The first known parade was in 1711, when Mobile's Boeuf Gras Society paraded on Mardi Gras, with 16 men pushing a cart carrying a large papier-mâché cow's head. [ 2 ] [ 10 ] By 1720, Biloxi became the second capital of Louisiana, and also celebrated French customs. [ 10 ] The Best Places To Celebrate Mardi Gras In The U.S. | Time Out. 1 min read Mobile Mardi Gras | Mobile, Alabama The first actual Mardi Gras celebration in the US took place in Mobile, Ala. in 1703, and it was a city clerk named Joe Cain Although The Big Easy in Louisiana is perhaps best-known for its Mardi Gras revelry, the port city of Mobile, Alabama, founded in 1702 by French settlers, lays claim to being the city that first The first king of Mobile's African American Mardi Gras was Mobile politician Alex Herman. His daughter, former U.S. secretary of labor Alexis Herman , served as queen in 1974. Excelsior Band at Joe Cain's Grave, 1967 Despite inroads by minority groups, the vast majority of working-class revelers were still only spectators to the annual History of Mardi Gras In 1703, Mobile, Alabama was the first city recorded to have the oldest organized Mardi Gras in the U.S., according to Curious Cuisiniere. "The first documented celebration of modern-day carnival, what people think of as carnival in the United States is historically without a doubt began in Mobile. The 1980 Mardi Gras and Joe Cain Day celebration was the last one for Rayford, who died on Aug. 3, 1980. (supplied photo). Rayford, often called a ‘renaissance man,’ had influence that reached "Marty Graw" gets fully into the swing of things on Feb. 14, 2025, which in downtown Mobile was both Valentine's Day and the first day of the city's Mardi Gras parading season. Lawrence Specker Mardi Gras was observed for the first time in the New World by French pioneers at Twenty-Seven Mile Bluff, the first settlement of Mobile way back in 1703. And it only grew from there. Mobile Mardi Gras is family-friendly! It is the perfect reason to plan a visit to southern Alabama. There are over 40 parades that roll through downtown Mobile during the two and half weeks before Fat Tuesday. Day 1 Mobile, Alabama Mardi Gras. We drove to Mobile from Gulf Shores, which is about an hour's drive. Only two societies have public coronations: Mobile Carnival Association and the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association (MAMGA) MAMGA held its first parade in 1939 and presented its first royal court 15+ Unique Restaurants in Mobile Alabama You Must Try; 9 of the Best Brunch Spots in Mobile Alabama; 21 Fun Things To Do In Mobile Alabama; Where to Find the Best Burgers in Mobile Alabama; 31 Of The Best Fairhope AL Restaurants To Try Today; 11 Of The Best Areas To Live Around Mobile AL; Rainy Day Activities Mobile AL – 21 EXCITING Things To Do All day parking at the Mobile Alabama Cruise Terminal and the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico will be $5 for the remainder of the Mardi Gras season. View and download the 2025 Mobile Mardi Gras parade schedule, complete with dates, times and routes for all Mobile & Baldwin County parades. In fact, Mobile was the first city in which French settlers introduced Mardi Gras to North America, a celebration that lies at the heart of Mobile’s identity to this day. Soak in Mobile’s storied past as you stroll through its historic streets, or visit the History Museum of Mobile to learn more about the city’s beginnings. City of Mobile Mardi Gras 2025 Parade Schedule: Note: Use News 5’s Mobile Mardi Gras 2025 Parade Routes guide to learn about each parade’s travel path. Friday, February 14. 6:30 p.m. — Conde When Is Mardi Gras In Mobile Alabama? The 2025 Mardi Gras celebration in the City of Mobile, Alabama begins on February 14 and continues through March 4, marking the city’s grand carnival season. This festive period stands as a testament to the rich history of Mobile Alabama Mardi Gras, dating back to 1703 when the tradition first started here. Mobile’s Mardi Gras traditions trace back to 1703 when French settlers held the first celebration to commemorate their first year of survival in the community they built. Today, the lively festivities showcase a variety of cultural influences and feature parades, elaborate costumes and other prized traditions. A key figure in Mobile’s Mardi Gras is Joe Cain, who revived the celebration in the late 19th century after the Civil War. He is celebrated on Joe Cain Day, a uniquely Mobile holiday, where locals dress up in elaborate costumes. Today, Mobile’s Mardi Gras remains a lively and culturally rich celebration that attracts visitors from all over. Mardi Gras 2021. Fast-forward to 2021: Mobile now has 80 mystic societies, which celebrate from January through Mardi Gras Day every year. Except this year is different.
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