Mobile Touts Family-Oriented Mardi Gras

M O B I L E, Ala., Jan. 27, 2004 -- From decorated trees and outrageous costumesto colorful parades and quaint traditions, it's Mardi Gras time onthe Gulf Coast. And while New Orleans' celebration may be betterknown, Mobile's claims to be older — as well as morefamily-oriented.

Historians say the carnival was born in Mobile among Frenchcolonists in the 1700s, but it didn't really catch on until 1830,when a group of rowdies hit the streets with cowbells and rakestaken from a hardware store. They called themselves the Cowbellionde Rakin Society.

Today celebrations are held all along the Gulf Coast, from Texasto at least Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and small towns in between.

While Mobile has struggled lately with job layoffs, soldiersleaving for Iraq and related economic problems, the gloom hassubsided a little for carnival in the port city, where about 30different Mardi Gras organizations form the nucleus of thecelebration.

"People are not spending like last year. Too many people areunemployed," said Carol Henson at Accent Annex, a Mardi Grassupplier. But she still has buyers for dancing jester dolls, crazyhats, designer beads, wreaths for doors and colorful sequinedvests.

"Lots of people are decorating their homes with Mardi Grastrees," she added. A typical tree is decorated with strings ofbeads and carnival masks.

All-Out Party Mode

Poor economy or not, the season of frivolity and late-nightcavorting in this 300-year-old port city is expected to fill thecity's 5,700 hotel and motel rooms, particularly downtown where themajor parades roll.

Police Capt. Joe Kennedy said about 833,479 people attended lastyear's two weeks of Mardi Gras parades. He expects a similarturnout this year.

And in response to past complaints about alcohol at the parades,an alcohol-free zone will be designated this year by roping off ablock or more along the parade route, according to Mobile PublicSafety Director Dick Cashdollar.

Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 24, but the first parades rolled Jan.24 on Dauphin Island. The pace picks up Feb. 6 in Mobile, when thefirst of the city's 33 parades is held. For those raised in Alabama's 300-year-old port city, riding aMardi Gras float is a dream come true and for many a familytradition, says 26-year-old Tim Anderson, loading a shopping cartwith beads he will throw to paradegoers during his first floatride.

Float-riders traditionally throw Moon Pies, stuffed animals andtrinkets at the crowds — giant plastic pacifiers, oversizedsunglasses, and bags of colorful beads, beads, and more beads.

Royals Go For Ride

King Cake is another carnival tradition. Inside the cake is asmall toy doll and the person who gets that slice has to buy thenext cake.

There are kings and queens of carnival courts — and even someself-described royalty in the raucous Joe Cain parade.

Jenny Carden said she and her husband, Brad, will ride as theking and queen of the Tillman's Tricksters, a suburban carnivalkrewe with some 50 members.

"We're going to be riding in a carriage pulled by a Belgianhorse named Moses," she said.

Stephen V. Toomey, a Mardi Gras store owner, said carnivalarrives early this year and even earlier next year, Feb. 8, givinglittle time to rest after Christmas.

"We're blessed because Mardi Gras is a priority for folks. Theshow must go on," Toomey said. "People find ways to make ithappen."

If You Go…

MOBILE: For hotel and tourism information, visit www.mobile.orgor www.gulfshores.com, or contact the Mobile Convention Bureau at(800) 5-MOBILE. Mobile Mardi Gras Parade Schedule: Feb. 6 - Conde Cavaliers, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12 - Order of the Polka Dots, 6:15 p.m. Feb. 13 - Order of the Inca Parade (www.orderofinca.com), 6:30p.m. Feb. 14 - Mobile Mystics Parade (www.mobilemystics.com), 2 p.m.;Maids of Mirth, 6:30 p.m.; Order of Butterfly Maidens and MobileMarried Mystics, 7 p.m. Feb. 15 - Order of the Pharoahs (www.thepharaohs.org), 2:30p.m.; Mystic Friends, 3:30 p.m.; Neptune's Daughter, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 - Krewe of Marry Mates, 6:30 p.m.; Mystical Ladies, 7p.m. Feb. 17 - Order of Lashe, 6:30 p.m.; Order of Venus, 7 p.m. Feb. 19 - Mystic Striper, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 20 - Crewe of Columbus, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 - Floral, 12 noon; Knights of Mobile, 12:45 p.m.;Coronation of Queen to King Felix III, 6:30 p.m.; Mystics of Time,6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 - Arrival of King Elexis, 2:00 p.m.; Joe Cain, 2:30p.m.; Le Krewe de Bienville, 5 p.m.; Les Femmes Cassettes, 5:30p.m.; Coronation of King Elexis, 8:15 p.m. Feb. 23 - Arrival of King Felix III, 12 noon; Infant Mystics,6:30 p.m. Feb. 24 - Order of Athena, 10:30 a.m.; Knights of Revelry, 12:30p.m.; King Felix, 1 p.m.; Comic Cowboys, 1:30 p.m.; Mobile AreaMardi Gras Association, 3 p.m.; Order of Myths, 6:30 p.m.