Let the Good times Roll in Cle

CLEVELAND (Feb. 24, 2017) - Mardi Gras is a celebration known for its bead necklaces, glittery masks, huge parades, extravagant parties and tons of food. While many may associate the holiday with New Orleans, Clevelanders put their own twist on the festivities. Destination Cleveland's list of Mardi Gras celebrations and must-eat meals will help locals get ready for a lively and gut-busting week.

Party Mardi Gras Style

Flats East Bank Mardi Gras Crawl

• Keep the party hoppin' by stopping in to one of the nine different venues in the Flats East Bank for the second annual Mardi Gras Crawl on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Guests can celebrate with food and drink specials and live entertainment at venues like Alley Cat Oyster Bar, Beerhead Bar & Eatery and Punch Bowl Social Cleveland. Continue to the after party in the Ernst & Young Tower lobby which includes a performance by Cats On Holiday and giveaways.
  • Check in: Ernst & Young Tower Lobby, 950 Main Ave., Cleveland, 44113

Fasching at Hofbrauhaus Cleveland

• Hofbrauhaus Cleveland's take on Mardi Gras - Fasching - features a Bavarian twist with food, beads, live entertainment and of course, their signature brews. Guests are encouraged to gather a few friends, jump up on a table for drinks and dance their way through the day. The event will start at 11 a.m. on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 28.
  • 1550 Chester Ave., Cleveland, 44114

House of Blues Mardi Gras Party

• At the House of Blues, Mardi Gras is a celebration that extends throughout the week. For one last hoorah on March 4, residents can enjoy a Mardi Gras Party that will feature Saved by the 90's on the main stage and other musical groups throughout the venue. The entire house will be rockin'. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the show begins at 9 p.m.
  • 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 44114

Get a Taste of New Orleans

The Bourbon Street Barrel Room

• Cleveland or New Orleans? It's hard to tell the difference at The Bourbon Street Barrel Room in Tremont. This New Orleans-style restaurant offers Creole-and Cajun-style cuisine including beignets, crawfish etouffee and jambalaya. Brews and spirits flow here with 30 rotating craft beers and New Orleans signature cocktails including hurricanes, classic old fashioneds and Cajun Bloody Marys.
  • 2393 Professor Ave., Cleveland, 44113

Heinen's Downtown Cleveland

• Instead of Fat Tuesday, Heinen's in Downtown Cleveland is celebrating a few days early with Fat Friday and Fat Saturday. At these Mardi Gras-themed events, guests can enjoy beer and wine paired with Cajun-inspired food samplings beneath the beautiful Cleveland Trust Rotunda. Tickets are $15, and the event will take place tonight, Friday, Feb. 24 from 6 - 8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 25 from 2 - 4 p.m.
  • 900 Euclid Ave., 2nd Floor Rotunda, Cleveland, 44115

Mardi Gras Brunch at Music Box

• Sunday is meant for brunch, and the Fat Sunday Mardi Gras Brunch with Mo Mojo at Music Box Supper Club is the perfect way to start off the day. Guests can get a taste of Louisiana with a brunch buffet featuring blackened Creole chicken, Cajun gumbo, smoked bacon and sausage, fresh fruit and a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar. Cleveland band Mo Mojo will keep the party atmosphere going with zydeco music, a music style native to southwest Louisiana.
  • 1148 Main Ave., Cleveland, 44113

Mardi Gras at Merwin's Wharf

• Ever eaten a fried alligator tail? Catfish, okra and alligator are not typical Cleveland menu options, but these foods and more will be featured at Mardi Gras at Merwin's Wharf on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 28. In addition, Blues Chronicles will keep toes tapping with live music. Doors open at 5 p.m., and reservations are recommended.
  • 1785 Merwin Ave., Cleveland, 44113

Indulge and Treat Yourself

West Side Market

• National Paczki Day is on Feb. 28 - which just happens to be Fat Tuesday. Coincidence? Don't think so! The West Side Market has multiple vendors who will be selling the delicious Polish paczki pastry. For those who are looking for a more savory meal, stop at a seafood vendor and pick up a pound of fresh shrimp to create traditional Creole meals like jambalaya or shrimp gumbo.
  • 1979 W. 25^th St., Cleveland, 44113

All City Candy

• Mardi Gras is the time to indulge in all of your favorite treats. From chocolate delights to fruity favorites, All City Candy can help fulfill any sugar fix. This candy megastore is stocked wall-to-wall with sweet snacks. Not a candy fanatic? They also have gourmet chocolate-covered pretzels, cookies and other treats that are hand-dipped in-house.
  • 746 Richmond Road, Cleveland, 44143

Fish Fry Fridays

• Whether it's at a local church or restaurant, fish fry Fridays are a staple in Cleveland. If guests are fishing for options, Prosperity Social Club puts on one of the best fish fries in town during the lunch hour. Guests have a full plate of options, from beer-battered haddock fish with homemade tartar sauce to old-school-style mac and cheese and potato pierogis. "Fry-days" will take place every Friday from March 3 through April 14 from 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.
  • 1109 Starkweather Ave., Cleveland, 44113

For more Mardi Gras ideas, or to learn more about Destination Cleveland, new attractions and activities, please visit thisiscleveland.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Pinterest.

DON'T FORGET: Destination Cleveland's Cleveland Concierge Team is also available to help residents and their visiting family and friends explore the region. Contact our team through email at cleconcierge@destinationcle.org, live chat at www.thisiscleveland.com, or stop in the Cleveland Visitors Center (334 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 44114) Monday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. to plan your adventure.