Don't Miss the Largest Mardi Gras Celebration on the West Coast | Win VIP Passes to the 21st Annual Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp

February 5, 2015

The largest Big Easy parade on the west coast returns with the 21st annual Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp on Fat Tuesday, February 17, from 5pm-12am! Get ready, as this nationally recognized Mardi Gras celebration will bring 16 blocks of sensory overload to San Diego's Gaslamp District with vivacious energy, glam floats, local celebrity dignitaries, bright lights and an explosive selection of music, including a DJ set by Snoop Dogg, aka DJ Snoopadelic! SanDiegoVille has 2 VIP tickets (a $200 value) to give away to one of our readers. Read on for details and be sure to enter.



At the 2015 Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp, sixteen blocks within the venue will take over all of 5th Avenue, from Broadway to Harbor, and will feature 5 stages. Each stage will feature live DJ entertainment with an intense sound system, visual excitement and LED sensation with a special set by DJ Snoopadelic, aka Snoop Lion. Performers and dancers will be eye candy on themed stages while parade krewes will be tossing colorful beads to the crowds.

What would Mardi Gras be without a parade? The Big Easy Parade will kick-off with unison of sound coming from all stages to alert the crowd. The parade will travel down Fifth Avenue as the lights begin to move and draw focus down the main drag of the Gaslamp! An eruption of sound and visual splendor will ignite the party in you, including music groups, roving performers and specialty acts and Fat Tuesday krewes from 9-9:30pm, readying the crowd for the traditional, New Orleans-like floats parade. The Celebrity Grand Marshal officially starts the “Parade of Floats” at 9:30pm featuring over 40 designs continuing down 5th Avenue with an explosion of energy until 10:30pm. The party revs on until midnight.

Tickets to the Mardi Gras Celebration and Parade are available online and cost $35 for General Admission and $100 for VIP through February 16 and $40 for General Admission and $120 for VIP on the day of the event. By going VIP for an exclusive night complete with 4 complimentary beverages, discounted beverages in the VIP area, VIP entrance, VIP restrooms and much more! Love a deal? Purchase one of the dinner packages in advance for $50 which includes one general admission ticket plus a $30 food and beverage credit at participating restaurants or get the VIP Dinner Package in advance which includes one VIP ticket plus the $30 food and beverage credit. Attendees must be 21 years or older to enter.

Don't even think about driving downtown on the evening of Mardi Gras. Get a free ride to and from the event, as SanDiegoVille has partnered with Uber and Lyft to get first time users a credit for their first ride. For Uber, use promo code SDVILLE and receive a $30 credit for your first ride, and for Lyft, use promo code SANDIEGOVILLE and receive a $10 credit for your first ride.

Proceeds benefit the non-profit, Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit sdmardigras.com or call 619-233-5008.