I love Mardi Gras. I love New Orleans. To this day, I have never been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. 
Honestly, it looks awesome and crowded. I think I love the idea of it more than I would actually want to be in it. I do not want sweaty, drunk men bumping into me offering beads for personal peep shows. (However, I love those plastic bead necklaces and so do my kids.) And just because we’re not in New Orleans doesn’t mean we can’t take part in the fun. Here are some local happenings including…
Enjoy the Best Part about Living in Corpus Christi
Yep, THE BEST PART. We have our Mardi Gras parade on the beach! You can take your kids, and it is not crowded. Repeat, not crowded. The beads are free, no boobie baring needed. – Now, don’t get me wrong, if you go to the parade and feel the need for breeze on your breasts, I won’t stop you or be offended. My kids won’t be scared or even think a thing about it. I’ve nursed my children, and they know what breasts look like.
Anyway, the Mardi Gras Parade is called Barefoot Mardi Gras. No shoes required because it’s the beach, and we are lucky. There is a gathering afterward at Briscoe King Pavillion in Bali Park on Padre Island. I’ve not been to this part of the festival, but there is a kid’s area. Admission is $5.00 cash at the door, and kids 8 and under are free.
Make Mardi Gras Masks
Harte Library & The Rockport Center for the Arts
You can keep the Mardi Gras momentum going by making Mardi Gras Masks. Laissez les bons temps rouler! Janet F. Harte Public Library will host a free family-friendly craft event on February 25th at 2 p.m.
The Rockport Center for the Arts has tentative plans for Mardi Gras Mask making for their Free Family Saturday Art Time. Check their website for future times/dates.
The Art Center of Corpus Christi says that they usually theme Family Art Time around popular holidays. So, please check their Facebook page for updates. They upload flyers for Family Art Time on Fridays and Tuesdays with the project for the week. Family Art Time is pretty wonderful! Definitely check it out, if not for Mardi Gras, then for any given Saturday or Wednesday.
Bake this Easy King Cake Recipe
I’m almost positive HEB makes King Cakes around Mardi Gras, so you could pick one up there or at a local bakery. But, if you want to make one with your kiddos, I found an easy recipe. This recipe is yeast-free because my daughter is allergic to yeast. It uses Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, so it is really easy. Here is the recipe I’ve amended to only use half of the filling, so the bottom can actually cook. (My 6 year-old likes the full-filling version, so I guess it’s a personal preference thing).
Half-Filling Recipe:
2 cans Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
Filling:
2 oz of Cream Cheese – softened
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 Cup soaked raisins – Soak in hot water for 5-10 minutes to plump them back up.
1/4 Cup chopped pecans
Icing:
1 ½ Cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3-4 Tablespoons milk
Food coloring to make purple, green, and yellow or gold
*This makes too much icing, but it is great for pouring over pieces of cake when your kids request more colors.
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F, bake for 20-25 minutes.
*There are step by step pictures here. 
