The Carefree Traveller
From decorated trees and outrageous costumes to colorful parades and quaint
traditions, it's Mardi Gras time on the Gulf Coast. And while New Orleans' celebration
may be better known, Mobile's claims to be older -- as well as more family-oriented.
Historians say the carnival was born in Mobile among French colonists in the 1700s,
but it didn't really catch on until 1830, when a group of rowdies hit the streets with
cowbells and rakes taken from a hardware store. They called themselves the
Cowbellion de Rakin Society, the first of Mobile's many modern mystic organizations.
The Cowbellions presented their first parade, complete with floats and theme, in
1840.
The celebration was originally called Boef Gras (Fat Beef).
The Civil War brought revelry in Mobile to an abrupt halt. Joseph Stillwell Cain, on Fat
Tuesday of 1866, donned full Chickasaw Indian regalia, dubbed himself Chief
Slacabamorinico. Cain and six friends set out to raise the morale of citizens in the
defeated city. Dubbing themselves the "Tea Drinkers", they took to the streets in a
decorated coal wagon pulled by a mule.
Cain was a founder in the Order of Myths, the organization which today holds the
final Carnival Season parade Mardi Gras night. He also helped organize many more
parading societies. Cain's role in reviving Mardi Gras is observed each year on the
Sunday before Mardi Gras Day, "Joe Cain Day."
traditions, it's Mardi Gras time on the Gulf Coast. And while New Orleans' celebration
may be better known, Mobile's claims to be older -- as well as more family-oriented.
Historians say the carnival was born in Mobile among French colonists in the 1700s,
but it didn't really catch on until 1830, when a group of rowdies hit the streets with
cowbells and rakes taken from a hardware store. They called themselves the
Cowbellion de Rakin Society, the first of Mobile's many modern mystic organizations.
The Cowbellions presented their first parade, complete with floats and theme, in
1840.
The celebration was originally called Boef Gras (Fat Beef).
The Civil War brought revelry in Mobile to an abrupt halt. Joseph Stillwell Cain, on Fat
Tuesday of 1866, donned full Chickasaw Indian regalia, dubbed himself Chief
Slacabamorinico. Cain and six friends set out to raise the morale of citizens in the
defeated city. Dubbing themselves the "Tea Drinkers", they took to the streets in a
decorated coal wagon pulled by a mule.
Cain was a founder in the Order of Myths, the organization which today holds the
final Carnival Season parade Mardi Gras night. He also helped organize many more
parading societies. Cain's role in reviving Mardi Gras is observed each year on the
Sunday before Mardi Gras Day, "Joe Cain Day."
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Carnival and Mardi Gras Celebrations
Mardi Gras in New Orleans (Louisiana)
Mardi Gras in Baton Rouge (Louisiana)
Mardi Gras in Galveston (Texas)
Mardi Gras in New Orleans (Louisiana)
Mardi Gras in Baton Rouge (Louisiana)
Mardi Gras in Galveston (Texas)
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Carefree Traveller. Travel guides, maps and travel store.
tours, family vacations and travel with pets. Plan your trip, book online and enjoy a carefree vacation with The
Carefree Traveller. Travel guides, maps and travel store.
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Accomodations:
Hotels
Resorts & Spas
Vacation Home & Villas
Vacation Packages
Car Rentals
Travel With Pets
Specialty Travel
Tours
Festivals & Special Events
Travel Insurance
Travel Planning
Destinations
Travel Guides
Maps
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Resources
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Contact Us
Saturday, Feb. 5
1 p.m. - Krewe De La Dauphine Parade (Dauphin Island)
Saturday, Feb. 12
1 p.m. - Island Mystics Parade (Dauphin Island)
Friday, Feb. 18
6:30 p.m. - Conde Cavalier Parade
Saturday, Feb. 19
Noon - Bayport Parading Society
7 p.m. - Pharaoh's Mystic Society Parade
7:30 pm - Conde Explorers Parade
Thursday, Feb. 24
6:30 p.m. - Order of the Polka Dots Parade
Friday, Feb. 25
6:30 p.m. - Order of the Inca Parade
Saturday, Feb. 26
2 p.m. - Mobile Mystics Parade
6:30 p.m. - Maids of Mirth Parade
7 p.m. - Order of Butterfly Maidens Parade
7:30 p.m. - Krewe of Marry Mates
Sunday, Feb. 27
6:30 p.m. - Neptune's Daughters Parade
7 p.m. - Order of Isis Parade
Monday, Feb. 28
6:30 p.m. - Mobile Mystical Ladies Parade
7 p.m. - Order of Venus Parade
Tuesday, March 1
6:30 p.m. - Order of LaShe Parade
Thursday, March 3
6:30 p.m. - Mystic Striper Parade
Friday, March 4
6:30 p.m. - Crewe of Columbus Parade
Saturday, March 5
Noon - Floral Parade
12:30 p.m. - Knights of Mobile Parade
1 p.m. - Order of Angels Parade
6 p.m. - Mystics of Time Parade
6:30 p.m. - Coronation of Queen to King Felix III (Mobile Convention Center)
Sunday, March 6
2 p.m. - Arrival of King Elexis I (at foot of Government Street)
2:30 p.m. - Joe Cain Parade
5 p.m. - Le Krewe de Bienville Parade
5:30 p.m. - Les Femmes Cassettes Parade
8:15 p.m. - Coronation of King Elexis (Mobile Civic Center)
Monday, March 7
11 a.m. - Arrival of King Felix III (at foot of Government Street)
Noon - King's Parade and Floral Parade
3 p.m. - MLK Business and Civic Organization Parade (rolls on Route D)
3:30 p.m. - MLK Monday Mystics Parade (rolls on Route D)
4 p.m. - Northside Merchants Parade (rolls on Route D)
6:30 pm - Infant Mystics Parade
Tuesday, March 8 - Fat Tuesday - MARDI GRAS
10:30 a.m. - Order of Athena Parade
12:30 p.m. - Knights of Revelry Parade
1 p.m. - King Felix Parade
1:30 p.m. - Comic Cowboys Parade
2 p.m. - Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association (rolls on Route B)
6:30 p.m. - Order of Myths Parade (rolls on Route C)
1 p.m. - Krewe De La Dauphine Parade (Dauphin Island)
Saturday, Feb. 12
1 p.m. - Island Mystics Parade (Dauphin Island)
Friday, Feb. 18
6:30 p.m. - Conde Cavalier Parade
Saturday, Feb. 19
Noon - Bayport Parading Society
7 p.m. - Pharaoh's Mystic Society Parade
7:30 pm - Conde Explorers Parade
Thursday, Feb. 24
6:30 p.m. - Order of the Polka Dots Parade
Friday, Feb. 25
6:30 p.m. - Order of the Inca Parade
Saturday, Feb. 26
2 p.m. - Mobile Mystics Parade
6:30 p.m. - Maids of Mirth Parade
7 p.m. - Order of Butterfly Maidens Parade
7:30 p.m. - Krewe of Marry Mates
Sunday, Feb. 27
6:30 p.m. - Neptune's Daughters Parade
7 p.m. - Order of Isis Parade
Monday, Feb. 28
6:30 p.m. - Mobile Mystical Ladies Parade
7 p.m. - Order of Venus Parade
Tuesday, March 1
6:30 p.m. - Order of LaShe Parade
Thursday, March 3
6:30 p.m. - Mystic Striper Parade
Friday, March 4
6:30 p.m. - Crewe of Columbus Parade
Saturday, March 5
Noon - Floral Parade
12:30 p.m. - Knights of Mobile Parade
1 p.m. - Order of Angels Parade
6 p.m. - Mystics of Time Parade
6:30 p.m. - Coronation of Queen to King Felix III (Mobile Convention Center)
Sunday, March 6
2 p.m. - Arrival of King Elexis I (at foot of Government Street)
2:30 p.m. - Joe Cain Parade
5 p.m. - Le Krewe de Bienville Parade
5:30 p.m. - Les Femmes Cassettes Parade
8:15 p.m. - Coronation of King Elexis (Mobile Civic Center)
Monday, March 7
11 a.m. - Arrival of King Felix III (at foot of Government Street)
Noon - King's Parade and Floral Parade
3 p.m. - MLK Business and Civic Organization Parade (rolls on Route D)
3:30 p.m. - MLK Monday Mystics Parade (rolls on Route D)
4 p.m. - Northside Merchants Parade (rolls on Route D)
6:30 pm - Infant Mystics Parade
Tuesday, March 8 - Fat Tuesday - MARDI GRAS
10:30 a.m. - Order of Athena Parade
12:30 p.m. - Knights of Revelry Parade
1 p.m. - King Felix Parade
1:30 p.m. - Comic Cowboys Parade
2 p.m. - Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association (rolls on Route B)
6:30 p.m. - Order of Myths Parade (rolls on Route C)