Mardi Gras and Movies in the Midwest
Tue, Feb 03
|(Zoom) Winnetka-Northfield Library District
Explore the history of Mardi Gras and its onscreen depictions, including some from Chicago film companies
Time and Location
Feb 03, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM CST
(Zoom) Winnetka-Northfield Library District
About
In celebration of Fat Tuesday, explore the history of Mardi Gras and a few of its 200+ onscreen depictions, including some from Chicago film companies!
In this hour-long program, you will:
Enjoy a short history of Mardi Gras, including the meaning behind its name, regional and global traditions, associated lawsuits, memes, and marketing.
Explore movies that depict the famous New Orleans-based celebration, and learn why this annual raucous event has translated well to the silver screen since 1898!
Compare pączki, a Fat Tuesday pastry common in Chicago and the Midwest, to New Orleans-style king cake, a ring of twisted cinnamon roll-style dough stuffed with cream cheese, praline, or strawberry—and a plastic baby doll.
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