No need to make a trip to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras this year. Stay close to home to revel thanks to the nimble, out-of-the box thinking of the Workhouse Arts Center, celebrate Mardi Gras right here in Northern Virginia.

“We are thrilled to announce the first-ever Mardi Gras celebration at the Workhouse,” said Elena Romanova, Chief Development Officer, Workhouse Arts Center. The celebration will feature two weeks of wide-ranging, family-friendly events. The events will be both virtual and in-person, at a social distance.

“Our activities are planned in response to an unprecedented community engagement with arts offerings at the Workhouse during the pandemic,” added Romanova. “In the last ten months, the Workhouse Board and staff renewed their commitment to the organization’s mission by adapting and creating opportunities to engage with art. The art makes life more bearable, and we are offering this new event so we can while away the winter blues together.

“We have designed family-friendly activities that will provide learning opportunities, bring joy and comfort, and allow for a safe space to interact with art,” said Romanova.

The Workhouse mini-Mardi Gras festival begins with free online mixology sessions, classes on festive mask making, workshops on decorating cars and floats, and plenty more. On Saturday, Feb. 13, there will be “Let the Good Times Roll” events at the Workhouse Mardi Gras such as safe in-person activities, including socially distant glass bead demonstrations, and “Taste of Mardi Gras” culinary art classes.

Other highlights of the Workhouse Mardi Gras gala will be a unique COVID-safe and family friendly Workhouse Mardi Gras Parade and Decoration Contest scheduled for Feb. 13 at 3 p.m.. There will also be two live drive-in comedy shows by “Rahmein and Friends” later on Feb. 13.

For the Workhouse Mardi Gras parade contest, there are a number of categories to be judged, including: Best Float, Best Decorated Car, Best Costume, Best Wagon, and Best Stroller. Double Feature Comedy Rahmein and Friends is a live drive-in event. There is a parade entry fee of $10.

Where and When

Workhouse Arts Center presents a virtual and in-person Mardi Gras celebration. Socially distant, in-person events at 9518 Workhouse Way, Building W16, Lorton. Virtual and in-person Mardi Gras events are Feb. 1 to Feb. 13, 2021. Tickets: Some events are free, others require paid tickets starting at $10. For details, visit www.workhousearts.org or call 703-584-2900. Workhouse staff request early registration, since space is limited.