6 Fantasy Parties That Would Give Mardi Gras a Run for Its Money

Hobbits (The Lord of the Rings, by J. R.R. Tolkein)
Man, no one throws a party like a Hobbit! There’s guaranteed to be food, drinking, dancing, food, pipe weed, food, fireworks, and food. A hobbit party is a community wide affair—a good time with good friends and good, er, food. The most notable party in the Shire is, of course, Bilbo Baggins 111th birthday party. There are speeches, and gift givings, and the entire Shire is invited. A hobbit party wouldn’t be out of place on Bourbon Street!

Ewoks and the denizens of Canto Bright (Star Wars)
Dismantling the Empire is cause for celebration, and the Ewoks know how to celebrate in style. There are bonfires, music, and all the mystery meat you can eat (just pray it isn’t roasted stormtrooper). There is a massive relief in the Ewok’s celebration: the war is finally over and the good guys have won. Is there no better party than that? Well, if forest bonfires aren’t your idea of a good time, there’s always Canto Bright. This glittering casino city would give Vegas a run for its money. The parties there are lavish and expensive, but if you can pay, you’ll be guaranteed to be shown a good time. Just be careful, everything has it’s price on Canto Bright.

The Freys (A Storm of Swords, by George R.R. Martin)
What a beautiful wedding. The bride looks stunning. The food is amazing. And the band is playing… “The Rains of Castamere”? Oh no, this is a Westerosi party. Mardi Gras usually doesn’t have a body count, but try telling that to the Frays. Parties in the Seven Kingdoms are frightening, violent affairs, but you’ll never feel more alive, assuming you survive one. Granted, these aren’t gatherings for the wallflowers among us. One way or another, you’re going to have to get your hands dirty.

The City of Camorr (The Lies of Locke Lamora, by Scott Lynch)
This placemight offer us the closest match for the Mardi Gras we know and love. The city of Camorr, the principal setting of Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastard books, is a fantasy version of medieval Venice, and it has been known to throw its share of big, flashy parties. The Duke of Camorr throws one every year and it’s used to the criminal underground to try and pull some major shenanigans. Beautiful parties in Camorr hide everything from petty theft to grand murder. There’s never a dull moment in this city.

The Sin Du Jour crew (Sin Du Jour series, by Matt Wallace)
Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Tuesday. It’s traditional in some places to skip the party and have a big pancake dinner instead. Who better to expertly cater a big pancake party other than the chefs of Sin Du Jour, New York’s preferred caterers to the supernatural set? Byron “Bronko” Luck and his team are ready and able to make your pancake dreams a reality. Or your much wilder dreams (serving up angels to be devoured by demons? Putting on a fete for the Goblin King?)—for a price. And a hefty security deposit. Even pancakes can turn into chaos if you’re serving them to demons, trolls, or faeries. But man, they would be delicious.
Who do you think would throw the biggest fantasy rager?