One of the best things about having a Mardi Gras theme party (besides the fact it’s so much fun) is the large amount of colorful decorations available.  Visit Mardi Gras Decorating411 to see the wide selection of Mardi Gras decorations that are available.

As your guests arrive, let them hear the sounds of a Dixieland jazz band or the Mardi Gras music playing in the background. Purple, green, and gold are the traditional colors of the celebration, and can be displayed throughout the house (along with any other colors you choose).  There are some great Scene Setters available.  My favorite is the Mardi Gras Terraces design. Hang crepe paper on the walls, along with masks, balloons, etc. Try brightly colored replicas of jazz band instruments such as saxophones and horns. Maybe silhouettes of jazz musicians if you love jazz (and who doesn’t?). Hang feather boas and Mardi Gras beads around mirrors. Make sure you have plenty of beads on hand for your guests to wear. Make king and queen crowns available for your guests. Use inflatable musical notes to hang on walls or off the backs of chairs.

I like adding Mardi Gras swirls from the ceiling.  Add a little bit of Mardi Gras garland and/or Mardi Gras lights for accent and you have created Bourbon Street in your home!

New Year's Party Centerpieces

Make different bouquets of Mardi Gras noisemakers to use as your centerpieces. Tie purple, gold, and green helium filled balloons to the bouquets to give them some height. Your guests can use the noisemakers later to join in the festivities too. Drape different color beads around the table. Use Mardi Gras coins and King Cake Babies to scatter across tables.

Some colorful Masquerade Bowls work very well for munchies. 

We never have a formal sit down dinner for New Year’s Eve so food is necessary but pretty informal. Naturally we use paper goods with a Mardi Gras theme. 

Menu

Activities

Have a costume contest! Whoever has the most elaborate and creative costume is the winner! Another fun game that you can play is "Hidden Treasure." Divide everyone into two teams, and have a treasure hunt for gold Doubloons and beaded necklaces. You can hide a bunch of stuff with or without giving the teams clues as to the whereabouts of the "treasure." The team that finds the most "treasure" wins a prize! We suggest the grand prize be a a festive Mardi Gras Crown.

New Year's Eve Party Favors
 

This is a great night to decorate your guests. For complete theme kits of hats, tiaras and noisemakers check out these New Year's Theme Kits, Party Apparel and Noisemakers.

You have to have hats and noisemakers.  The New Orleans Party Kit is very nice. Gold and Silver 2008 Glasses are always great fun.  A bag of chocolate Doubloons are always a nice treat for your guests to take home. But even better is a personalized Mardi Gras candy Bar Wrappers that will remind your friends how much fun they had the night before.

Happy Holidays and Have fun, from Party411 and The Party Girl