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Best Mardi Gras Parties In Chicago

Everyone knows that the place to be for Mardi Gras is in The Big Easy. But if you can't head on down to New Orleans this February, that doesn't mean that you can't celebrate up here too. There are plenty of ways to celebrate Mardi Gras NOLA-style right here in Chicago and at a plethora of places. Grab your beads and take your pick of some of the best Mardi Gras parties happening in Chicago in 2016.

Boats
(Photo Credit: yachtpartychicago.com)

Mardi Gras Booze Cruise On Lake Michigan
Mystic Blue Cruises
600 E. Grand Ave., Navy Pier
Chicago, IL. 60611
www.yachtpartychicago.com

Although the idea of being on Lake Michigan in February sounds a little chilly, the only cold you'll be feeling on the Mardi Gras Booze Cruise will be in your drinking glasses. Taking place on Saturday, Feb. 13 from noon to 3:00 p.m., come celebrate Mardi Gras aboard a stately 500-person yacht. Tickets include Mardi Gras beads, buffet, a live DJ and dancing, and a free drink. Attendees will also receive coupons for food delivery and dining experiences, as well as a free Uber ride perfect for utilizing while celebrating Mardi Gras so that you don't have to do the driving. Group discounts are available — click here for tickets.

Mardi Gras Magic
The Standard Club
320 S. Plymouth Court
Chicago, IL. 60604
(312) 427-9100
www.literatureforallofus.org

Sponsored by Literature for All of Us, an organization that works to help connect young people to their strengths via literature, this year's Mardi Gras Magic is sure to be a fun and unique way to celebrate the beginning of the Lenten season. Taking place on Saturday, Feb. 6 and going from 6:30 p.m. until 1 a.m., come to the The Standard Club for their Mardi Gras event. There will be food and drinks, riverboat style gambling, a silent auction and some live New Orleans jazz music brought to you by the Delta Rhythm Kings band. Come in costume or a mask and party like you would on Bourbon Street! Click here for tickets.

Party
(Photo Credit: festaparties.com)

BeadQuest 2016 
Wrigleyville neighborhood
Chicago, IL.
(773) 478-3378
festaparties.com/beadquest2016

If there's any neighborhood in Chicago that's as fun as the French Quarter in New Orleans, it's Wrigleyville. So where else would anyone party in honor of Mardi Gras than at the BeadQuest Pub Crawl? Collect numbered beads at 10 bar crawl stops in the Wrigleyville area, and collect some of the 50,000 strands of beads being tossed out to participants. It's all happening at Saturday, Feb. 20, beginning at noon. There will be both face and body painters, Cajun food and tons upon tons of fun. Click here for ticket information.

Related:  Best Winter Beers In Chicago

Mardi Gras Crawl
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL. 60611
(312) 595-7437
navypier.com

Presented by The World's Largest Indoor Bar Crawl — if that alone doesn't make you want to join in on the fun, nothing will. Taking place at Navy Pier on Saturday, Feb. 6, enjoy live music, cocktails, face-painting, beads, beer, and more beads! Wander Navy Pier with drinks in hand just like if you were in New Orleans and stop into Harry Caray's Tavern, Billy Goat Tavern, Riva Crab House, Spirit of Chicago, DMK Burger Bar, Big City Chicken, Giordano's or Crystal Gardens donning masks and having a blast. There will be drink specials and opportunities to win tickets to Legend's Lounge at The United Center for Bulls or Blackhawk games. Click here to reserve your tickets.

Mardi Gras 2016
Club Avenue at Park Avenue Banquets
6215 W. 26th St.
Berwyn, IL. 60402
(708) 663-8849
www.facebook.com/pages/Park-Avenue-Banquet-Hall

If you like to dance to R&B and want to do so while observing Mardi Gras, come out to Club Avenue in Berwyn for their Mardi Gras 2016 party. DJ Keven KB Burn will be spinning R&B, hip hop, house music, old school hits and more while you dance the night (and early morning) away. It's all taking place on Friday, Feb. 12 beginning at 9 p.m. Street parking is available and the kitchen will be open all night as well. Click here to purchase tickets.

Related: Best Bars With Infused Vodka In Chicago

Soon after earning her BA in journalism, Melanie Falina began writing about one of the loves of her life - music. Since then, she's covered some of the biggest names in music, in addition to writing on an array of other topics as well. She has written for Black Belt magazine, KISS: The Official Authorized Quarterly Magazine, Examiner, AXS.com, Yahoo Voices, and more, and was editor for Don Lemmon's KNOW HOW Book Three, Refuse To Fail. Melanie is also a poet with six published collections of poetry available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and various establishments.

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