Mobile, Alabama is a charming city, an intimate Mardi Gras Mecca, and oh-so-welcoming. One of the most surprising aspects about Mobile is their dedication to Mardi Gras, it starts in January and doesn’t stop until March 5. What I found to be so exciting is Mobile’s Mardi Gras is kid-friendly. The crowds are manageable. Yes, there are a few rowdy buggers in every crowd, but overall it’s a welcoming, colorful and a theatrical event for the entire family and couples alike. Comparatively speaking Mobile attracts 850,000 people during Mardi Gras while New Orleans draws 1.2 million, I don’t know about you, but I prefer a more manageable festival. But hey, that’s my travel personality type 🙂 What do you prefer larger festivals or smaller festivals? Let me know with a comment!
Mobile, Alabama: Mardi Gras 2019
Mardi Gras in Mobile starts in January and wraps up this week. This town is abuzz with Mardi Gras festivities. The USS James E. Williams docked Friday in Mobile, Mardi Gras balls have been in full swing since January and continued until last week. The Crewe of Columbus marched last Friday bringing oohs and aahs to everyone on the parade route. And just yesterday the Merry Widows’ helped kick off Joe Cain Day at the Old Church Street Cemetary, Mobile. More Celebrations are on tap for tomorrow as the festival comes to a close on Fat Tuesday.
Mobile Alabama is the first place in the US to Mardi Gras
The celebration originated in 1703 in the port city of Mobile. Joe Cain, fed up with post-war misery, led an impromptu parade down city streets, reviving Mardi Gras which continues today. Mobile, hosts grand parades, colorful floats and flying Moon Pies beginning two and a half weeks before Fat Tuesday. Elaborately decorated themed floats manned by masked mystic societies, mounted police, and marching bands make their way through downtown Mobile and nearby areas, entertaining a million revelers each year.
Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday,” is the last day of the Carnival season as it always falls the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.
Happy Fat Tuesday!
If you missed it all, no worried visit the Mardi Gras Museum, which pays homage to the festival.
Photo Credits: Mobile Magazine
