Bring Mardi Gras home with these ten kid-friendly activities, from making colorful masks and decorating a miniature parade float to trying a simple king cake tradition. They suit families, classrooms, and neighborhood gatherings, with ideas that can be adapted for different ages, spaces, and craft supplies.
1. Make a Mardi Gras Mask
Cut a mask shape from sturdy paper or thin cardboard, then let children decorate it with purple, green, and gold paper, washable markers, feathers, or large pieces of tissue. An adult can make the eye openings and attach a craft stick as a handle, which avoids needing elastic around a child’s head. Invite kids to invent a character or design rather than aiming for matching masks; the variety makes a group display more lively. Set out glue sticks and a tray for loose decorations so children can work independently while an adult handles scissors and checks that small embellishments stay away from very young children.
2. Hold a Living-Room Mardi Gras Parade
Choose a clear route through a room or hallway and have children march along it wearing their masks, capes, or homemade sashes. They can carry paper streamers or wave scarves while a family member plays upbeat music, claps a steady rhythm, or announces each participant’s parade name. A parade gives handmade crafts a purpose and lets children take turns being the marcher, announcer, and audience. Keep the route away from stairs and furniture, and use soft, lightweight decorations rather than throwing objects; children can wave or hand out paper decorations instead of tossing anything into a crowd.
3. Build a Shoebox Parade Float
Turn a clean shoebox into a small float by covering it with colored paper and decorating its sides with drawings, cut-paper shapes, and streamers. Children can add a paper sign for their made-up parade group, then place the box on a low table or carry it carefully with both hands. This project encourages planning: ask what the float is celebrating, which colors belong on it, and how its decorations will stay attached. For younger children, an adult can prepare the box and pre-cut shapes, while older kids can sketch a design before gluing anything down.
4. Create a Bead-Free Parade Necklace
Make a wearable decoration from wide strips of colored paper, linking them into a paper chain or attaching them to a broad ribbon as a sash. Purple, green, and gold are familiar Mardi Gras colors, so children can arrange them in a repeating pattern or choose an order of their own. This offers the fun of dressing up without relying on small loose beads, which can pose a choking hazard for young children. Tape the finished chain closed instead of tying it tightly around a child’s neck, and let kids wear it over clothing or drape it across a chair as parade décor.
5. Decorate a King Cake-Inspired Treat
Use a plain ring-shaped cake, doughnut, or round cookie as the base for a Mardi Gras-inspired decorating activity, and offer colored icing or sprinkles in separate bowls. Children can add purple, green, and gold bands, then describe how their design differs from a friend’s; the focus is on decorating, not on baking a particular recipe. King cake is associated with Mardi Gras celebrations, and some versions include a small plastic baby, but do not hide a hard or small object inside food for children. If you want to include that tradition, place a clearly visible paper token beside the treat and let children take turns choosing it after everyone has finished eating.
6. Play a Color Hunt
Hide large paper shapes in purple, green, and gold around an accessible room, then ask children to find one color at a time and bring each shape back to a sorting area. Turn the search into a collaborative game by asking the group to arrange the finds into a pattern or use them to make a floor-sized mask or float design. This activity works indoors when the weather is poor and can be adjusted by placing shapes in easy-to-see spots for younger children. Avoid hiding pieces near stairs, hot appliances, or places children would need to climb, and use shapes large enough not to be mistaken for tiny decorations.
7. Make a Mardi Gras Rhythm Band
Give children safe household sound-makers, such as a sealed container filled with a small amount of dry rice, a wooden spoon for tapping a pot, or homemade paper shakers that contain no loose pieces. Play a simple beat and invite the group to march, pause, and start again together, using a hand signal to guide changes in tempo. This brings a musical element to the celebration and gives children who prefer movement or sound a role beyond crafting. An adult should prepare and seal any shaker, check that lids cannot come off, and keep the volume comfortable; pots and spoons can be replaced with hand claps if the room is echoing.
8. Design a Mardi Gras Crown
Cut a crown band from cardstock, fit it loosely around the child’s head, and fasten it with tape or staples placed where they cannot scratch the wearer. Children can add paper points, drawn-on jewels, metallic-colored shapes, or strips of tissue in the familiar carnival palette. A crown is an easy alternative for kids who do not enjoy wearing a mask, and it can become part of the parade costume afterward. Let each child give the crown a title, such as parade captain or music leader, then use that pretend role to help assign turns and keep the group involved.
9. Set Up a Mardi Gras Toss Game
Place a wide basket or cardboard box on the floor and let children toss soft fabric balls or rolled-up socks toward it from a short, marked line. Decorate the target with colored paper and give each participant a turn, moving the line closer or farther away to suit the players’ abilities. This creates a simple carnival-style game without hard projectiles, elaborate equipment, or a need for a large outdoor space. Make sure the playing area is clear, keep children behind the thrower, and have everyone retrieve the soft objects only after the turn is over.
10. Make a Mardi Gras Window Display
Cut large shapes such as masks, stars, musical notes, and streamers from colored paper, then arrange them on a low window or glass door with removable tape. Children can draw patterns on each shape and decide how the pieces should fit together, creating a shared display that can be seen from inside the home. This activity is a calmer option after a parade game and gives kids a way to contribute even if they would rather not wear a costume. Keep the display clear of door handles and walking paths, and use materials that can be removed without damaging the surface.
How to Choose
Start with the children’s ages, interests, and comfort levels rather than choosing the most elaborate project. Younger children may enjoy sorting colors, decorating a pre-cut crown, or joining a short parade, while kids who like planning can design a float or create their own game rules. Think about the space available, too: a window display or tabletop craft is easier to manage in a small room than a marching route, and an outdoor celebration may have room for a larger parade or toss game.
Check materials before setting them out. Scissors, hot glue, tiny decorations, loose beads, and small food objects need adult judgment and supervision; choose large, soft, or paper alternatives when children are too young to use them safely. If serving a treat, consider allergies and dietary needs, and keep any pretend king cake token outside the food. Finally, decide whether you want a quiet craft, a movement activity, or a mix. A few complementary choices—such as making masks, parading, and displaying the finished work—can feel like a complete celebration without requiring every idea on this list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the traditional Mardi Gras colors?
Purple, green, and gold are widely recognized Mardi Gras colors. They make an easy palette for crafts, costumes, decorations, and a color-sorting game.
Can toddlers join these activities?
Yes, with close adult supervision and age-appropriate materials. Offer large paper shapes, washable coloring tools, and soft decorations, and keep small objects, scissors, and loose craft pieces out of reach.
Do children need costumes for a Mardi Gras party?
No. A handmade crown, paper sash, or decorated mask can make the event feel festive, and children can also join the parade in ordinary comfortable clothes.
How can I make a Mardi Gras activity work in a classroom?
Prepare shared supplies in advance, use a clear work area, and pick projects with simple cleanup, such as paper masks or a group window display. Give children different jobs so they can participate through drawing, decorating, music, or announcing.
Is it safe to put a small baby figure inside a king cake for children?
A small hidden object can create a choking risk, especially for young children. Keep any token outside the cake and make it visible, rather than concealing it in food.
Final Thoughts
Mardi Gras activities for kids can be colorful, creative, and simple to organize. Pick ideas that match your space and the children taking part, keep small parts and food traditions in mind, and let the kids help shape the celebration. A handmade mask, a little music, and a family parade can be enough to make the day feel special.