Mardi Gras – also called "Carnival" – refers to celebratory events beginning on or after Epiphany and ending on the day before Ash Wednesday. "Mardi Gras" is French for "Fat Tuesday," and is often the last chance to eat rich food and indulge in alcohol before Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday.

Although it's a massive, seemingly never-ending celebration in New Orleans, there are certainly ways to "laissez les bons temps rouler" (let the good times roll) here in Milwaukee. 

1. Third Space Brewing beer dinner

Satisfy your taste buds with a cajun-inspired five-course menu paired with hand-crafted brews at Third Space Brewing’s Fat Tuesday Beer Dinner.

2. The Chef's Table Mardi Gras dinner

New Orleans flavor comes to Milwaukee as Chef David Magnasco cooks up Southern-style classics, including oysters and crab cheesecake at The Chef’s Table Mardi Gras Dinner.

3. Mardi Gras at Potawatomi

Join Potawatomi for a Mardi Gras celebration, featuring Creole dishes and Cajun-country classics, $6 Hurricanes, New Orleans-themed entertainment and plenty of beads.

4. Fatboy Tuesday Harley gathering

Fill your stomach with paczkis and Timber's Milwaukee-style barbecue and enjoy live music performances at Milwaukee Harley-Davidson’s Fatboy Tuesday.

5. Brass Alley Mardi Gras party

New Orleans-themed bar Brass Alley gives Milwaukee a taste of Southern-style celebration this Fat Tuesday. Enjoy all-day drink specials, a glow party, stilt walkers, a fire eater, jugglers and more at Brass Alley’s Mardi Gras Party.

6. Maxie's Mardi Gras

Let the good times roll at Maxie’s Mardi Gras party and indulge in $4 Abita beers, $5 Hurricanes and a NOLA-inspired menu.

7. Crawdaddy's Fat Tuesday

Crawdaddy’s brings Louisiana Creole and Cajun cooking to Milwaukee and will celebrate Fat Tuesday with a day full of food and entertainment.

8. Bead bash

Red White & Blue is celebrating Mardi Gras by dishing out 5,000 beads for a $500 cash bead contest. During this Bead Bash, guests can enjoy drink specials, party tunes and a Bourbon Street-style balcony.

9. Mardi Gras cooking class

Bring out your inner Southern-style foodie for Coquette Cafe’s Mardi Gras Cooking Class. Learn how to cook up dishes from jambalaya to banana bread pudding.