Family, travel, mom blog | Theme Park Mom (Leigh Caldwell)

Here’s a theme park concert to respect: Aretha Franklin is singing this weekend at Universal Studios Orlando.

The Queen of Soul performs March 13 as part of Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras celebration, which runs Saturdays through April 17. Mardi Gras means Cajun cuisine, authentic New Orleans music, concerts, and, of course, a parade with plenty of bead throwing.

The Mardi Gras parade starts at 8 p.m. Saturday night, and Aretha’s concert will begin at 8:30 p.m.

The concert lineup for the rest of the Mardi Gras season includes:

• March 20: Miranda Lambert
• March 27: 3 Doors Down
• April 3: Beach Boys
• April 9: Sheryl Crow
• April 10: Flo Rida
• April 17: Chicago

Universal is running a special hotel package in conjunction with Mardi Gras this spring: Book 3 nights and get 2 more free. You can still book this package online through the end of March.

There’s a big mix of music planned for this year’s Mardi Gras concerts at Universal Orlando. Everyone from Aretha Franklin to Flo Rida to Miranda Lambert to Chicago is in the mix. Here’s the lineup:

• Feb. 6: KC and the Sunshine Band
• Feb. 13: Heart
• Feb. 14: Kool & The Gang
• Feb. 20: Blondie
• Feb. 27: Dierks Bentley
• March 6: Akon
• March 13: Aretha Franklin
• March 20: Miranda Lambert
• March 27: 3 Doors Down
• April 3: Beach Boys
• April 9: Sheryl Crow
• April 10: Flo Rida
• April 17: Chicago

Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras runs every Saturday night Feb. 6 through April 17, with additional dates on Sunday, Feb. 14 and Friday, April 9. The event features an elaborate Mardi Gras parade with costumed characters and lots of souvenir beads, as well as jazz and Zydeco music and Cajun cuisine.

Ne-Yo, Kelly Clarkson and Montgomery Gentry are among the strong concert lineup at Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras this year. The festival kicks off Saturday with KC and the Sunshine Band.

The Mardi Gras celebration happens every spring at Universal. This year, the festivities run on Saturday and select Sunday nights from Feb. 7 through April 18. In addition to the concerts, there’s a Mardi Gras parade a French Quarter area with musicians from New Orleans. (more…)