Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is a New Orleans tradition that encourages all those in celebration to feast before Lent, marking the end of Carnival and the beginning of Ash Wednesday and Lent. In the spirit of this holiday, The Daily Texan found festive events happening around the city on the day of and throughout the week.

March 1-March 4: Uptown Sports Club

At Uptown Sports Club on East Sixth Street, try the new Mardi Gras menu with items such as king cake, oyster po’boys, beignets, crawfish-stuffed pies and chicken fried Franklin Barbecue brisket. The new menu also features specialty drinks, such as Eye of the Storm, Bayou Bliss, Masquerade Sour and Big Easy Brew, that come with a souvenir cup to celebrate the occasion.

March 4: Fat Tuesday Crawfish Boil at Scholz Garten

Enjoy crawfish by the pound at Scholz Garten, located in the downtown Museum District near campus, along with performances from Urban Achievers Brass Band, a jazz band based in Austin, featured on KUTX radio station. The event, starting at 4 p.m., will also provide po’boys, gumbo, and king cake giant pretzels, an Austin twist on a New Orleans traditional Mardi Gras dessert.

March 4: Mardi Gras Celebration at The Volstead Lounge with Hotel Vegas

Starting at 6 p.m., Volstead’s on East Sixth Street is hosting a free 21-only event with a variety of Austin-based DJs, such as Rapid Ric, ulovei and Dennis Loy. This celebration of Fat Tuesday will offer king cake and beads — all traditional of Mardi Gras in the French Quarter. Whoever gets the “baby” in a slice of king cake wins a free Hotel Vegas South by Southwest key tag.

March 4: Austin Mardi Gras All Stars at C-Boy’s Heart & Soul Bar

Austin Mardi Gras All Stars in downtown South Congress includes John Speice, Jimmie Dreams and Paul Deemer. Based in Austin and El Paso, these jazz artists play music on instruments ranging from the drums to the trombone. At this 21-only bar, C-Boy’s Heart & Soul, the performers will encapsulate the New Orleans feeling with a night of Mardi Gras classic tunes starting at 7 p.m. with a $15 cover fee.

March 4: Fat Tuesday with Bubba Coltrane at The Mill Bar & Grill

This free event at The Mill Bar & Grill, located on Anderson Mill Rd., features music from Austin-based garage-funk band Bubba Coltrane and the Train Wrecks. Starting at 8 p.m., attendees can celebrate Fat Tuesday with traditional beads given out by the bar and New Orleans-inspired jazz.