About This Mardi Gras & New Orleans Carnival Word Search
Let the good times roll with this vibrant Free Printable Mardi Gras & New Orleans Carnival Word Search Puzzle. Featuring 15 festive terms—including Masquerade, Beads, King Cake, Floats, Jazz, Parade, and Doubloon—this worksheet brings the rich music, food, and culture of Louisiana into your classroom.
Clean 8.5×11" printable format with a full solution key on Page 2, or play right on your tablet with our interactive digital highlighter!
15 Vocabulary Words Included
Here are the 15 words hidden inside this puzzle, along with their thematic definitions for classroom discussions:
MASQUERADE
A festive gathering or parade where participants wear elaborate, colorful decorative masks and costumes.
BEADS
Colorful plastic bead necklaces tossed from parade floats to cheering crowds in the streets.
KINGCAKE
A traditional braided cinnamon brioche pastry iced in purple, green, and gold, containing a hidden baby figurine.
FLOATS
Massive, elaborately decorated mobile stages pulled through streets during Mardi Gras parades.
JAZZ
The joyful brass band music born in New Orleans, providing the soundtrack for Carnival parades.
PARADE
A public procession of marching bands, dancers, and krewes tossing throws to spectators.
DOUBLOON
Commemorative aluminum coins stamped with krewe emblems tossed to crowds as cherished souvenirs.
CARNIVAL
The festive season beginning on the Epiphany (Twelfth Night) and ending on Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras).
KREWE
A private club or social organization in New Orleans that stages a Mardi Gras parade and ball.
COSTUME
Vibrant sequins, feathers, and disguises worn by celebrators to embrace the festive spirit.
FESTIVAL
A joyous celebration marked by music, feasting, and community gathering.
PURPLE
One of the three official colors of Mardi Gras, chosen to symbolize justice.
GREEN
One of the three official colors of Mardi Gras, chosen to symbolize faith.
GOLD
One of the three official colors of Mardi Gras, chosen to symbolize power.
CELEBRATE
To observe Mardi Gras with joyful music, dancing, and the famous slogan 'Laissez les bons temps rouler!'
3 Fun Ways to Use This Printable in the Classroom
Make the most of this worksheet with these creative lesson and activity ideas:
- Design a Masquerade Mask: Provide cardstock mask templates, purple/green/gold glitter, and feathers for students to design an authentic carnival mask.
- New Orleans Jazz Music Appreciation: Listen to traditional second-line brass band music and have students march around the classroom.
- King Cake History & Fractions: Discuss the history of the King Cake and use paper cake circles to practice visual fraction divisions (1/4, 1/8, 1/12).
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the three Mardi Gras colors stand for?
In 1892, the Krewe of Rex declared the official colors: Purple represents Justice, Green represents Faith, and Gold represents Power!
Does the PDF download include an answer key?
Yes, Page 2 features the complete highlighted solution grid.
What does 'Mardi Gras' literally mean?
Mardi Gras is French for 'Fat Tuesday', the day of feasting before Ash Wednesday.