Also known as Carnival, Mardi Gras is a time of excess before the month-long fast of Lent and also a time to indulge in rich food and drink, celebrate with friends and family, and party ‘til the sun comes up!

Granite City Mardi Gras is bringing fun to festival fans this year with a bang on Feb. 18- watch as decorated floats take to the street starting at 1 p.m., followed by a Block Party from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. with live music, kid’s activities in Alligator Alley, shopping vendors, and a Cajun Cook-Off! Granite City bars will be hosting a Bar Crawl from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. with shuttle bus transport, overflowing drinks, and more live music throughout the evening!

Wordi Gras kicks off this year in downtown Worden Feb. 18 at Noon.

The popular, self-described “Redneck Mardi Gras” parties like only rural America can with a free-to-enter parade down Wall Street showing off floats, tractors, and trucks bursting with Mardi Gras flair, live music at Worden’s American Legion, the Yellow Dog Café & Bar, and The Rustic, and food and drink vendors offering carnival fare through the evening.

Grafton will be hosting a Mardi Graf-ton Noise Parade Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. ringing in Fat Tuesday big and loud with pots and pans, noise-makers, and music with food and drink specials at Grafton bars and restaurants, a party at the Hawg Pit, and a costume contest!

See live music this Mardi Gras with band Well Hungarians at 3rd Chute II II in Alton Feb. 18 at 7 p.m., Shotgun Creek at Doits Village Inn at 8 p.m., or go to the Bud Schultz & You Can’t Beat Experience Jazz Band Performance for some free Mardi Gras tunes at Lewis & Clark Community College.

A Mardi Gras Pop-Up Cookie Stand will be handing out free beads and selling sweet treats at Kloss Furniture in Highland Feb. 17 from 2 p.m.to 5 p.m.. Shop in Highland, grab a cookie, and enjoy Mardi Gras specials in town all weekend!