For the next month, the Pensacola area will celebrate Mardi Gras with a series of krewe balls, “second line” events, king cakes and plenty of Mardi Gras parades in downtown Pensacola.
The Pensacola Mardi Gras season kicked off on Jan. 3 and will run until Feb. 17, which is the official date of both Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday. So, what’s the difference between the two celebrations?
Here’s everything you need to know about Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras and why we celebrate them.
When are Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras in 2026?
Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras will both be celebrated on Feb. 17, 2026.
Pensacola will celebrate Mardi Gras with the Priscus Celebration at Seville Quarter. Krewes will take over every room inside the historic complex, transforming it into the French Quarter for the day.
A Jazz Royalty Brunch featuring a Mardi Gras menu will kick things off at 11 a.m. along with crawfish outside at End o’the Alley. Mardi Gras krewes will gather at 5 p.m. for a celebration with live entertainment at 5 p.m. The coronation of the new Priscus Royalty will take place around 7 p.m., and the end of the 2026 Mardi Gras season will be commemorated at midnight.
Is it Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday?
Well, it’s both! Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday.
What are Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras?
Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras mark the day before the start of the Lenten season. Lent, the start of which is celebrated on Ash Wednesday, is a 40-day fast that pays homage to Jesus’ 40-day fast in the Judaean Desert after he was baptized, according to the Louisiana State Museums.
The Fat Tuesday name comes from its traditional name, Shrove Tuesday, and is perhaps a more literal name for its celebration. Where “shrove” means to give absolution to be forgiven, Fat Tuesday is celebrated with a large feast in preparation for 40 days of fasting.
Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday also signify the end of Carnival season.
While Carnival has many names depending on which area of the world it is celebrated, it is the traditional name used in places with large Roman Catholic cultures. During these festivals, people would celebrate with public street parties, parades and dress up in costumes, not unlike how we celebrate Mardi Gras today.
How did Mardi Gras celebrations begin in Pensacola?
Pensacola’s Mardi Gras celebrations date back to 1874, but it was 1900 when it really found its footing, according to “Mardi Gras, A History from 1900 to 1930” written by Barbara Fisher and published by the Pensacola Historical Society.
It didn’t take more than a couple years after that to be considered a smashing success, with “trainloads of tourists” flowing into the city recorded as early as 1903.
By 1908, they had 7,000 attendees, followed by another 10,000 the next year, climbing to 30,000 by 1927.
Traditions came and went over the course of those defining first few decades. Some have since faded away, like the “comic parade” of 1907 with appearances from fictional characters like “Foxy Grandpa” and “Happy Hooligan.” Other traditions, such as the major balls that began expanding in 1914, are still very much alive and cherished.
The Mardi Gras momentum began to wane and fade when the U.S. became involved in World War I. While celebrations popped back up afterward, Mardi Gras didn’t fully recover in Pensacola until a new resurgence occurred in the late 1970s.
It would still take decades before the comeback fully matured.
Pensacola Mardi Gras Inc. was formed in 2002, transforming Mardi Gras into a true holiday season rather than just a day or two of merriment.
Today, the celebration includes more than 100 krewes and draws more than 100,000 visitors annually to Pensacola’s Grand Mardi Gras Parade.
Contributors: Brittany Misencik, Pensacola News Journal
Brandon Girod is the digital coach at the Pensacola News Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. You can get all of Pensacola’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free Daily Briefing newsletter, at pnj.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Mardi Gras celebrations already underway. When is Fat Tuesday?
Reporting by Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
