade. If you want to be one of those guests, you’ll need to sign up using the Virtual Line on the official Universal Orlando app. And you’ll also need to be inside the Universal Orlando Resort theme park when you sign up for that day’s parade (otherwise, you’ll get an “Out of Range” error message on the app).
Please note that the float riding experience will take 2-3 hours (though the parade itself is only about 35 minutes in total time, and about 15 minutes long from any one viewing spot). Also, please be aware that riders must have a height of at least 48″.
The other way you can reserve a spot on a float is with the Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience. It involves a 3 course meal at one of eight restaurants as well as riding a float and throwing out beads. Here’s your choice of restaurants:
- The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar (at Universal CityWalk)
- Finnegan’s Bar & Grill (in Universal Studios Florida)
- NBC Sports Grill & Bar (at Universal CityWalk)
- Pat O’Brien’s – Dinner Only (located at Universal CityWalk)
- Confisco Grille (located at Universal Islands of Adventure)
- Bob Marley–A Tribute to Freedom – Dinner Only (located at Universal CityWalk)
- Lombard’s Seafood Grill (in Universal Studios Florida)
- Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food – Dinner Only (located at Universal CityWalk)
Parade Schedule
This parade is my family’s favorite out of any parade we’ve ever seen at Universal Studios. We highly recommend it! You can catch the parade at the following times:
- February 1: 7:30 PM
- February 2: 6:00 PM
- February 3: 6:00 PM
- February 4: 5:00 PM
- February 5: 6:00 PM
- February 6: 6:00 PM
- February 7: 6:00 PM
- February 8: 7:30 PM
- February 9: 6:00 PM
- February 10: 6:00 PM
- February 11: 6:00 PM
- February 12: 6:00 PM
- February 13: 6:00 PM
- February 14: 7:00 PM
- February 15: 7:30 PM
- February 16: 7:30 PM
- February 17: 7:00 PM
- February 18: 6:00 PM
- February 19: 6:00 PM
- February 20: 6:00 PM
- February 21: 6:00 PM
- February 22: 7:30 PM
- February 23: 7:00 PM
- February 24: 6:00 PM
- February 25: 6:00 PM
- February 26: 6:00 PM
- February 27: 6:00 PM
- February 28: 6:00 PM
- March 1: 7:30 PM
- March 2: 7:00 PM
- March 3: 6:00 PM
- March 4: 6:00 PM
- March 5: 6:00 PM
- March 6: 6:00 PM
- March 7: 6:00 PM
- March 8: 7:30 PM
- March 9: 6:00 PM
- March 10: 7:00 PM
- March 11: 7:00 PM
- March 12: 6:00 PM
- March 13: 7:00 PM
- March 14: 7:00 PM
- March 15: 7:30 PM
- March 16: 7:30 PM
- March 17: 7:00 PM
- March 18: 6:00 PM
- March 19: 7:00 PM
- March 20: 7:00 PM
- March 21: 7:30 PM
- March 22: 7:30 PM
- March 23: 7:00 PM
- March 24: 7:00 PM
- March 25: 7:00 PM
- March 26: 7:00 PM
- March 27: 7:00 PM
- March 28: 7:00 PM
- March 29: 7:30 PM
- March 30: 7:00 PM
Universal Mardi Gras Parade Video
See for yourself how much fun the parade is with this video!
Universal Orlando Mardi Gras Food & Drink
One of the exciting parts about the Universal Mardi Gras celebration is that you get to enjoy delicious food and flavors from New Orleans – and from all around the world!
To see the full food and drink menus, see our 2025 Guide to Universal Studios Mardi Gras Food. Right now, we’ll let you know the types of food offered at Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval.
Also, please note that all of these locations are in Universal Studios Florida park.
- Bites of the Bayou
- Canada
- China
- Coca-Cola Market Square
- Colombia
- France
- French Quarter Sips
- Germany
- India
- Italy
- Mexico
- Puerto Rico
- Taste of the Quarter
Universal Orlando’s Food & Beverage Card
As you can see, you have a lot of Mardi Gras dining options!
An excellent way to save money on food and drink during the Mardi Gras celebration is with a Food & Beverage Card. It’s like a gift card, but specifically for food and beverages.
For $65, you can buy a card that is worth $75 in food and beverages.
For $120, Passholders can also purchase a card that is worth $150. Additionally, Premier and Preferred Passholders can still receive their discounts on food and non-alcoholic beverages when they pay with the Food & Beverage Card. (Premier Passholders get 15% off and Preferred get 10% off.)
These cards are available at the Mardi Gras kiosk locations as well as the USF Front Gate, USF Reservation Cart near TODAY Cafe, Mel’s Diner, Louie’s Italian Restaurant, and Richter’s Burger Co.
And great news for anyone who has a partially used Food & Beverage card from the past! You can use the card’s remaining balance at the food and beverage kiosks for this year’s event.
Mardi Gras Food & Drinks at Universal Hotels
You can keep the party going even after you leave the park! The Universal Orlando hotels have some Mardi Gras specialties on their menus. This includes beignets, po’boys, Hurricanes and more.
Universal Mardi Gras Concerts 2025
One of the great parts of the Mardi Gras celebration at Universal Studios is that it actually features live concerts… included in the cost of park admission! They take place at 8:30 PM on select nights.
These live concerts are held on the Music Plaza Stage, which is located near Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. It’s standing room only and first come, first served, so be prepared to wait if you have an act that you really want to see up close. Otherwise, you can use the large video screens to get a better view if you end up in the back (or even in the Battery Park part of the New York section).
There is also an ADA-accessible viewing area, which is located near the Race Through New York restrooms.
Here is the Universal Orlando Mardi Gras concert lineup for 2025:
- Saturday, February 1 – T-Pain
- Saturday, February 8 – Joe Jonas
- Saturday, February 15 – Kool & The Gang
- Sunday, February 16 – Juanes
- Saturday, February 22 – Scotty McCreery
- Saturday, March 1 – Foster The People
- Saturday, March 8 – Illenium
- Saturday, March 15 – All Time Low
- Sunday, March 16 – Lawrence
- Friday, March 21 – Coco Jones
- Saturday, March 22 – DJ Pauly D
- Saturday, March 29 – TLC
Universal Orlando Mardi Gras Tribute Store
The Tribute Store, now located on Hollywood Boulevard, changes its theme seasonally. In addition to checking out the current Mardi Gras theming, it’s a great place to visit if you’d like to buy some treats or merchandise.
Last year’s Mardi Gras Tribute Store had a bit of dark and spooky theme:
Universal Orlando Vacation Planning
So after learning about all of the fun things to do at the Universal Studios Mardi Gras celebration, I’m sure you’d love to visit Orlando to attend this special event.
But I’m also sure you’d like to save money on your Orlando vacation!
The Mardi Gras event is included with the price of admission, but you will need tickets to Universal Studios Florida. Click here to get discounted tickets through Undercover Tourist (we’ve been a fan of them for years). You can save up to $124 on your ticket.
Need a place to stay on your trip? Click here to get discounted rates for onsite Universal Orlando Resort hotels.
And if you want to learn more about Universal Orlando in general, we recommend this book.