Celebrated in New Orleans, the Caribbean, Brazil, Europe, and even here in Honolulu, Mardi Gras is the universal excuse to party.

The local celebration is expanding this year, with annual parties returning to Nu'uanu Avenue and Aloha Tower, and a new event at the Sheraton Waikiki's Rum Fire bar.

The Nu'uanu Mardi Gras celebration today includes extravagantly decorated parades and sounds from New Orleans, with band Delta Skelta. There's a Brazilian flavor, too, with capoeira by Senzala, samba dancers, DJ Caju, and Sambanda and Tropikalia, two samba bands playing in the percussive Batucada style.

The entertainment is impressive, but don't discount the food that's being offered. It will take you into Rio De Janeiro and New Orleans, with savory meals by Kevin "Two Boots" Tate, Indigo restaurant, and Scott Nelson, executive chef at Brasserie Du Vin and a New Orleans native.

Dishes like king cakes, rice and beans, Cajun gumbo, bread pudding and seafood Monica will be on Mardi Gras menus tonight.

"Traditionally this event has been for Mardi Gras partiers, but this year we're really focusing on the food," says promoter Mark Tarone.

The festivities also include more than $1,000 in cash prizes for the best costume and the titles of King and Queen of Mardi Gras.

The $20,000 production is the brainchild of promoters Tim Bostock and Tarone, who have been planning the event since last September. Tarone says the event includes about 43 performers, security, police, staffing, management and vendors, adding up to an estimated staff of 130.

"This is really a high-energy event. It's been great working with the Chinatown Arts and Culture District because every merchant really supports intercultural entertainment," says Bostock, who produced one of the biggest outdoor events in London, the Notting Hill Carnival, before coming to Honolulu, and has been promoting and creating events for more than 15 years.

"As a theater producer, I am always thinking about breaking down the wall, and this event is really intimate. The entertainers are right there with you on the street," Bostock says.

"We know that there will be the late-night festivities, but we want people to come after work with their families and see the exciting entertainment," Tarone says.

When dancers adorned in feathers, beads and sparkling costumes parade down Nu'uanu, guests are encouraged to join in and dance.

"My suggestion for those who haven't danced samba before: Remember Brazilian samba is on the up beat, relax your hips and have fun," says parade dancer Yhazi Kohl, who began dancing samba as a girl in the Summer Solstice parade in Santa Barbara, Calif., and moved to the Islands when she was 17.

She practices samba and capoeira, and she's influenced by the arts' home country of Brazil.

"Being able to go to Brazil has really helped me to learn more about the cultural dances as well as the music," she says.

Loud steel drumming, rattles, whistles and singing in the Brazilian style of samba will be the primary sounds of the night, with two stages and musical parades.

"I'm the leader of the group; it means I have the loudest drum," says Adam Von Baron of Sambanda.

"You can expect us to sound like an earthquake; it's a very big sound but is really festive and groovy. We want you to start dancing immediately."

PARTY LIKE YOU'RE IN NEW ORLEANS

"Mardi gras" is French for "fat Tuesday," but for most folks it translates into "party time." And party you can at these events:

MARDI GRAS - CARNAVAL 2008

6-10 tonight

Nu'uanu Avenue, from Chaplain Lane to King Street

Free

521-9699

A Downtown/Chinatown street festival of percussion, samba, music, food and drinks and two parades - one at 7 p.m. with the Sambanda Batucada & Dance Ensemble, and another at 9 p.m. with the Tropikalia Batucada & Dance Ensemble. There are contests for best float and best costume, too. Food is provided by Cassis, Brasserie Du Vin, Kevin's Two Boots, Soul de Cuba, Cafe Joy and Indigo.

MARDI GRAS/FAT TUESDAY

5 p.m. today

Aloha Tower Marketplace

Free

566-2337

www.alohatower.com

Beads, feathers and music are part of this annual celebration. The festivities will include live entertainment on multiple stages with jazz and blues, a Brazilian samba parade and strolling entertainers performing throughout the marketplace. Participating restaurants will offer food and drink specials as part of their regular menus.

RUM FIRE AT SHERATON WAIKIKI

Bourbon Street Carnivale

6 p.m.-2 a.m. today

Rum Fire, Sheraton Waikiki

$20; $15 before 9 p.m.

www.hawaiipacificentertainment.com

Proceeds benefit the Pacific Technology Foundation.

Rum Fire at the Sheraton Waikiki hosts a party that's part "pre-grand opening," part Mardi Gras celebration. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the after-work crowd, and the celebrating continues until 2 a.m. for late-night party-goers, with Mardi Gras-themed decorations and entertainment, including jazz and blues.

Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite Mardi Gras costume - the wilder the better. Winners of a best-costume contest will get a roundtrip ticket for two to Las Vegas. Show up with the most beads and the biggest beads to win more prizes.