Mardi Gras 2024: Mobile visitor’s guide

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Visiting Mobile for Mardi Gras? WKRG News 5 is here to help with everything you need to know about the city’s biggest celebration.

The birthplace of Mardi Gras in America, Mobile goes big every year leading up to Fat Tuesday. Thousands of revelers turn out for parades and balls, and even the well-initiated can use a little help navigating the weeks of festivities.

WKRG News 5 is pulling together everything you need to know about Mardi Gras 2024 in Mobile. From parade and ball schedules to the best places to stay, eat and drink, we have everything you need to laissez les bons temps rouler. We also dip into local Mardi Gras history and traditions that will help you make the most of your Mardi Gras experience.

In addition to this guide, WKRG News 5 is covering all things Mardi Gras in Mobile and across the Gulf Coast. You can find all of our complete Mardi Gras coverage on the WKRG News 5 Mardi Gras page, including information and reports from Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Mississippi, Baldwin County and Pensacola.

Jump to:

• Parade Schedule

• Parade Routes

• How to watch parades LIVE

• Ball Schedule

• Where to stay

• Where to eat

• Downtown bar guide

• Mardi Gras FAQs

Parade Schedule: Mobile Mardi Gras 2024

Friday, January 26

• 6:30 p.m. – Conde Cavaliers – Route A

Saturday, January 27

• 2 p.m. – Bayport Parading Society – Route A

• 2:30 p.m. – Mystic DJ Riders – Route A

• 6:30 p.m. – Pharaohs’ Mystic Society – Route A

• 7 p.m. – Conde Explorers – Route A

Thursday, February 1

• 6:30 p.m. – Order of Polka Dots – Route A

Friday, February 2

• 6:30 p.m. – Order of Inca – Route A

Saturday, February 3

• 2 p.m. – Mobile Mystics – Route A

• 2:30 p.m. – Mobile Mystic Revelers – Route A

• 3 p.m. – Mobile Mystical Friends – Route A

• 6:30 p.m. – Maids of Mirth – Route G

• 7 p.m. – Order of Butterfly Maidens – Route A

• 7:30 p.m. – Krewe of Marry Mates – Route A

Sunday, February 4

• 6:30 p.m. – Neptune’s Daughters – Route A

• 7 p.m. – Order of Isis – Route A

Monday, February 5

• 6:30 p.m. – Order of Venus – Route A

• 7 p.m. – Order of Many Faces – Route A

Tuesday, February 6

• 6:30 p.m. – Order of LaShe’s – Route A

• 7 p.m. – Order of Olympia – Route A

Thursday, February 8

• 6:30 p.m. – Mystic Stripers Society – Route A

Friday, February 9

• 6:30 p.m. – Crewe of Columbus – Route A

• 7 p.m. – Krewe de Secondline – Route A

Saturday, February 10

• 12 p.m. – Floral Parade – Route A

• 12:30 p.m. – Knights of Mobile – Route A

• 1 p.m. – Mobile Mystical Ladies – Route A

• 1:30 p.m. – Order of Angels – Route A

• 2 p.m. – Joy of Life – Route A

• 5:45 p.m. – Mystics of Time – Route H

Sunday, February 11 – Joe Cain Day

• 12 p.m. – Alba Temple Motorcade – Route I

• 2 p.m. – King Elexis I – Route E

• 2:30 p.m. – Joe Cain Marchers – Route A

• 3 p.m. – Joe Cain Society – Route A

• 5 p.m. – Le Krewe de Bienville – Route A

Monday, February 12 – Lundi Gras

• 12 p.m. – King Felix III Parade – Route A

• 12:30 p.m. – Floral Parade – Route A

• 3 p.m. – MLK Business & Civic Organization Parade – Route D

• 3:30 p.m. – MLK Monday Mystics – Route D

• 4 p.m. – Northside Merchants – Route D

• 7 p.m. – Infant Mystics – Route F

• 7:30 p.m. – Order of Doves – Route F

Tuesday, February 13 – Fat Tuesday

• 10:30 a.m. – Order of Athena – Route A

• 12:30 p.m. – Knights of Revelry – Route A

• 1 p.m. – King Felix III Parade – Route A

• 1:30 p.m. – Comic Cowboys – Route A

• 2 p.m. – MAMGA Mammoth – Route B

• 6 p.m. – Order of Myths – Route C

This is the current parade schedule from the City of Mobile for Mardi Gras 2024. We will update this schedule should dates, times or parade routes change.

Mobile Mardi Gras parade routes

Route A

Route B

Route C

Route D

Route E

Route F

Route G

Route H

Route I

How to watch Mobile Mardi Gras parades LIVE

WKRG News 5 is your home for Mardi Gras on the Gulf Coast. From the first parade in downtown Mobile on Jan. 26 through the final parades on Fat Tuesday, WKRG News 5 will livestream the action and excitement on our website, our mobile app and on our Facebook page.

Watch LIVE on WKRG.com: The best destination for Mobile Mardi Gras 2023 live is the WKRG News 5 Mardi Gras page. You can find all of our live coverage there, plus everything you need to know about Mardi Gras in Mobile and all across the Gulf Coast. You can also find all of our livestreams on the WKRG News 5 Watch Now page.

Watch LIVE on the WKRG News 5 App: Our WKRG News 5 app is a great way to stay connected to news and weather on the Gulf Coast, including all things Mardi Gras. Download the app today and turn on push alerts to get notifications when we go live with Mardi Gras coverage.

Watch LIVE on the WKRG News 5 Facebook page: When we’re live online, we’re live on Facebook. Head over to the WKRG News 5 Facebook page and tap to follow. That way Facebook will notify you when we go live with Mardi Gras coverage.

Mardi Gras Ball schedule 2024

The Mobile Mask has created a list of the Mardi Gras ball’s dates and locations.

Where to stay: Hotels for Mardi Gras 2024 in Mobile

It’s not just tourists who book hotel stays during Mardi Gras in Mobile. Locals are known to take rooms at hotels convenient to Dauphin Street and downtown festivities during the Mardi Gras season. These ten hotels are Tripadvisor‘s top picks for accommodations near downtown Mobile.

• Hilton Garden Inn Mobile Downtown: Staying next to Bienville Square puts you in the center of Mardi Gras and an easy walk to downtown’s lively culture.

• Hampton Inn & Suites Mobile – Downtown Historic District: The downtown Mobile Hampton Inn is located a few blocks from the business district, next to I-10 and the Mobile Convention Center.

• Fort Conde Inn: This historic hotel is a collection of homes all located inside the private Fort Conde Village in downtown Mobile.

• The Admiral Hotel:  The Admiral, situated in the heart of downtown Mobile, offers 156 guest rooms and suites with downtown views.

• Malaga Inn: The Malaga Inn is located on Church Street, right at the start of most parades.

• Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa: This downtown Mobile hotel offers three on-site restaurants and a rooftop pool.

• Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel: A sky bridge connects this downtown hotel with the Mobile Convention Center. A stay here puts you in the middle of Mardi Gras action.

• Holiday Inn Mobile – Downtown: The Holiday Inn in downtown Mobile is located in the Government and Entertainment District off of I-65 and I-10.

Where to eat in downtown Mobile

King Cake and Moon Pies aren’t the only Mardi Gras munchies revelers can enjoy in Mobile. Downtown Mobile boasts a vibrant food scene. Here are some of the top restaurants within walking distance of downtown hotels, according to Yelp.

• The Noble South: Offering new southern dishes for breakfast and brunch.

• Noja: Open for dinner six days a week, Noja specializes in Mediterranean and Asian-influenced dishes.

• Squid Ink Eclectic Eats & Drinks:  2021 and 2022 Nappie Award Winner. Gastropub for lunch, dinner and drinks.

• Dumbwaiter Restaurant: Southern and seafood for dinner.

• Blind Mule: Weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner with traditional American and local dishes. Late-night hours vary.

• Roosters: Downtown spot for tacos, Latin American food. Open lunch and dinner.

• Dauphin’s: Seafood and steaks on the 34th floor of the Trustmark Building.

• Wintzell’s Oyster House: Get your seafood craving in the middle of the Mobile nightlife.

• Grace: Home of the first rooftop bar on Dauphin Street open for lunch and dinner.

• The Hummingbird Way: A fresh take on southern cuisine utilizing local seafood and produce.

Downtown bar guide

Downtown Mobile offers Mardi Gras revelers plenty of options for drinks, before and after Mardi Gras parades and balls. These are some of the top locations for libations, according to Yelp.

• Alchemy Tavern: Alchemy Tavern is located just across the street from the Saenger Theatre and offers selections of whiskey, scotch, rum, tequila, vodka and beer.

• The Haberdasher: The Haberdasher is a gastropub located in the heart of downtown Mobile.

• Las Floriditas: This bar is a hidden gem in downtown Mobile. It’s a speakeasy and in order to enter you must know the password.

• Wet Willies: If you’re a fan of Daquiris then Wet Willies is where you need to be. The bar has many different daiquiri flavors to choose from.

• Hayley’s: Hayley’s is a dive bar located on Dauphin Street that has been in business for 25 years.

• The Merry Widow: The Merry Widow regularly hosts events for bar-goers including live music acts, comedy shows and burlesque performances.

• B-Bob’s: B-Bob’s is the “premier LGBTQ+ night club” in Mobile, according to their website. They host drag shows as well as karaoke among other events.

Mardi Gras 2024 FAQs

When is Mardi Gras 2024? Mardi Gras 2024, or Fat Tuesday, is on Tuesday, February 13.

What does laissez les bons temps rouler mean? Parisians are not likely to understand this Cajun French phrase, but when you visit the Gulf Coast during Mardi Gras season, you’ll hear the locals use this literal translation of the English phrase “let the good times roll.” Learn more Mardi Gras lingo here.

Who can go to a Mardi Gras ball in Mobile? Mobile Mardi Gras ball attendance is invitation only. Members of Mardi Gras Crews who organize the balls can invite non-members to the lavish celebrations.

When did Mobile first celebrate Mardi Gras? Mobile is proud of its Mardi Gras heritage and claims the first official Carnival celebration in the United States. It was started in 1703 by Frenchman Nicholas Langlois when Mobile was the capital of French Louisiana.

What is a mystic society? Mystic societies are secret societies that organize parades and balls during Mardi Gras season. They date back to 1704. The oldest existing parading society is the Order of Myths. Mystic societies each have their own traditions, rich with symbolism and ritual.

What is King Cake? A King Cake is a traditional Mardi Gras pastry with roots in Christian tradition. Traditionally, you start enjoying King Cake on Jan. 6, epiphany. The pastry is a cakey-bread dough formed into a ring and decorated with Mardi Gras colors, gold, purple and green. Bakers do get creative. A bakery in Daphne, for example, offers a crawfish King Cake.

What are MoonPies? MoonPies come in many different flavors including chocolate, banana, mint, and peanut butter. A MoonPie is made up of marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate. The MoonPie got its name in 1917 when a coal miner asked a traveling salesman from the company for a snack “as big as the moon.” The MoonPie website reads, “It was filling, fit in the lunch pail and the coal miners loved it. The rest, as they say, is history.”

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