DeKALB — For anyone looking for entertainment around DeKalb, Mardi Gras Lanes provides a unique and fun experience.
Mardi Gras Lanes, located at 1730 Sycamore Road, is a family-friendly bowling alley featuring an arcade, pro shop and daily competitive bowling leagues.
“The business has been here since 1959, it’s been family-owned and operated since,” general manager Brian Kolberg said.
This is Kolberg’s 34th year at the business and 16th as general manager.
Mardi Gras Lanes hosts a 32 lane bowling alley, up to 25 arcade games, crane craw grab machines, table hockey and six video gaming machines for those age 21 and up.
Regular pricing from Monday through Thursday is $5 per game with the special being $12 for two games and two pairs of bowling shoes per bowler or three games without bowling shoes. Friday and Saturday prices sit at $6 per game with a $14 special. Sundays offer $2 games all day. Optional rental bowling shoes cost $4.
Their menu includes a range of options including pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, chicken sandwiches and chicken wings, as well as a variety of sodas.
Kolberg said schools from around the area regularly use their bowling alley as a venue.
“This time of year, we have six high-school teams that bowl here, and Kishwaukee College,” Kolberg said.
Mardi Gras Lanes is the home arena for Sycamore High School, Kaneland High School, DeKalb High School, Kishwaukee College and Sycamore Middle School.
League competitions take place all year. Fall leagues last for 32 weeks through the winter, lasting from Sep. to March. The summer leagues last 14 weeks from May to Aug.
Leagues consist of various teams that compete against each other during a season. For competitive teams, such as the area High school teams, they compete from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. These teams compete as part of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) against other in-state high schools.
A sign-up form for casual competitors who wish to join a league is available and only requires one’s name, phone number and email address be provided to the Mardi Gras Bowling website.
The bowling alley serves many customers each week.
“We have approximately 450 league bowlers every week for 32-34 weeks,” Kolberg said.
Kolberg encourages residents to head into Mardi Gras lanes to enjoy their food and entertainment spaces.
“Give us a try out, we have great food, handmade pizza,” Kolberg said. “Our game room is modernized and open for everybody. Come and enjoy.”
Mardi Gras Lanes is open from noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday and Monday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday.
