Mardi-Gras

Parking in Church Street East is enforced by the Mobile Police Department. Parking guidelines apply to both residents and visitors alike. If you do not follow the guidelines you may be subject to receive a ticket, vehicle tow or both. Church Street East vehicle decals are for identification only and do not guarantee you a parking spot. Please place the decal on bottom of the DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDSHEILD.

There is NO PARKING on the NORTH side and WEST side of any street at anytime during parades.

The only entrance/exit for the neighborhood will be at the service road at Canal Street And Warren Street. Before parades police will be regulating traffic at this access point and may close the barricade if there is no more parking available.

Friday, January 26

6:30 pm - Conde Cavaliers

Saturday, January 27

2:00 pm - Bayport Parading Society

2:30 pm - Mystic DJ Riders

6:30 pm - Pharaohs' Mystic Society

7:00 pm - Conde Explorers

Thursday, February 1

6:30 pm - Order of Polka Dots

Friday, February 2

6:30 pm - Order of Inca

Saturday, February 3

2:00 pm - Mobile Mystics

2:30 pm - Mobile Mystical Revelers

3:00 pm - Mobile Mystical Friends

6:30 pm - Maids of Mirth (Route G)

7:00 pm - Order of Butterfly Maidens

7:30 pm - Krewe of Marry Mates

Sunday, February 4

6:30 pm - Neptune’s Daughters

7:00 pm - Order of Isis

Monday, February 5

6:30 pm - Order of Venus

7:00 pm - Order of Many Faces

Tuesday, February 6

6:30 pm - Order of LaShe’s

7:00 pm - Order of Olympia

Thursday, February 8

6:30 pm - Mystic Stripers Society

Friday, February 9

6:30 pm - Crewe of Columbus

7:00 pm - Krewe de Secondline

Saturday, February 10

12:00 noon - Floral Parade

12:30 pm - Knights of Mobile

1:00 pm - Mobile Mystical Ladies

1:30 pm - Order of Angels

2:00 pm - Joy of Life

5:45 pm - Mystics of Time (Route H)

Sunday, February 11 - JOE CAIN DAY

12:00 noon - Alba Temple Motorcade (Route I)

2:00 pm - King Elexis I (Route E)

2:30 pm - Joe Cain Marchers

3:00 pm - Joe Cain Society

5:00 pm - Le Krewe de Bienville

Monday, February 12 - LUNDI GRAS

12:00 noon - King Felix III Parade

12:30 - Floral Parade

3:00 pm - MLK Business & Civic Organization Parade

(Route D)

3:30 pm - MLK Monday Mystics (Route D)

4:00 pm - Northside Merchants (Route D)

7:00 pm - Infant Mystics (Route F)

7:30 pm - Order of Doves (Route F)

Tuesday, February 13 - FAT TUESDAY

10:30 am - Order of Athena

12:30 pm - Knights of Revelry

1:00 pm - King Felix III Parade

1:30 pm - Comic Cowboys

2:00 pm - MAMGA Mammoth (Route B)

6:00 pm - Order of Myths (Route C)

Mobile's Mardi Gras is the oldest pre-Lenten carnival celebration in the United States and Church Street East is right here in the middle of it all. Over 25 mystic organizations parade through our historic district each year as thousands of eager revelers line the streets. The information found on this page is designed to help you have a safe and happy carnival season. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Towed vehicles will be will be taken to a temporary impound lot under the I-10 roadway between the former Roussos Restaurant and the Mobile Cruise Terminal. This lot closes at 11pm each parade night. Vehicles not retrieved by that time will be moved to the permanent impound facility behind the Mobile Police Department Training Academy at 1251 Virginia Street. To retrieve your vehicle you must present a valid driver license, current registration, and vehicle insurance. If you are sending someone else to retrieve your vehicle, you must fill out the Release of Authorization form found at https://www.mobilepd.org/impound/ and it must be notarized.

Mardi Gras in Church Street East would not be complete without the arrival of Joe Cain's Merry Widows at the foot of the Church Street Graveyard on Joe Cain Day. Like clockwork the widows return to the grave site of Joseph Stillwell Cain, who is credited with reviving Mardi Gras in Mobile after the War Between the States. Their grief permeates the graveyard and a finer display of weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth has never been unveiled.

Who loved him most? That's debatable. You might want to ask Sue Ellen or Scarlet, Pearl, Zelda, Georgia or Tara. Salome, Helen or Camellia. Savannah, Samantha, Emmy Lou, Magnolia or Mary Jane. My guess is Phyliss. In any case, make a Bloody Mary with all of the fixins and head on over to watch the widows on Joe Cain Day. You'll be glad you did.

The widows arrive at the Church Street Graveyard at 11:25 am and depart at 11:45am