It’s Mardi Gras time and hopefully that means the Polar Vortex is coming to an end. To celebrate Fat Tuesday in Chicago, here are a few local bars to ring in the occasion!

The Boundary is sure to spice up Division Street for Mardi Gras, March 3-9. The week-long event features:

Cactus Crawfish Eating Contest for Charity

Date: March 4

404 S. Wells Street

Chicago, IL

cactuschicago.com

Contestants: $20 entrance fee (proceeds will be donated to New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity) Cheer Them On: the event is free to attend

Cactus Bar and Grill will hold their fourth annual Crawfish Eating Contest for charity on Tuesday, March 4 at 6 p.m. This fun, Fat Tuesday event encourages competitors to consume three pounds of crawfish in the fastest amount of time possible. Contestants will be divided into heats, and the winner of each heat will compete in the final round. There is a $20 fee to participate and competitors will receive a Cactus crawfish contest t-shirt. All proceeds will benefit New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity.

The first place competitive eater will be awarded a $100 gift certificate to Cactus Bar and Grill; the second place winner a “Hurricanes at Home” gift basket; and the third place participant will receive cooler stocked with Abita beer. Plenty of Mardi Gras accessories, such as beads and masks, will be passed out to the crowd.

Cactus will offer a variety of specials throughout Fat Tuesday week (March 3-7), including $6 Abita brews (Mardi Gras Bock bottles; Purple Haze; Amber draught), $5 Hurricanes, $12 Shrimp Po Boy sandwich, $12 Crawfish Boil platter, and Seafood gumbo ($5 cup/$7 bowl). $1 from every special sold will be donated to New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity.

To reserve a spot in the crawfish competition, visit CactusChicago.com. For more information, call Cactus’ event line at 312.922.8025.