This doubloon dash Mardi Gras game is a fun party game to play with Mardi Gras coins like you see thrown from the New Orleans floats on Fat Tuesday. It’s an easy DIY party activity for a kids’ classroom party, Fat Tuesday activities for kids, teen games or adult games for Fat Tuesday parties. This is an easy DIY birthday party game for a Mardi Gras theme or New Orleans party, too!
How To Play The Doubloon Dash Mardi Gras Game
Those green coins, purple coins, and gold coins you see during Mardi Gras celebrations are called doubloons. You can buy them in bulk for cheap or even watch for them to clearance after the holiday.
This is a super cheap DIY game for parties! (Mardi Gras coins are usually around $10+ in bulk.)
To Play This Mardi Gras Party Game, You’ll Need:
- Mardi Gras doubloons (aka: Mardi Gras colored coins)
- Bowls (2 bowls for each team or each player)
- Large spoons (1 for each team or each player)
- Mardi Gras masks with feathers obstructing the eye holes or regular eye masks (optional, for more challenging game play – see teen party section)
- Prize for game winner (optional, but these are fun for a prize bag)
Goal of the Mardi Gras Game
The goal of the Mardi Gras doubloon coin dash is to be the first person (or team) to transfer all of your Mardi Gras coins from one bowl to the other bowl at the other end of the room to win a prize.
Instructions for the Mardi Gras Doubloon Dash (The Mardi Gras Coin Game) for Kids
1. Place a bowl of Mardi Gras doubloons like this (Mardi Gras coins) for each person/team at one end of the room and an empty bowl at the other end of the room.
2. On GO! each party guest (or the first person in the team) uses a spoon to scoop up as many coins as they can from the bowl, races to drop them into the bowl at the other end of the room, and then race back and repeat until they’ve transferred all the coins.
If you’re playing with teams: after the first person drops their coins in the bowl, they race back and hand off the spoon to the next team member in line, who then scoops as many coins as they can and races to drop them in the bowl at the other end.
Players can only use the spoon and can’t scoop coins with the other hand or hold the coins on the spoon with the other hand.
GAME PLAY TIP: If any coins drop to the floor, the person must return the dropped ones to the starting bowl, and then keep going (either trying to scoop more or racing with what they have on their spoon). If they use their other hand, they must start over.
3. First person to transfer all their coins to the bowl at the other end wins a prize.
MORE MARDI GRAS PARTY FUN: Make An Easy King Cake for Mardi Gras
Alternate Game Instructions for A Teen Mardi Gras Party or Adult Mardi Gras Party (More Challenging Game)
If you’re having a teen party or an mix of adults and kids at your Mardi Gras party, you can instead play this as a blindfolded game to add a little more challenge.
To play this Mardi Gras coin game:
1. Each player takes a turn sitting in front of two bowls: a bowl of Mardi Gras coins and an empty bowl.
2. Wearing a Mardi Gras mask (with eyes covered) or blindfold, the player has 30 seconds to scoop coins from the bowl with a spoon and place them in the other bowl.
GAME PLAY TIP: If you’re playing teams, a player from each team will go at the same time.
Players can only use the spoon and can’t scoop coins with the other hand.
GAME TIP: Players can only use the hand holding the spoon. The other hand has to be behind their back or on their lap. If they are caught using their other hand, they must start over (or go to the back of the line, if playing teams).
3. The player (or team) who can transfer the most coins in 30 seconds into the other bowl, wins a prize. Coins that drop on the table or floor don’t count!
MORE FUN GAMES FOR KIDS: Fun Easter Grass Game
Happy Mardi Gras! I hope you enjoy the doubloon dash Mardi Gras game!
