This year, the actual Mardis Gras falls early on February 9, 2016. The Lake of the Ozarks Mardis Gras Pub Crawl marches to the beat of it's own drummer, so it will be taking place in late February, on the 20th. We think that's pretty awesome because now everyone around here has two dates to celebrate!
Why does the date keep changing?
Mardis Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday." Fat Tuesday is the last day for eating richer, fattier foods before the ritual fasting for the season of Lent. People use this night, and the week leading up to it, to party and have a good time before having to give something that they love up for a few weeks. As far as the date moving around often, here is how that is decided.
Fat Tuesday can fall on any Tuesday between February 3 and March 9, but it is always the day before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is always 46 days before Easter, but Easter moves around. It can fall on any Sunday between March 23 and April 25, depending on the full moon. Easter will always be the first Sunday after the full moon following a spring equinox. Whew! Make it easy on yourself and just check a calendar every year! Ash Wednesday will always be marked, and the last big party of Mardis Gras is the night before that. Next year it will jump back to the end of the month and fall on February 28, 2017.
St. Louis rivals New Orleans!
New Orleans is not the only big Mardis Gras party happening on February 9 this year. St. Louis boasts the second biggest Mardis Gras celebration in the United States. The famous Soulard area throws all kinds of fun events the entire month before Fat Tuesday, both family-friendly and "leave the kids at home!" Only a few hours drive from the Lake of the Ozarks, it's a trip a bit closer to home then New Orleans.
The Lake hosts the biggest pub crawl!
The Lake of the Ozarks Mardis Gras Pub Crawl is on Saturday, February 20 this year, so all of those St. Louis & New Orleans party-goers that don't mind bending the rules a bit and partying after Fat Tuesday can come here and join us! The low price of $10 gets you a wristband and entrance into the 20+ participating venues. Every spot will feature a live band or DJ, so plan to dance all night long.
Your wristband will also give you access to the 32 buses running from 4:00 pm to 2:30 am, and they will make stops at not only the participating bars and restaurants, but also many participating hotels and motels along the pub crawl route. Leave your car keys in the room and let the buses be your sober chauffeur for a safe night full of fun!
Happy Fat Tuesday!
It's a great year for Mardis Gras because you get double the chances to celebrate! The best Cajun restaurant at the Lake of the Ozarks won't be open for the season quite yet, but our favorite BBQ restaurant, Wobbly Boots Roadhouse, will be hosting the best stop on the pub crawl route. The infamous Barefoot Entertainer, Dale Blue, will kick off the festivities at the Boot followed by DJ Vinyl Richie closing out the night.
Shorty Pants Lounge hopes to see all of you at some point along the Lake of the Ozarks Mardis Gras Pub Crawl route. If you make it to New Orleans or Soulard in the next week, we'd love to see some pics and hear all about it. Have an awesome Mardis Gras, and stay safe. We expect to see you this Spring at our Lake of the Ozarks waterfront restaurant, ready for a summer full of fun.
Shorty Pants Lounge, the Lake's #1 Creole Cuisine Restaurant where you can expect a luxury, laid back experience at Lake of the Ozarks!!
