The popular event does duplicate the feel of Bourbon Street, with a large crowd running the length of the parade route at Universal Studios in a frenzied quest for beads.
 The event also includes live concerts from artists such as Sheryl Crow, Chicago and, this weekend’s musical guest, 3 Doors Down.

Since stepping onto the mainstream music scene a little over a decade ago, the band has made a quick ascent to fame, topping the Billboard charts and earning award nominations. Their first album, “The Better Life” was released in 2000 and became the 11th best-selling album of the year. 3 Doors Down has become an international success, selling more than 15 million albums worldwide.  Some of their most popular hits include, “Kryptonite,” “When I’m Gone” and “Here Without You.”
 

With a combined total of more than half a billion records sold worldwide, this year’s Mardi Gras lineup features an eclectic mix of 13 of the biggest names in music. From hip-hop to pop, country to rock and R&B to disco, there will be something for everyone. 
Other headliners featured this year included “The Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin, country singer Dierks Bentley, hip-hop artist Akon, and the No. 1 selling American band of all time, the Beach Boys.  In addition to seeing top-name talent perform on the main stage, guests can also visit Universal’s very own “French Quarter” – a replica of the New Orleans’ famed district – and groove to the authentic bayou sounds of bands directly from New Orleans.
 

Guests can also enjoy the heritage-themed Mardi Gras parade featuring new colorful renditions of floats from past year’s events. Universal worked with New Orleans-based Blaine Kern Artists, Inc. to incorporate new elements into some of the most memorable floats in the event’s history. The twelve floats will cruise the streets of Universal Studios during the festivities, filled with riders tossing beads by the handful to park guests.  The Cajun cuisine includes jambalaya, gumbo, beignets and king cake – along with hundreds of costumed characters and stilt walkers dancing and mingling in the streets. 
Many of the park’s most popular attractions also will  be open, including the new Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit – a radically innovative roller coaster that combines hit music, first-ever maneuvers and highly-sophisticated audio and video for a one-of-a-kind ride experience.

The Mardi Gras event runs every Saturday night through April 17. More information is available at www.universalorlando.com/mardigras.
Meanwhile, Universal an-nounced this week, a June 18 opening for the long-awaited  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Universal also announced one of three themed attractions within the new themed area — Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This all new adventure combines a powerful storyline with new technology.