Mardi Gras in Sacramento

You don’t have to go all the way to New Orleans this year to get into the Mardi Gras spirit. This Saturday, Sacramento hosts a number of events in early celebration of Fat Tuesday.

Old Sacramento Mardi Gras

Head to Old Sacramento this Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m., where 10 bars will be filled with rock, jazz and Cajun music, as well as Cajun food and drinks. Musical entertainment includes Skeasxha, the 8-Tracks, and Front Porch Trio. A $10 ticket ($15 the day of) pays for your cover charge at all 10 venues, and gives you access to food and drink specials. For more information, visit http://osmardigras2012.eventbrite.com or contact the Old Sacramento Business Association at (916) 442-8575. The following venues are participating.

Hot & Spicy Café New Orleans, 117 J Street, (916) 443-5051

Coconut Grove Sports Bar & Grill, 106 J Street, (916) 441-4222

Delta King Riverboat, 1000 Front Street, (916) 444-5464

Fanny Ann’s Saloon, 1023 Second Street, (916) 441-0505

Fat City Bar & Café, 1001 Front Street, (916) 446-6768

La Terraza Mexican Restaurant, 1027 Second Street, (916) 440-0874

Laughs Unlimited, 1207 Front Street, (916) 446-5905

O’Mally’s Irish Pub, 1109 Second Street, (916) 492-1230

The Other Office, 926 Second Street, (916) 444-2002

Mardi Gras Bloc Party

Another block party will happen Saturday in Sacramento’s Sutter District, near Sutter’s Fort. From 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., you can enjoy hurricane cocktails, circus performers and harlequins. The following businesses are participating in the celebration. Call each venue for more details.

Barw3st, 2724 J Street, (916) 443-5051

Blue Cue, 1004 28th Street, (916) 441-6810

Centro Cocina Mexicana, 2730 J Street, (916) 442-2552

Harlow’s Restaurant & Night Club, 2708 J Street, (916) 441-4693

Ink Eats Drinks, 2730 N Street, (916) 456-2800

Momo Lounge, 2708 J Street, upstairs; (916) 441-4693

Monkey Bar, 2730 Capitol Avenue, (916) 442-8490

Paragary’s Bar and Oven, 1401 28th Street, (916) 457-5737

The Red Rabbit Kitchen + Bar, 2718 J Street, (916) 706-2275

Mardi Gras Festival & Ball

The Greater Sacramento Urban League will also host a full day of Mardi Gras fun this Saturday. It begins with a free Mardi Gras Festival at the Sacramento Convention Center, 1400 J Street, where from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., you can enjoy live music, eat food samples from local restaurants, and peruse local business booths.

Then in the evening, head over to the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, 828 I Street, for a Mardi Gras Ball. This event will feature dining, drinking and dancing to St. Gabriel’s Celestial Brass Band, as well as a Mardi Gras King and Queen competition. Tickets for the ball cost $60 to $125. For more information, call (916) 286-8601 or visit http://gsulmge.eventbrite.com.