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Local bars, restaurants get a jump on Mardi Gras celebrations.

Let the good times roll. Well, it’s almost time. Fat Tuesday is actually March 5, but some local bars and restaurants are getting a jump this weekend on Mardi Gras celebrations.

So let’s party until we fall on our Ash...Wednesday. March 2 — Fort Mardi Gras

Revolution Live, 100 SW Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale (outside of America’s Backyard). 954-449-1025. FortMardiGras.com.

This is the fourth year for this block party for the whole family that begins at 4 p.m. There will be a Mardi Gras Processional — with brass bands and oversized puppets — starting at nearby Esplanade Park and marching toward the parties inside the entertainment venue Revolution Live and the adjoining outdoor bar America’s Backyard. The event is free and open to the public. March 3 — Mardi Gras Jazz Brunch

The Addison, 2 East Camino Real, Boca Raton. 561-372-0568. TheAddisonOfBocaRaton.com.

There will be New Orleans-style food and cocktails at this benefit for the Arthritis Foundation starting at 11 a.m. Dennis Lambert will entertain. Lambert wrote or produced 80 songs that made it to Billboard’s Top 100 charts and has worked with recording stars such as Glen Campbell, Santana, the Four Tops, Natalie Cole, Jefferson Starship and Tavares. Tickets are $125 each or $250 per couple. To order tickets, go to Arthritis.org/ mardigrasjazzbrunch. March 5 — Mardi Gras Party at Lulu’s Bait Shack

17 S Atlantic Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 954-63-7425. LulusBaitShack.com.

For the 20th year this beach-side restaurant in The Gallery at Beach Place will have a Mardi Gras party from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. with three live bands in the restaurant and DJ Shawn and Project X spinning in a tent set up downstairs. At midnight there’ll be a Best Beads contest for cash prizes. There will also be specials on crawfish, gumbo, jambalaya and other dishes as well as drink specials such as $5 Flora De Cana rum hurricane cocktails, $3 Budweiser, Bud Light, Shock Top and Budweiser Copper LagerDrafts and $15 fishbowls (84 ounces). Proceeds will benefit Covenant House Florida, which provides shelter for the homeless, runaways and at-risk youth under the age of 21. March 5 — Jambalaya Night at PB Catch Seafood and Raw Bar

251 Sunrise Ave., Palm Beach. 561-655-5558. PBcatch.com.

Chef Aaron Black is preparing this special seafood dish of shrimp, Andouille sausage, tasso ham, chicken, sassafras, okra and rice for Fat Tuesday. The jambalaya is $38 per person. March 5-10 — Mardi Gras Week at the Balcony Las Olas

1309 E Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 754-200-6344. TheBalconyLasOlas.com.

This New Orleans-inspired restaurant will start its celebration on Fat Tuesday and continue the rest of the week with food and drink specials such as $3 Abita Beers, $8 shrimp or po’boy sandwiches and $5 jambalaya, gumbo, beignets and hurricane cocktails (served in a souvenir cup). There will also be Mardi Gras entertainers on theme nights such as the Fat Tuesday Party on March 5 (all day), the Kings and Queens Party on March 8 (starting at 8 p.m.) and the Balcony Krewe Party on March 9 (all day, krewe parade starts at 4 p.m.).