Revel in the Mardi Gras spirit right here in the 19th Ward! Our business districts are coming together for three weeks of community and shopping events, with a closing celebration Feb. 19 at Cork & Kerry.
During Countdown to Mardi Gras, you can visit decorated business windows, shop themed merchandise, enjoy New Orleans cuisine and drinks, and attend festive events. Starting Tues., Jan. 31, pick up a passport at any participating business. Collect 10 stickers for your chance to win a “Bucks Stay Here” e-gift card and prizes at our Feb. 19 party! Earn passport stickers by:
- Attending a special event listed on this page.
- Making a purchase at a participating business.
- Posting a photo to social media with the hashtag #countdowntoMG.
Bring your passport to Cork & Kerry on Feb. 19 for the gift card raffle and your chance to win door prizes. You can also drop off your passport at Chicago Lockbox, 3400 W. 111th Street, or at BAPA, 1744 W. 99th Street, through Feb. 24 at 4 pm.
Join us Sunday, February 19, for the all-ages finale to Countdown to Mardi Gras!
Cork & Kerry
1–5 pm
2:30–4:30 live music performance from Zydeco band Le Travaillant
Door prizes and raffle, cash bar, & New Orleans-inspired food for purchase from local restaurants, including Calabria, The Drip, Flippin Flavors, Jerk 48, Let’s Get Poppin, & Wonderburger. Costumes encouraged!
Join BAPA in February to get your free Love Where You Live Mardi Gras T-shirt and beads!
Events & Shopping Specials
Mardi Gras Stick Mask Making
Walker Branch Library
11071 S. Hoyne Ave.
Sundays, 1/29, 2/5, 1–4 pm
Saturday, 2/11, 1–4 pm
BU Cocktails
Now It’s Yours Consignment
1816 W. 103rd St.
Weekends during the promotion, 1–6 pm
Family Mardi Gras Storytime & Party
Beverly Branch Library
1962 W. 95th St.
Monday, 2/6, 6–7 pm
Mardi Gras Self Care Night
Everything’s Relative
10548 S. Western Ave.
Tuesday, 2/7, 5–8 pm
Face & hair masques, Aveda raffle, piano by Conrad Black, & tarot readings; $25/pp. Call 773-941-6565 to reserve
Mardi Gras-themed Workout with DJ Myles
F45 Training
3246 W. 111th St.
Saturday, 2/11, 7:30–9 am
Mardi Gras Music & Trivia Games
The Funky Monkey
2152 W. 95th St.
Saturday, 2/11, 8 am–2:30 pm
Sip & Shop with Special Discounts
John Wesley Eyewear Designs
10735 S. Western Ave.
Saturday, 2/11, 11 am–5pm
Snacks, sips, and festive giveaways
Mardi Gras & Valentine’s Chocolate Making Class
Cakewalk Chicago
1741 W. 99th St.
Saturday, 2/11, 4–5:30 pm
Use mardigras discount code when you register
Mardi Gras Cardio-Drumming Class
Live and Believe (LAB) Nutrition
2025 W. 95th St.
Friday & Saturday, 2/17 & 18, 11 am
Register
Mardi Gras Market
Jazzy Ladies Jewels Boutique
2261 W. 111th St.
Saturday, 2/18, 10 am–5 pm
Free gift with purchase over $10
Mardi Gras Beads Giveaway
The Plug
3652 W. 111th St.
Saturday, 2/18, 10 am–6 pm
Chocolate Coins
Beverly Dry Goods
1810 W. 103rd St.
Saturday, 2/18, 11 am–4 pm
Chocolate coins for kids & Mardi Gras merchandise
Gumbo & Cocktails
The Bloom Bar
9909 S. Walden Pkwy
Saturday, 2/18, 11 am–1 pm
Mardi Gras Painting Workshop
Ancestry Moon Art Studio
Saturday, 2/18, 2–4 pm
$20/pp for an 11×14” canvas
Mardi Gras Sip & Shop
Made Artisan Collaborative
1802 W. 103rd St.
Saturday & Sunday, 2/18 & 19, 11 am–4 pm
Sales, New Orleans-style cocktails & snacks
Mardi Gras DJ Night
Nicky’s of Beverly
10500 S. Western Ave.
Tuesday, 2/21, 6–9 pm
John Dreznes of Beverly Records spinning Mardi Gras tunes
Food & Drink Specials
Americanos—El Niño cocktail
AndySunflower Cafe—French Quarter lattes, sweet and savory lattes topped with Mardi Gras sprinkles
Calabria—Muffaletta sandwich
Flippin Flavors—Voodoo sandwich
Grant’s Wonderburger—Fried Shrimp Po Boy
Horse Thief Hollow—Beignets, Cajun Crab Rangoon, Gumbo, Creole Cobb Salad, Hoppin’ John Veggie Burger, Andouille Sausage
La Fiesta—Rum Hurricane cocktail
Let’s Get Poppin—Jalepeño & Poppin Pepper, plus 10% off orders over $10 on Wednesdays through 2/19
Live and Believe (LAB) Nutrition—Smoothie & energy tea combo starting 2/1
Markland-Hubbard—Dark roasted and chicory coffee
Nicky’s of Beverly—Shrimp Po Boy, Fried Oyster Po Boy, Vegan Shrimp Po Boy, Crawfish Gumbo
Now It’s Yours Consignment—Themed drinks from BU Cocktails
Open Outcry—Mini Mardi Gras menu
Sweet Freaks—Mardi Gras candy & chocolates
The Funky Monkey—Specialty smoothie
The Drip Bakery—Mardi Gras themed desserts
Party Supplies
Beverly Dry Goods—Mardi Gras themed merchandise such as Hurricane Mixers, King Cake Kits, Chicory Coffee, Sazerac Candied Pecans, and Pralines
Let’s Get Poppin—Mardi Gras themed popcorn
Sweet Freaks—Mardi Gras candy & chocolate
Family Fun
Mardi Gras Stick Mask Making
Walker Branch Library
11071 S. Hoyne Ave.
Sundays 1/29, 2/5 1–4 pm
Saturday, 2/11 1–4 pm
Mardi Gras Family Storytime & Party
Beverly Branch Library
1962 W. 95th St.
Monday, 2/6 6–7 pm
Featured Participants
Afro Joe’s
AJ Uniform
Ancestry Moon Art Studio LLC
AndySunflower Cafe
Americanos
Bailey Acupuncture
Barney Callaghan’s
Barraco’s – 95th & 111th St. locations
Belle Up
Beverly Area Planning Association
Beverly Bakery
Beverly Bank
Beverly Branch Public Library
Beverly Dry Goods
Beverly Hills Garage
The Bloom Bar
Bookie’s
Bookish Literacy Center
Cakewalk Chicago
Calabria Imports
Chicago Beauty Boutique
Chris Webber State Farm
Cork and Kerry
County Fair Foods
Dez DeMe House
The Drip Bakery
Essential Creations
Everything’s Relative
Express Med Spa
F45 Training
Fat Tommy’s
Flippin’ Flavors
Franconello
Funky Monkey Juice Bar
Garrity Travel
Grant’s Wonderburger
Haven1890
Hippo’s
Horse Thief Hollow
Jazzy Ladies Jewels Boutique
Jerk 48
John Wesley Eyewear
Joplin Marley
La Fiesta
Let’s Get Poppin’
Live and Believe (LAB) Nutrition
Lunette’s (Langle Optometry)
Made Artisan Collaborative
Markland-Hubbard Coffee
Mercer Allstate
Miss Purl
Mosaics Boutique & Tea
Nicky’s of Beverly
Nicole Marie Salon
Now It’s Yours Consignment
O’Chara Wax & Skincare Studio
Ohana Ice & Treats
Open Outcry
The Plug
RMH Design
Root Consignment
Running Excels
S & T Provisions
Shrader’s Goods
Southtown Health Foods
Steubers Florist
Swanson’s Deli
Sweet Freaks Chocolates
Tranquility Salon
Turkey Chicago
Two Mile Coffee Bar
Walker Branch Public Library
Wholehealth Chicago