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Fat Tuesday marks the end of the carnival season, and the last day and night for blowing it out before Lent commences.

The observance of Fat Tuesday might have started in the U.S. as a Catholic celebration mostly in former French and Spanish colonial areas along the Gulf Coast (and was brought to the U.S. from Europe), but now carnival is celebrated in a number of states and cities across the country, although nothing touches a New Orleans Mardi Gras. Still, Little Rock is one of those places grasping the fun and importance of the end of the carnival season and celebrating it with various Fat Tuesday parties — just not specifically on Fat Tuesday, which this year falls on Feb. 21.

Here are some of the carnival-related parties around the metro:

Mardi Gras Parade, Saturday

The SoMa Mardi Gras Parade returns and begins at noon Saturday at the corner of South Main and 24th streets. The parade heads north on South Main to 12th Street. The post-parade party will be held near Community Bakery and live music will be at the Bernice Garden. It’s free to watch and walk in the parade. For more information, call (501) 412-3768.

Argenta events, Sunday-Tuesday

Across the river in North Little Rock, the Argenta Arts District is getting an early start on the celebrations and is offering local dogs an opportunity to strut their stuff with the third annual Krewe of Barkus Parade on Sunday starting at 2 p.m. The parade starts and ends at the CityGrove Art Park on Fifth Street between Main and Maple streets. Guests are asked to bring their dogs and beads for the parade; refreshments will be provided.

The dog walk is a prelude to the third annual Krewe of Barkus Mardi Gras party on Monday at Starving Artist Cafe. Tickets are $35 per person and include beads, feather mask, commemorative photo and poster along with a Cajun-flavored buffet by Chef Jason Morell and entertainment from The Bob Boyd Sounds with their swing, big band and jazz tunes. The party is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The William F. Laman Public Library is holding a Mardi Gras Masquerade for teens so make a mask and celebrate. The event is from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the library’s Teen Center.

Elsewhere in North Little Rock, Cregeen’s Irish Pub is holding a Fat Tire Fat Tuesday celebration on Tuesday with drink specials and Cajun food on the menu.

Fat Tuesday party, Tuesday

Denton’s Back Porch, the nightclub and bar part of Benton’s longtime seafood restaurant Denton’s Trotline, is throwing its own Fat Tuesday party and inviting some special guests for the festivities. The party gets going at 6 p.m., and features David Bazzel and Pat Bradley of 103.7 The Buzz along with the Cupid’s Buzz Babe Team. It all starts with a little karaoke, and then dance and rock cover band Tragikly White takes the stage at 8 p.m. Denton’s Back Porch will also feature Fat Tuesday drink specials.

Mardi Gras in the River Market, Tuesday

In the River Market, several clubs and bars are joining forces for a Fat Tuesday Pub Crawl. Of course, the local branch of the Flying Saucer is taking part in the fun and offering a New Belgium Bike giveaway and music from The Woodies, the acoustic rock project of local musicians Byron Hayes and Luke Tibbet. The music starts at 9 p.m., and it’s a 21-and-up affair.

Stickyz will hold a Mardi Gras Party with the Little Rock Kickball Association. There’s a $5 cover with proceeds benefiting Youth Home, and the fun starts at 6 p.m. The night includes music from Four on the Floor, Slick Norman, The Binary Marketing Show and Ezra LBS. Plus, there will be a chili mug and beer stein auction along with various other raffles and plenty of beads. The night of fun will also serve as the official kickoff party for Chili with a Kick at Dickey-Stephens Park on Feb. 25. Chili with a Kick tickets are only $5 and include all-you-can-eat chili while supplies last plus food from Hot Dog Mike along with live music from nine bands throughout the day, a kickball tournament, a jalapeno-eating contest and more. It all benefits The Big Red Ball Charitable Foundation and opens 10:30 a.m.

Boscos is also getting in on the Fat Tuesday fun with a Mardi Gras Brewmasters Dinner that kicks off at 6:45 p.m. and features a southern-Louisiana-inspired dinner that includes Alligator Tail Gumbo and Smoked Duck Boudin. Tickets are $50.

Tuesday Night Jam, Tuesday

Up in Hillcrest, The Afterthought is celebrating the end of carnival and the beginning of Lent with a special edition of their usual Tuesday Night Jam with New Orleans native Carl Mouton the man in charge of the night. It’s free, begins at 8 p.m. and will feature a number of talented musicians stopping by to play some music.

Mardi Gras in Arkansas, Feb. 24

The Connection might sound like some kind of underground Connect Four club or something, but it’s really a group of young professionals who are the junior board of directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arkansas. Their mission? Supporting the eight Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arkansas locations that serve more than 10,000 young people from the ages of 6 to 18.

That takes money so The Connection is raising funds with its Mardi Gras in Arkansas on Feb. 24 at Next Level Events in downtown Little Rock. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door with the night kicking off at 8 p.m. The party includes complimentary wine and beer, a cash bar and beads galore along with the high-energy, party dance rock of Fayetteville’s Boom Kinetic. The music will start at 9 p.m. All proceeds benefit The Boys & Girls Club of Central Arkansas.