Mardi Gras Coloring Pages for Kids: Masks, Parades and Party Pages to Print (Ages 3–7)
Mardi Gras is loud, bright and full of masks – exactly the kind of party young children love. Before the big day, Mardi Gras coloring pages are a gentle way to get into the mood: a page or two after school, a few masks on the fridge, and by Tuesday everyone has a costume. In 2027, Mardi Gras – Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day in the UK and Ireland – falls on February 9. Here are ideas for kids aged 3–7, at home or in class – plus a free sample with two coloring pages and a cat mask to try first.
What makes a good Mardi Gras coloring page?
- Big, clear lines. Three-year-olds color with their whole arm; thick outlines and few tiny details keep it fun.
- Something happening. A parade, confetti flying, a clown juggling – a picture with a story gives you something to talk about.
- Words to color. Captions in big hollow letters let older children color and read at the same time.
- Something to wear. A mask is the best kind of coloring page: when it's finished, it becomes part of the costume.
- Mardi Gras colors. Purple, green and gold are the traditional Mardi Gras colors – a mask colored in those three looks ready for a New Orleans parade.
Pictures kids love at carnival time
- A carnival parade with a dragon float, balloons and flowers
- Children in costumes – a little dinosaur, a butterfly, an astronaut
- A juggling clown and a brave knight
- Confetti time and a party page with a jester hat and streamers
- A plate of doughnuts and pancakes – perfect for Pancake Day
- Masks: cat, fox, owl, lion, butterfly, bunny, bear and a Venetian mask with feathers
Masks to color and wear
Printable masks are the highlight for most kids. Print them on thin card if you have it, let your child color, and then an adult cuts out the mask and the eye holes. Punch two small holes at the sides and tie on soft elastic – never string around the neck. The masks in our book are printed at real size, about 15 cm wide, so they are ready to wear as soon as they are cut out.
A Mardi Gras afternoon plan
- After lunch: color one mask each and one picture.
- Snack time: pancakes, while a grown-up cuts out the masks.
- Parade: music on, masks on, march around the living room or classroom.
- Wind down: a maze or a counting page before dinner.
Ready to print
All of the pictures above are in My Carnival Book – 24 pages with 8 masks, a blank mask to design, 11 coloring pages, a maze and a balloon counting game. You can try 6 pages, including the cat mask, in the free sample. For safe mask-making tips, costume ideas and a carnival day plan for nursery or school, read our guide to carnival masks for kids.
Happy Mardi Gras – and save one pancake for the grown-up with the scissors!