Alton Towers Mardi Gras was a spectacular party

The Mardi Gras is back with a flamboyant bang, a heady mix of non-stop music, street performers and live entertainment combining to create a fantastic feel-good atmosphere at the UK's biggest theme park.

It was a thrill to take my family to Alton Towers to experience rollercoasters that my two children are now tall enough to ride.

The Wicker Man was chief among the top attractions on our to-do list - but that was to come later after first soaking up the dazzling explosion of colours, sounds and high-energy that hit us once we stepped through the gates.

We arrived shortly after 10am and were warmly welcomed into the park with everyone wishing you a Mardi Gras.

Posing for photos and celebrating the event, the actors were all having a great time and made sure we were excited for the day ahead.

Being lucky enough to grab Fastrack passes for our visit - which allowed us to beat the regular queues - and sampling the wonderful Mardi Gras food and drink, it meant a fantastic day all round.

With the event running from May 21 to June 19, it's the perfect excuse for an early summer break for families and friends.

Mardi Gras attractions and entertainment

We were stunned at the amount of effort put into this event. You can tell how much attention went into the theming around the park.

Lots of purple, green and gold bunting swayed across Towers Street as we strolled in, while trumpets were blown loud and proud.

Moments later, two guests were crowned as carnival King and Queen and crowned in a regal ceremony. This happens every morning during Mardi Gras and those lucky to get picked are given exclusive VIP packages including Fastracks, food and drink, plus top seats for live shows. The key to getting selected is to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Think lots of beads and colours... the brighter the better!

Each area of Alton Towers is represented by vibrantly dressed 'Krewe' who perform on the hour, every hour, alongside their static parade floats.

I particularly enjoyed the Voodoo Krewe's flash dance that had everyone moving their hips.

The performers really engage with those watching and encourage everyone, especially young kids, to join in the fun.

Themed food and drink

Once we all survived Wicker Man (it really is amazing) and spent an hour's worth of fun in the marvellous World of David Walliams, it was time to satisfy our hungry stomachs.

There's also Mardi Gras-themed food and drink

We headed to Food Street - the centrepiece of the Mardi Gras event - where plenty of Deep South delicacies are served.

I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of options, and it was difficult to decide between Mexican street food, New Orleans po 'boy and 'Dirty Dog' hotdogs.

After taking a few minutes - distracted momentarily by two stilt walkers strolling by - I chose the beef burrito which was delicious.

My wife decided on a brisket burger, my son tucked into a 'classic' hot dog, while my daughter was happy with loaded nachos.

We ate our food at the Louisiana-themed Lakeside Bar, where with cold drinks in hand we sat back on a floating pontoon overlooking the park's lake.

With gentle country music sang live on stage nearby, it was the perfect way to relax before hitting the rides once again.

Fastrack is a great option

We were lucky enough to grab Fastrack passes for our visit, which allowed us to jump the queues for thrill rides including Wicker Man, Oblivion, Nemesis, The Smiler, Rita, TH13TEEN and Galactica, not to mention family rides such as Runaway Mine Train and Marauders Mayhem.

There wasn't enough time to make the most of the passes and my kids, aged 11 and 8, unsurprisingly passed at some of the white-knuckle rides.

But Fastracks are worth purchasing if you want to cram in as many of the big-hitters as possible as it significantly reduces your queue time - perfect at a busy weekend or in school holidays.

How to buy tickets

Tickets are £65 on the day or book in advance online and pay from £36 per person. 

Under 3s go free and there is a rainy day guarantee - get a free return visit.

There are four fast track passes available starting from £30 to £105 which give you a fast track pass for 12 rides.

Buy a Merlin Annual Pass for Alton Towers

If you want to head to Alton Towers all year round, you can purchase your Merlin Annual Pass now!

The Merlin Pass is a one-stop wonder to loads of discounts and attractions, including Alton Towers Resort, SEA LIFE, Thorpe Park Resort, Madame Tussauds, the London Eye and loads more. It gives you 20% off retail, food & beverages.

You can buy your Merlin Pass on the Alton Towers website here.