This article is your ultimate guide to the Universal Mardi Gras 2023! Because we all know that Universal Orlando is known for throwing one of the biggest, best parties for Mardi Gras Universal and you’re invited! Park guests can enjoy spectacular parades, mouth-watering food and concerts from hot new musical artists every night from February to April.
As Annual Passholders, Universal Studios Mardi Gras 2023 is our favorite event for Spring in Orlando. The Universal Orlando Mardi Gras concerts are by far the best theme park concerts with guests like Sean Paul and Maren Morris. We also love that you can actually ride one of the floats at Mardi Gras Universal Orlando, which is once in a lifetime experience!
We hope you find this post helpful! Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next Universal Orlando vacation! If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out the latest deals on Universal Orlando vacation packages and our discounted Universal Orlando tickets which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
So if you’re ready to experience one of the best evens Universal has to offer keep reading our 2023 Universal Mardi Gras celebration guide!
SPECIAL NOTE: If you need help picking the best time to visit Universal Orlando for your next vacation be sure to check out our Universal crowd calendar!
Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar
Universal Studios Mardi Gras 2023 will be the biggest celebration in , with Carnaval celebrations from around the world, a parade you’ll never forget and even live music! The Mardi Gras Universal 2023 party begins in February and keeps rolling until April for a few months, so there’s plenty of time to plan your trip to celebrate. The park-wide celebration is held in Universal Studios Florida, transforming the park into a true Carnaval that highlights the regions of New Orleans to Belgium in many exciting ways.
Throughout Universal Studios Florida, guests can find delicious food booths, decor and concerts that will keep the party rolling all night long! The Universal Mardi Gras Concerts are some of the best ways to celebrate Spring Break, as there have been incredible musical guests throughout the years. Universal Orlando Mardi Gras also has a parade that guests can actually ride on and pass out beads to guests watching below.
Universal Mardi Gras time starts during normal park hours, so make sure to check the Universal app the day of your trip to see. The actual Mardi Gras celebration begins in early February and goes until mid-April for guests looking at what time frame to book.
The Universal Mardi Gras 2023 dates are:
The Universal Orlando Mardi Gras 2023 celebration will be running for 4 months and is the best springtime celebration in Central Florida.
Universal Mardi Gras ticket prices are always surprisingly affordable—namely because they’re free. Yup, you read that right. Entry to the Mardi Gras Orlando celebration is included in your Universal park admission! So long as you have a valid entry to the park, you’ll have access to everything Universal Studios Mardi Gras 2023 has to offer. And guests can even take advantage of additional savings by buying their discount Universal Orlando tickets from The Park Prodigy! Not only will you save money, but you will receive free early park admission to Universal Orlando.
Related page: Universal Mardi Gras Discount Tickets
There are a few different offerings for Mardi Gras 2023 Universal, which are the most vibrant and lively throughout the year.
Universal Orlando Spectacular Mardi Gras parade is back in 2023 and will showcase a NEW “Mythical Realms of Mardi Gras” theme inspired by fantastical creatures like dragons, phoenixes, unicorns and more – with a Mardi Gras twist.
We are excited to see what 2023 Universal Orlando Mardi Gras parades are and what they come up with! Either way, we are so excited that live entertainment is making it back into the parks
Guests will experience an international food fest with cuisine and entertainment inspired by international Carnaval celebrations. Enjoy amazing food from different regions, including New Orleans, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Germany, and Spain! New this year: guests can take their Mardi Gras celebration to the next level with the new Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience. This new offering is available from February 4 through April 16, 2023, and guests can enjoy a 3-course meal with selections from the full menu at one of four participating restaurants – The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, NBC Sports Grill and Brew, Finnegan’s Bar and Grill or Lombard’s Seafood Grille followed by a spot on the Mardi Gras Parade Float! The Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience includes one appetizer, one entrée, one dessert and one non-alcoholic beverage for $64.99 plus tax, per person, and one Mardi Gras parade float rider reservation on the same day. And for anyone who is interested in the Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience our travel planners at The Park Prodigy can help book your dining experience for any family who books their discount Universal vacation package through our small business!
Related post: Complete Guide to all Universal Orlando New Rides
Planning the best time to go to Universal Orlando for Mardi Gras can not only save you a ton of time in the theme park but it can also save you money! How you might ask? Like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando theme park tickets now fluctuate based on the time of year you visit. So one of the easiest ways to pick the best time to visit Universal is to compare the cheapest Universal Orlando ticket prices. The cheaper the tickets, the more likely the parks won’t be as crowded during that time of year. And based on the current 2023 Universal Orlando ticket prices, we feel like the best time to visit Universal Mardi Gras is in February or early March right before spring break. And if you do have a trip planned during one of the busier times of the year at Mardi Gras, just remember to take advantage of early park admission in the morning, which is included with all of the Universal Orlando tickets sold at The park Prodigy. This will allow you to get the most popular rides out of the way early in the morning and leave more time to enjoy Mardi Gras later in the day.
Related Page: Universal Orlando Early Park Admission Tickets
With all of Universal Orlando’s hotels and resorts being so close and connected to the theme parks, if might be smart to book at stay during the 2023 Mardi Gras festival! Universal Orlando has 8 different hotels that are either within walking distance or a short bus or boat ride away. After partaking in the festivals food and drink offerings, having a short travel distance back to your hotel room is a must!
All hotels have bus access to the theme parks that drops guests off at the entrance of security at Universal CityWalk. We recommend taking the bus for the farthest resorts from the theme parks such as:
Related Page: Universal Orlando Deals and Promotions
Craving some “N’awlins-style food and spirits”? Universal has you covered. You can sample authentic Louisianan cuisine at French Quarter Courtyard all Mardi Gras long. We hope you’re hungry for it. There are so many different booths to choose from at Mardi Gras at Universal, so check out these 2023 Mardi Gras menus!
Find New Orleans goodies in the French Corner food tents, including beignets, crab étouffée, jambalaya and po’boys. Specialty cocktails and alcoholic drinks were scattered all throughout the courtyard, and guests over 21 could order even order them in souvenir cups! Universal’s CityWalk wasn’t left out of the fun either! Exclusive Mardi Gras snacks, treats and drinks were scattered all over Universal’s nightlife district in the previous years.
The 2023 Universal Studios Mardi Gras menus are here and we can’t wait to share them with you!
Experience an international fest cuisine all around Universal Studios Florida; inspired by international Carnaval celebrations. Sabor Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Germany, Spain and other regions including, of course, New Orleans in Mardi Gras 2023!
Pearled sugar waffle, topped with strawberries, whipped topping, and strawberry and cream crumbs
Pearled sugar chocolate chip waffle, topped with marshmallow cream, chocolate sauce and cream crumbs
Crispy seasoned fries with choice of dipping sauce: garlic mayonnaise, andalouse, or joppieaus
Beef sirloin cap, with chimichurri, smoked salt, and pão de queijo
Grilled Brazilian sausage with pão de queijo
Brazilian classic with condensed milk, cocoa powder, chocolate sprinkles, and hazelnuts
Crispy pulled chicken tear drop fritters
Pirassununga Cachaça, Bols orange curaçao with lime juice, mango nectar, syrup, and simple syrup
Pirassununga Cachaça combined with guava nectar, lime juice, simple syrup, mint extract, and a pinch of salt
Fried sweetened dough, cinnamon sugar, and maple syrup
Crispy fries with short rib, cheese curds, and brown gravy
Chewy Maple taffy covered pork belly with chopped peanuts and chocolate
Fried sweetened dough, Nutella®, sugar, and chopped toasted hazelnuts
Sweet and refreshing combination of New Amsterdam vodka, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cardamom bitters
New England style IPA, Simcoe and Mosaic hops
simple yet refreshing mix of maple syrup and lemon juice
Mixed bag of crawfish, shrimp, andouille sausage, potatoes, and corn on the cob
Mixed bag of crawfish, andouille sausage, potatoes, and corn on the cob
Mixed bag of shrimp, andouille sausage, potatoes, and corn on the cob
Sweet fried pastry dusted with powdered sugar
Myers’s Dark rum, Cruzan Aged Dark rum, passionfruit purée, mixed with grenadine, orange and lime juice
A lager brewed with real raspberries, wheat malts, and Wanguard hops
This custom brew is bursting with vanilla and cinnamon flavors on a base of sweet yet roasty malt
a spicy (Louisiana hot sauce and Sriracha hot chili sauce) version of a traditional Bloody Mary spiked with New Amsterdam vodka, garnished with a variety of Cajun toppings
mild version of a traditional Bloody Mary spiked with New Amsterdam vodka, garnished with a variety of Cajun toppings
Savory crepe filled with olive relish, mortadella, salami, ham, mozzarella, Cajun mayo, arugula, and sesame seeds
highly aromatic robust, intense with silky tannins that produce a lovely finish
crisp medium bodied, with notes of peach, wet stone, and minerality
dry rosé with notes of grapefruit, stone fruit, and crisp apple
Domaine Paul Buisse Chinon, Dopff & Irion Crustaces Blanc, and Bertrand Cote Des Roses Rosé
Fried chicken thigh cutlet served with baked spätzle and beer cheese sauce
Crispy potato and parsnip pancake with apple butter and sour cream
pale golden pilsner with a clean refreshing taste balanced with hints of barley malt, yeast tones, and mild hoppy bitterness
easy drinking with full flavor, light body and clean crisp finish
Ube soft serve ice cream served in a toasted black sesame bubble waffle with cookie crumbs, pocky, and a Meiji panda cookie
Trio of soft fluffy steamed buns filled with char sui pork, teriyaki chicken, and a sweet coconut matcha custard
Savory cabbage and bacon pancake topped with Kewpie mayonnaise, hoisin, cilantro, sesame, and katsuobushi
Nikka Days Japanese Whisky and Perrier sparkling mineral water
light bodied and slightly dry with light aromas of honey and sugarcane
fruity yet dry in a classic Japanese style. Aromas of sweet rice, nuts, pear, green melon, coconut and light cream
combining tradition and innovation in one delicious sake, light and fresh, notes of juicy green grape and watermelon
tart Japanese Ume with back notes of citrus and white peach
light bodied with aromas of sweet malt and crisp flavors of citrus
refreshing lager with crisp and refined flavor and a clean finish
sweet and tangy with a smooth texture
tomato basil with marinara, mushroom with garlic cream sauce, and seafood served with basil pesto
Ice cream sandwich pressed to order:
intense varietal aromas with a fragrant bouquet and elegant, fruity, and floral flavors
notes of red fruit, cherry, raspberry, and strawberry
exotic stone fruits and nutty elements combine with bright minerality and the scent of wet slate
bright and clean, with delicate yellow apple and floral notes
stuffed twisted tater, foot-long hot dog, spicy white cheddar sauce and your choice of seasoning:
stuffed twisted tater with a foot-long hot dog and your choice of seasoning:
fried spiralized potato topped withyour choice of seasoning:
Cruzan Aged Dark rum, Don Q Coconut rum, Grand Marnier, Coco Lopez cream of coconut, mixed with pineapple, orange and lime juices
Myers’s Dark rum, Cruzan Aged Dark rum, passion fruit purée, mixed with grenadine, orange and lime juice
a lager brewed with real raspberries, wheat malts, and Wanguard hops
this custom brew is bursting with vanilla and cinnamon flavors on a base of sweet yet roasty malt
mixed rice, andouille sausage, chicken, shrimp, peppers and tomatoes topped with a crawfish
stew of shrimp, andouille sausage, bacon, and trinity over white rice
Myers’s Dark rum, Cruzan Aged Dark rum, passionfruit purée, mixed with grenadine, orange and lime juice
mixed rice, andouille sausage, chicken, shrimp, peppers and tomatoes topped with a crawfish
Vanilla short crust cookie dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkles
Myers’s Dark rum, Cruzan Aged Dark rum, passionfruit purée, mixed with grenadine, orange and lime juice
a mix of smashed plantains, bacon, chicharrónes with shrimp criolla, crispy chicken thigh, and mayo ketchup
crispy green banana and yautia masa, filled with picadillo beef, served with mayo ketchup
crispy green banana and yautia masa served with mayo ketchup
Cruzan light rum, Coco Real cream of coconut, with lime and pineapple juice
shaved ice with your choice of flavorings:
Saffron yellow rice, chorizo, squid, mussels, shrimp
serrano ham and drunken goat cheese with parsley sauce, on a gently pressed baguette
Crispy fried with condensed milk, vanilla, cinnamon
sangria tinto, sangria blanco, and sangria rosado
our red sangria with Flaco Tempranillo, Torres 10 brandy, Ferrand dry curacao, lemon juice, orange juice, blackberry extract, and simple syrup
our rosé sangria with Marq Caceres Rioja Rosé, New Amsterdam gin, strawberry mix, and a pinch of smoked sea salt
our white sangria with Honoro Vera Rueda, Bacardi light, pineapple and lemon juices, simple syrup, pineapple extract, lemon bitters and a pinch of salt
Please note items and pricing are subject to change without notice.
Related post: Complete Guide to Universal Studios Orlando Transportation
Every year during the Universal Mardi Gras celebration, there are special concerts that play on certain nights during the celebration. There are usually rather large names to appear and they are a huge free perk included with this festival. Universal Studios has also announced that Mardi Gras Concerts will be back for 2023! As stated, “the loudest, wildest blowout this side of the Bayou” has seen is expected. That means Universal Orlando is bringing all the bells and whistles back, including the 2023 Mardi Gras Concerts.
Special note: The 2023 Mardi Gras Concerts lineup has been announced! Find the concert lineup below
February 4, 2023 – Patti LaBelle
February 10, 2023 – JVKE
February 11, 2023 – Goo Goo Dolls
February 18, 2023 – Maren Morris
February 19, 2023 – WILLOW
February 25, 2023 – 3 Doors Down
March 4, 2023 – Sean Paul
March 5, 2023 – Lauren Diagle
Related post: Complete Guide to Water Rides at Universal
Yes, there is exclusive Mardi Gras Universal merchandise that guests can purchase while visiting. Explore the Mardi Gras tribute store and let the good times roll with exclusive 2023 Mardi Gras merchandise. Guests can experience special merch and photo opportunities in themed rooms. The Mardi Gras photo opportunities include:
New for 2023 – the Tribute Store is moving to an all-new space in the Hollywood area of Universal Studios Florida.
Make sure to bookmark and check back for all of the latest Universal Orlando Resort updates!
A: Mardi Gras at Universal begins February 4th and goes all the way to April 16th, 2023.
A: Universal Mardi Gras ends on April 16th, 2023, but runs for about four months since it starts in February.
Our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We breakdown the park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices by day, and average temperature.
If you’re ready to plan your trip to Universal Studios, be sure to check out Universal Orlando Tickets! Not only will you save money vs buying direct, but all of our Universal Orlando tickets come with some amazing benefits which can help save you up to three hours in the parks!
And to stay up to date on everything going on inside the theme parks be sure to check out our partners at Themeparktoday.com!