The Original Mardi Gras!
Let’s Celebrate
Mobile is proud to be the original birthplace of Mardi Gras in the U.S., with celebrations dating back to 1703 — decades before New Orleans began its famed festivities.
Many say Mobile was “Born to Celebrate,” and the city’s diverse cultural heritage and vibrant traditions are on full display during Carnival season on the Gulf Coast.
What makes Mobile’s Mardi Gras unique?
Mobile’s Mardi Gras is more than 300 years old, making it the oldest organized Carnival celebration in the U.S. Mardi Gras isn’t just Fat Tuesday; the season lasts for weeks, and includes dozens of family-friendly parades, secretive balls, and plenty of other kinds of celebrations. One of the city’s signature traditions is Joe Cain Day, or “The People’s Parade,” a quirky march through downtown that is always celebrated on the Sunday before Fat Tuesday.
Visit Mobile
Mobile’s cultural history reflects African, Native American, Spanish, French, British, Cajun and Creole influences, among others. French colonists founded the city in 1702, but six flags have flown over Mobile since then. Local traditions and cuisine reflect them all, with a focus on fresh, Gulf Coast seafood and Southern comfort and hospitality. Additionally, the Port City is located adjacent to the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, 250,000 acres of protected, ecologically diverse wetlands known as “America’s Amazon.”
