You don’t have to drive down to the Big Easy for King Cake, parades and gumbo with these Raleigh celebrations of the New Orleans tradition.
by WALTER staff
Zydeco music? Check. Jambalaya? Check. King Cakes and Beignets? Check, check! There is an increasing influx of New Orleanians moving to the Triangle and with that, many ways to celebrate the famous New Orleans holiday Mardi Gras. From dining at establishments like St. Roch and Hummingbird that offer refined Cajun food year-round to grabbing tickets to Masquerade parties, there’s tons of options for carnival season fans here in town. Read on for more 20 ways to do the 2023 Mardi Gras season in the Triangle big this year.
Indulge in Locally Made Beignets and King Cake
It would be a disservice if you didn’t take advantage of the bakeries in the area that offer festive Mardi Gras confections this time of year. Order a traditional King Cake from Lucettegrace during the week of Mardi Gras, or indulge in delicious beignets and coffee from Mr. A’s Beignets food truck. Another place you can find King Cakes is at the Triangle-based French bakery La Farm, Great Harvest Bread Company and Union Special.
Bring The Kids to this Festive Soiree at Whitaker & Atlantic
Grab your beads, don your most dazzling mask and waltz your way into an afternoon of New Orleans magic at Whitaker & Atlantic hosted by Hummingbird and Locals Seafood. This lively afternoon brings the energy of New Orleans to Raleigh, featuring jazz from Grammy-nominated trumpeter Al Strong and his band, King Cakes and classic NOLA gumbo. Costumes, beads and festive flair are highly encouraged – because no Mardi Gras celebration is complete without a little revelry. Money raised from this will benefit NowServing and is family friendly!
March 2nd | 12 – 4 p.m.; $50; 1053 East Whitaker Mill Road; hummingbirdraleigh.com
Join the NCBWE50+ for a Celebration at Chavis Park
The NC Black Women Empowered 50+ organization is hosting a Mardi Gras festival at the John Chavis Memorial Park. There will be food trucks, music and fun activities like mask making. Open to all ages, this event will ensure a fun family night!
March 4 | 5-8 p.m.; 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard; tickets online
Hear Boom Unit Brass Band & The Phoebes at the Pour House
Another event celebrating the musical styles of Louisiana at a Pour House tradition, the Boom Unit Brass Band will be performing at the downtown music venue near Moore Square. This brass band, accompanied by special guest The Phoebes this year, will play New Orleans favorites, “Li’l Liza Jane” and “Bourbon Street Parade,” and even some of their own material. While you’re there, take some time to browse the record collection at their in-house retail store before the store closes at 6 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8!
March 4 | 8 – 10 p.m.; $12; 224 S. Blount Street; thepourhousemusichall.com
Head to Mitch’s Tavern
Settled on Hillsborough St, Mitch’s Tavern is having a celebration on February 21 with their signature dishes and drinks from their menu. While plans are still being finalized, the crew at Mitch’s Tavern guarantee an event celebration that will be worth experiencing and their chili and gumbo, a local favorite, is always on the menu
March 4 | 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; 2426 Hillsborough Street; mitchstavernraleigh.com
Make a Dinner Reservation at One of These Restaurants
Hummingbird
Hummingbird is the type of place that serves Creole-inspired fare all year like fried chicken livers, and sweet potato gnocchi. Serving both dinner and brunch, you can enjoy some of New Orleans favorites, even after Mardi Gras season, whether you order online or make a reservation to visit this establishment. Wednesday-Saturday from 5 – 10 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. 1053 E. Whitaker Mill Road; hummingbirdraleigh.com
The Big Easy
At The Big Easy, you’ll enjoy traditional dishes you would normally find in New Orleans, all year round, not just on Mardi Gras. This establishment will guarantee an authentic dining experience. On Fat Tuesday,The Big Easy will host the band MikeMickXer, have bead giveaways and special deals on New Orleans drinks, including $7 hurricanes and $4 Abita purple haze. They’ll also be serving traditional gumbo and jambalaya from their menu. 222 Fayetteville Street; bigeasync.com
St. Roch
Just west on Wilmington Street, St. Roch is a restaurant that strives to serve “cliché-free” New Orleans cuisine. Owned by chef Sunny Gerhart, a native of New Orleans, it serves traditional dishes such as crawfish hushpuppies, crispy frog legs, smoked boudin, and other Big Easy delicacies. 223 W. Wilmington Street; strochraleigh.com
Stanbury
Blount Street’s neighborhood restaurant always shows up on Fat Tuesday with extra tables and music set up outside, making room for a traditional crawfish boil and big vats of jambalaya. Guests are invited to either dine outside or inside where they’ll have a special Creole-inspired menu. In year’s past, they’ve served up crab au gratin, deep-fried Louisiana frog legs, po’boys, crawfish étouffée, and bananas foster. 938 North Blount St.; stanburyraleigh.com
Stage a Cajun Style Festival at Home
Mardi Gras season is more than just parties, music, and Creole-inspired dishes, but also cocktail recipes if you’re feeling adventurous. With help from some local research, here’s the history and how you can prepare classic New Orleans cocktails right at home.
If you’re in the mood for an appetizer, then Vivian Howard’s recipe for shrimp cocktail might be the best dish you can serve before the main course. Howard guarantees this appetizer is fun, interactive, and can be easily made in a day if you have company.
While you can certainly dine at St. Roch, Sunny Gerhart has shared his authentic recipes for Pimento Cheese, Gumbo and Oyster Po’ Boys to make at home. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, give his petite brioche King Cakes a try for dessert as well.
This article was originally published on February 8, 2023 on waltermagazine.com and updated on February 25, 2025.
