The Universal Orlando Mardi Gras Celebration is back! From now until April 24, enjoy delicious specialty food, a festive parade, live concerts, and an all-new “Float Factory” Tribute Store!
While I experienced the Tribute Store earlier this month, I recently visited the park to try some of the delicious food offerings and catch the fun parade (with brand new “Planet Mardi Gras” theme)! Let’s talk about it!
Mardi Gras Food Festival
While there is a slight decrease in the sheer number of food stations available throughout the park, Universal is still offering an expansive set of international and flavorful cuisines: including Italian, Brazilian, Floribbean, vegan options, and of course, traditional New Orleans dishes.
New Food Booth Design
As part of this year’s Mardi Gras, Universal has added a brand-new “Planet Mardi Gras” theme to its parade. Along with this theme comes new floats and costume designs (which we’ll get into a bit more later). To celebrate these new additions, Universal has also revamped their food booths with intricately detailed decor as a complement to the updated parade.
During our time at the food festival, we sampled four dishes from three different cuisine categories: Fusion, Floribbean, and Southeast Asia.
Conch Fritters
Located at the Floribbean booth next to Lombard’s Seafood, this is dish is quintessential Florida! The outside of the fritter has a crisp texture protecting the soft interior. The fritter flavors were amazing, though I must admit that I did not care for the pineapple remoulade dipping sauce. It just didn’t jive very well for me. If you like fried seafood or are looking for something tropical, this is a great option!
Creole Crab Beignets
The Creole Crab Beignets were most definitely my favorite dish of the day! Located in the Fusion booth on the boardwalk between Diagon Alley and Springfield, the combination of creamy crabmeat and sweet, fried bread blended in a seamless and delicious way! Additionally, these beignets were dusted with a savory spice (instead of powered sugar), bringing out the seafood flavor. They were so good I’m craving another one right now.
Coconut Curry Shrimp Laksa
Winning the award for best value of the day, this $10 festival dish gets you a meal-sized, protein-packed portion of Laksa. The tofu was especially good, but the shrimp, chicken, and egg were also pretty tasty. For the $10 price tag, this “sampling plate” could serve as a full meal with its four proteins, heaping portion of noodles, and scattered veggies. But fair warning: the broth has a pretty good kick to it! Beware if you’re sensitive to spice.
Sweet Corn Johnny Cake
Made with jackfruit, avocado, and cilantro; this vegan dish is pretty amazing. I loved the flavor dynamic between the sweet bread and savory/spicy topping! Whether or not you regularly eat plant-based food, the Sweet Corn Johnny Cake offers a satisfying and unique flavor!
While the overall selection has slightly decreased from last year, I think the overall food quality has dramatically increased. Everything I tasted was delicious and priced at least at an adequate value. I look forward to trying more food options and styles!
Universal Orlando Mardi Gras Parade
This year, Universal welcomes a brand new theme for its nighttime parade – “Planet Mardi Gras!” Featuring six new floats with a sci-fi twist (mixed in with the returning New Orleans-themed units), these additions bring a totally different feel from 2019’s “Treasures of the Deep” theme.
I adore the high-energy, fun-loving atmosphere this parade brings to the streets of Universal Studios, and the Star Trek fan in me can’t help but enjoy the addition of rockets, planets, aliens, and more!
**Please note that the Mardi Gras parade is INCREDIBLY loud. I recommend bringing hearing protection for your comfort and safety.**
Universal Orlando Mardi Gras Concert Series
I have yet to experience this year’s concert series, but the upcoming line up looks like it includes a variety of musical artists and styles. Take a look, and plan your trip accordingly!
Freaky Thoughts: Universal Orlando Mardi Gras
It is so good to see this event fully return to Universal Orlando. While I enjoyed last year’s modified edition, it certainly did not feel like the life-affirming, energetic celebration that Mardi Gras is meant to embody. This year’s triumphant return feels like another big step in a return to normalcy.
As a big fan of the city of New Orleans, however, I am disappointed that the food festival does not include more focus on Cajun cuisine. Of course, there is a New Orleans food section, but it is relatively limited. Last year’s traditional Mardi Gras food did not taste as good as some of the other offerings, so admittedly I have not given it a chance in 2022. Either way, however, I wish Universal would focus on bringing a larger variety of authentic, high-quality New Orleans food instead of such a wide selection from other cuisine styles.
Overall, however, Universal Orlando Mardi Gras is an awesomely fun event that’s actually included in your theme park admission! If you enjoy parties, parades, and people (and that’s many of us), don’t miss this year’s celebration!
