2024 Mardi Gras in Columbus: King Cakes and Fat Tuesday meals

While Columbus isn’t “known” for Mardi Gras celebrations, that doesn’t mean YOU can’t celebrate in your own way! 

The celebration of Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday marks the end of the Carnival season and the last night of excess before the Lenten season. Originally adopted from French immigrants, it’s a legal state holiday in Louisiana, but celebrated all over the US.

We’re gathering a list of Mardi Gras specials and events around Columbus, with lots of way to celebrate at home. Grab your beads and a King Cake, and celebrate New Orleans-style at home on Tuesday, February 13, 2024!

La Chatelaine Mardi Gras Dinner Party Box

Order a complete carry-out dinner from La Chatelaine for Fat Tuesday! Get a Mardi Gras Dinner Party Box for just $55 per person!

Dinner includes: 

• Cup of Crawfish Bisque (gf) & a couple of cooked whole Crawfish on the side
• La Chatelaine Jambalaya sous-vide (shrimp, house-made kielbasa sausage, Ohio chicken thigh, cajun seasonings, onions, celery, garlic, bell peppers, tomato) not too spicy & served with Creole rice
• La Chatelaine Hurricane Rum Punch (bottled on site + made fresh) *alcohol
• Individual King’s Cake. Made with our very own puff pastry & almond paste. Watch out for that porcelain charm!

The entire dinner is gluten-free except the King’s Cake. Mask, beads, and trinkets are provided with each dinner. Dinner will come with heating instructions.

Pickup is February 13 for all 3 locations: Dublin, Upper Arlington, and Worthington. Call, stop by a location, or place an online order. See website or Facebook page.

Order your King’s Cake now! They are $25, and serve 6-8 people. 

Chef Butcher’s Creole Kitchen

Order Creole food any day, or celebrate Fat Tuesday with some authentic Mardi Gras style food.

Mardi Gras Celebration: February 13, 2024 from 11 am – 7 pm. Look for details on the Facebook page.

1052 Mt Vernon Ave Columbus, OH 43203

King Cakes at Tremont Goodie Shop

Note: these haven’t been announced for 2024 (as of Jan 27), but they are typically available every year.

Order to your made-from-scratch King Cake from Tremont Goodie Shop. All contain a plastic baby and filling of your choice.

They are iced with a light lemon frosting and sprinkled with festive purple, green and gold sugar. They also feature Mardi Gras beads on top for decoration. Each King Cake serves 10-12.

Available fillings (choose one or two):
Cinnamon (traditional), Raspberry, Lemon, Cream Cheese, Blueberry, Cherry, Strawberry and Apricot.

Place your orders 48 hours in advance; see Facebook page for details. 614-488-8777. 2116 Tremont Ctr Upper Arlington, OH 43221

Resch’s King Cake and Paczki

Order King Cake and Paczki from Resch’s!

King Cake available in 3 Flavors: 1. Pecan Praline 2. Cinnamon Or 3. Plain with a 24-hour notice.

Call or stop in to order; pre-payment is required. (614) 237-7421. Open Mon-Fri 8-5 Sat 8-2:30. Details on website and Facebook. 4061 E Livingston Ave Columbus, OH 43227

Gluten Free King Cake from Gluten-Free from the Dipped

Certified GLUTEN-FREE facility. Gluten-free and missing King Cake? You can celebrate with a GF King Cake by Gluten-Free from the Dipped in Delaware. Not only has she found a way to make (tasty) gluten-free yeast doughnuts, long johns, and other goodies we kissed goodbye a long time ago – she conquered the King Cake this year!

Options are: Cinnamon, Pecan Praline, Strawberry, Raspberry, Cream Cheese.

Order online, and you will be contacted to set up pick up. The cake is freezable and will be available until Fat Tuesday, February 13, 2024. See more in Facebook group. 

While I haven’t tried the king cake yet, I will vouch for all of the other gf goodies! (Tip: take a cooler if you are driving from very far, because you’re going to want to buy some of the many frozen goodies to stash in your freezer at home). 

256 South Sandusky St., Delaware, OH, 740-990-0229

J Gumbo’s Delaware County

No details for 2024 yet, but this Cajun and Creole restaurant is sure to have all of the things for Fat Tuesday. They have typically offered King Cakes and Mardi Gras party Packs.

Find more details on Facebook page.

Now located at 39 E. William St, Delaware, OH 43015

Marco’s Pizza

Ok, maybe it’s off theme, but Marco’s Pizza is offering a special for Madri Gras.

Mardi Gras (February 13) – Embrace the holiday with the sweet-heat from the Hot Honey Magnifico for $10.99*(use code HHMAG).

image: Marco’s Pizza

Looking for more Paczki?

Pączki are a specialty pastry made on Fat Tuesday as a Catholic day of celebration before the Lenten season, and the last day to indulge in foods before the traditional 40-day period of fasting before Easter.

There are several places you can find Paczki in Columbus- find the awesome list from Breakfast with Nick (after all, he’s an expert at this type of thing!)

Find other fun events for adults, including date ideas!