Organized on Aug. 27, 1954, at the home of one of its founding members, the Order of Athena is the only ladies’ group that parades in Mobile on Fat Tuesday. Athena’s first parade was held in 1955, and it included three floats depicting the life of the Greek goddess Athena. These days, the group has a membership of more than 125, and every Mardi Gras morning, they have have the honor of kicking off the city’s daylong festivities. Anyone who gets to Church Street extra early that day can see Athena’s foot parade to the waiting floats in front of the Civic Center.
This year, Athena paraded on Mardi Gras Day, March 4, at 10:30 a.m. Their theme was Mystical Scenes and Peacock Wings. The parade included 10 floats, built by Rhonda Odom McCullough, as well as three rented floats. Costumes were by Bienville Costumes.
