Surviving Mardi Gras Break with Easy Activities for Kids

Mardi Gras break is fun… until it’s day two, the kids are bouncing off the walls, and you’re trying to juggle parades, cleanup, and regular life.

With Mardi Gras break coming up, I’m keeping things simple this year. Instead of overplanning, I’m leaning into a few low-stress activities that have been big hits for us in past years or that I know will work well during a busy week. Nothing fancy. Nothing that takes hours to prep. Just festive, easy ideas that give the kids something fun to do between parades and downtime at home.

Cinnamon Roll King Cakes (The Easiest Win)

This is one activity I always plan for because it never fails. 

We’ll be using store-bought cinnamon rolls, arranging them in a circle, baking them, and decorating with icing and purple, green, and gold sprinkles. (Detailed instructions are below!) 

The kids love being in charge of the decorating, and it still feels special without the work of making a king cake from scratch. 

If you want to make it extra fun:

• Let kids design their own topping pattern

• Add a baby after baking

• Serve it for breakfast or as an afternoon treat

It’s festive, simple, and easy to fit into a busy week.

Cinnamon Roll King Cake Directions

1. Unroll 2 store-bought cinnamon rolls.
   
2. Twist the two strands together until you reach the end. 
3. Place the two ends together in the shape of a circle. Apply pressure to attach them. 
4. Bake according to the package instructions. (You may have to bake slightly longer, just keep an eye on them.)
5. Top with icing and colored sugar sprinkles! (You can make your own with food dye and granulated sugar)

DIY Parade Floats

If your kids are anything like mine, they are applesauce pouch FIENDS. Fiends, I tell ya. So it’s safe to say we have approximately fifty-leven empty applesauce boxes lying around each week. (Okay, not really… but it definitely feels that way.)

Instead of tossing them, we’re turning them into our own Mardi Gras parade floats.

I’m planning to set out construction paper, tape, markers, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, beads, and whatever else I can find around the house. The kids will use the applesauce boxes as the base and turn them into mini floats using their own ideas and creativity.

Once they’re finished, I fully expect a house parade to break out, complete with bead throwing and lots of yelling of “Throw me something!” There's no right or wrong way to do it, which is exactly why this activity works so well.

It’s also a great way to reuse recyclables and let kids take the lead creatively. And honestly? It’s way easier on this mama than coordinating another “cute” handprint craft with paint and four kids under the age of seven running wild. 

Cajun Cooking Sensory Bins (Quiet-Time Magic)

This is the activity I’m most excited to set up.

Based on how well sensory bins have worked for us in the past, I’m planning to put together a Cajun-themed cooking sensory bin for the quieter moments during Mardi Gras break. I’ll include pretend “recipe cards” so the kids can scoop, count, and play restaurant.

My older two can usually jump right in and play independently, while my two-year-old will need closer supervision (and probably fewer ingredients in the bin). Even so, this setup works really well for us because everyone can play at their own level.

Each “dish” uses simple, around-the-house base materials paired with printable recipe cards and ingredients:

Uncooked Rice Sensory Bins

• Gumbo

• Shrimp Étouffée

• Jambalaya

Uncooked Bean Sensory Bin

• Red Beans

Uncooked Elbow Pasta Sensory Bin

• Crawfish Pasta

Sensory bins like this tend to stay out for days at our house. The kids love choosing a card, scooping ingredients, and pretending they’re cooking. I love that it naturally encourages:

• Counting and early math

• Fine motor skills

• Calm, focused play (with a little supervision for the toddler)

If you’re looking for something to balance out the excitement of parades and outings — especially when the weather is nice and everyone’s worn out by the end of the day — this is a great activity to have ready.

(If you want the full set of Cajun sensory bin recipe cards I’m planning to use, I’ve linked them here.)

Why These Activities Work So Well

All of these ideas have a few things in common:

• Very little prep

• Use things we already have

• Let kids take the lead

• Don’t rely on screens

They’re not about perfection or filling every minute. They’re simply about creating space for fun during a busy, exciting week.

Final Thoughts

Mardi Gras break doesn’t need to be packed with plans to be memorable. A few simple, tried-and-true activities can go a long way in keeping kids happy, and YOU sane.

If you’re heading into Mardi Gras break soon, grab your favorite idea, skip the rest, or tackle them all. However you choose to do it, try to enjoy the season.

And may the odds be ever in your favor. 💜💛💚