Mobile is the hot spot in the state to celebrate Mardi Gras and for good reason—we have Mobile to thank for bringing us America’s original Mardi Gras in 1703! We love heading to Mobile for the 40+ parades leading up to Fat Tuesday which is Feb. 13 this year. Check out the parade line up from Visit Mobile if you’re planning a trip to the port city.
While in Mobile, we highly recommend that you stop by the Mobile Carnival Museum in the historic Bernstein-Bush house. You guessed it—it’s a museum totally dedicated to Mardi Gras. The displays celebrate the birthplace of Mardi Gras and feature Mardi Gras royal robes, crowns and scepters as well as emblem costumes, favors and doubloons from Mobile mystic organizations.
Two parades we particularly love are the Floral Parade and the Mystics of Time parade. The Floral Parade and its 18 floats decorated with a Beatlemania theme will be February 10 at noon and again on Lundi Gras, February 12, at noon. Well known as one of Mobile’s most popular, the MOT parade will be Saturday, February 10, and features dragons rolling down the streets of the city. Of course, the biggest day of all is Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday with parades starting at 10 am and lasting into the evening!
Are you wondering where to eat in Mobile? We have you covered! Start the day with breakfast at the Spot of Tea—the eggs benedict is fabulous! For lunch, we usually cannot decide between hot dogs at Dew Drop Inn or wings at Butch Cassidy’s—there’s no wrong choice here. If you’re not too full, head over to Cammie’s Old Dutch Ice Cream Shoppe for ice cream—yum! If you’re in the mood for a cocktail before dinner, there’s only one drink to get and one place to get it: The Chrissy at Ruth’s Chris. This is the signature drink of Mardi Gras and it originated at the bar in this locally owned Ruth’s Chris. Get ready for deliciousness—The Chrissy is vanilla ice cream, vodka and Frangelico, a hazelnut flavored liqueur. The go-to dinner spot is the original Wintzell’s Oyster House on Dauphin Street, this landmark spot which has been open for more than 75 years, is famous for their oysters “fried, stewed or nude.”
For those who can’t make it to Mobile this year, don’t fret! There are tons of great celebrations happening all across Alabama.
- Revelers Mardi Gras Festival + Parade — January 27 in Millbrook
- 2024 Mardi Gras at MidCity — February 2 in Huntsville
- Shabby Chic Mardi Gras Ball — February 3 in Birmingham
- Mystic Mutts of Revelry – February 3 in Fairhope
- Knights of Ecor Rouge — February 3 in Fairhope
- Maids of Jubilee — February 9 in Fairhope
- Wetumpka Mardi Gras Parade — February 10 in Wetumpka
- Mardi Gras Mosaic of Love Annual Fundraising Concert — February 10 in Huntsville
- Redstone Harley-Davidson Mardi Gras Fest — February 10 in Huntsville
- Carnegie Carnival Parade 2024 — February 10 in Decatur
- Mardi Gras Beads & Brews Bar Crawl — February 10 in Tuscaloosa
- Mystic Krewe of the Druids Bal Masque — February 10 in Tuscaloosa
- Downtown Auburn Mardi Gras Parade — February 10 in Auburn
- Krewe de Tigris Parade — February 10 in Auburn
- Inaugural Mardi Gras Charity Gala — February 10 in Birmingham
- Mardi Gras Paint + Sip — February 10 in Birmingham
- Arti-Gras Gala — February 13 at Wind Creek Casino in Wetumpka
- Shelby County Arts Council Mardi Gras Party Fundraiser — February 17 in Columbiana
- Order of the Mystic Magnolias — February 12 in Fairhope
