Mardi Gras

Who has the best King Cake on the Gulf Coast? YOU BE THE JUDGE! Join us for the 6th annual King Cake-Off on Friday, January 19, 2024, at the Mobile Civic Center Expo Hall, located in the heart of downtown Mobile. Local bakeries, eateries, and grocery stores will compete to see who has the tastiest King Cake and King Cake-Inspired Treat on the Gulf Coast. This family-friendly event will feature live music, local vendors, kids' activities, King Cake tastings, and more! You definitely don't want to miss out on this tasty, one-of-a-kind event! ​ This event, presented by PNC Bank, benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Gulf Coast, and all contributions will go directly to support their mission—to give our children a caring and supportive adult mentor who will guide them to success, hold them accountable, and set their lives in a direction they never thought possible. Tickets go on sale on Black Friday! Get yours before they are gone!

Suggested ages 13 to 18. Grab a friend and enjoy a night of fun! We will be making king cake cupcakes and Mardi Gras themed chocolate strawberries.

No holiday celebration would be complete without our furry friends, and we invite you to bring them to the 3rd annual Puppy Gras Pet Parade on Feb. 3 through Downtown OWA! This is a family-friendly event featuring a pet parade and a costume contest on OWA Island. Pre-register for the pet parade and costume contest for only $10 on our website. Day-of registration will be offered onsite for only $15. Be sure to dress in your Mardi Gras best! Puppy Gras Parade registration guarantees you a spot in our costume contest with cash prizes given for OWA Choice, Puppy Gras King, Puppy Gras Queen, Funniest, and Most Festive!   Schedule of events 1-2pm – Day-of Parade & Costume Contest Registration 2- 2:15 PM– Parade Lineup on OWA Island sidewalk 2:30pm – Parade Starts 3pm – Costume Contest Begins 4pm – Costume Contest Judging 4:30pm – Awards Ceremony Individual registration is required for all participating dogs. Responsible pet parents accompanying the dogs may participate for free.

MMOR 2024 King & Queen Drawing Enter your furry four-legged friend for a chance to be crowned King or Queen of MMOR 2024! You can enter the drawing for just $5 per ticket – the more tickets you purchase, the more chances your pet has to win! The deadline to enter for the Royal drawing is 5pm on January 29th. The King and Queen will have their royal portraits taken at the Haven by Ono Pet Photography. All sales are final and winners must be present for photoshoot to be eligible. You will accompany your King or Queen, in a custom-made Royal float - designed and built by the famous Blain Kern Studios in New Orleans - for the MMOR parade! Bring your throws and make the most of your pet's royal status - it's SO much fun! Don't miss the opportunity for you & your pet to roll in style and be introduced to the MMOR crowd. Purchase your tickets today!

Let’s kickoff an epic Mardi Gras season at the Krewe du Kidz Masquerade Street party throughout Downtown OWA on February 3 from 4 to 6:30pm! From Moon Pie Bingo to mask decorating and Mardi Gras themed glitter tattoos, every corner of this carnival is full of family-friendly activities for young revelers. With this DJ-fueled dance party and stilt walker performance, this event is a jazzy good time for the whole family. Let the good times roll at Krewe de Kidz Masquerade! Schedule of Events: • 4:00pm-6:30pm- Moon Pie Bingo inside the Bohemian where guests will be able to compete in Moon Pie Bingo for a chance to win a prize! While supplies last. • 4:00pm-6:30pm- Masks decorating & Gold Coin scavenger hunt take place on OWA Island. • 4:00pm-6:30pm- Outside of the Bohemian, a balloon artist will be making Mardi Gras themed balloons. • 4:00pm-6:30pm- Mardi Gras themed caricature drawings at OWA Island. • 4:00pm-6:30pm- Mardi Gras themed glitter tattoos and hair braiding on OWA Island. • 4:00pm-6:30pm- Mardi Gras themed stilt walkers and performers roam throughout Downtown OWA. • 4:00pm-6:30pm- Bubble Dance party where guests can dance the night away. • Other Activities Available in Downtown OWA include varies Photo Ops for pics! For more info: https://visitowa.com/kdk-masquerade/

Mobile’s oldest children’s parade, the Mystics of Children, will roll on Sunday, February 4th at 2:00 pm in the Rosswood neighborhood. Bring the entire family for a fun, family-friendly and extra adorable Mardi Gras parade! If you’ve never been before, the parade follows a figure eight through the neighborhood so there isn’t a bad spot on the route. There will be NO PARKING inside the neighborhood to allow room for floats, but there is plenty of parking at Thompson Engineering on Cottage Hill. Laissez les bon temps rouler 

Ain't no party like a Mardi Gras party! Join us for one of our Friday Night Live concerts as we showcase six different brass bands from different cities in celebration of Mardi Gras! Bring your dancing shoes, chairs, Mardi Gras umbrellas, and let's have a good time, because you don't want to miss this showcase! For more information, contact MPRDEvents@cityofmobile.org.