TUCSON, Ariz. (January 27, 2026) — Mardi Gras, as celebrated in the United States, is a Creole American tradition influenced by African, Afro-Caribbean, Indigenous, French, and Spanish cultures. It features feasts along with masked celebrations with music and dancing, and remains one of the country’s most recognizable cultural experiences. On Fat Tuesday, February 17, 2026, The Parish brings that spree of feasting and jubilation to Tucson, with its Annual Mardi Gras Festival, running from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
For nearly 15 years, The Parish has produced a festival that has grown into one of Tucson’s and Arizona’s most anticipated culinary and music events, featuring the Cajun Mardi Gras tradition of an alligator roast: six 25-pound reptiles will be cooked, a practice tracing its origins to centuries-old bayou and Indigenous cultures. The menu also features additional heritage dishes such as a crawfish boil, jambalaya, Cajun sampler plates with gumbo, crawfish étouffée, and red beans and rice, along with king cake, Hurricanes, and live music throughout the day on two stages.
“For us, Mardi Gras has always been about more than one day on the calendar. It’s about Creole and Southern food, music, and bringing people together,” said owners Bryce Zeagler and Steve Dunn. “As a team, we’ve been producing Fat Tuesday festivals in Tucson for almost 25 years. It’s incredibly meaningful to see how this celebration has become part of the city’s cultural life and tradition.
Zeagler continued, “For me, it's super meaningful to bring a big part of my childhood home from Baton Rouge to Tucson with this event. Every year, I get to honor my grandmother’s heritage recipes and showcase their deliciousness.”
Live music will play across indoor and outdoor stages, highlighting regional and local talent.
Outside Stage
1:00–3:00 p.m. | Bryan Dean Trio
3:30–5:30 p.m. | Big Sounds of Pleasure
6:00–8:00 p.m. | Miss Olivia and the Interlopers
Inside Stage
1:30–3:30 p.m. | Barnaby and the Butcher
4:30–6:30 p.m. | Tiny House of Funk
7:30–9:30 p.m. | In Tha Zone
Festival details
• Tuesday, February 17, 2026
• Gates open at 1 p.m.
• $15 cover charge
• First come, first served; no reservations or pre-sale tickets
• Food and drink sold separately
• Parking is extremely limited; ride-share strongly encouraged
• 21 and over unless accompanied by a parent; minors permitted until 9 p.m.
• Children 12 and under are free
• No immediate re-entry once exiting
• For safety, entry will pause if capacity is reached
Now celebrating both a 14-year annual milestone at The Parish and more than two decades of producing Tucson’s largest Fat Tuesday events with the owners, Bryce Zeagler and Steve Dunn, the festival still honors New Orleans traditions while showcasing Tucson’s love of music, bold flavors, and festivals.
For more information, visit theparishtucson.com or follow The Parish via social media (Facebook, Instagram) for updates.
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