Get ready for flying beads, showers of moonpies and cascades of trinkets on Alabama’s Coastal Connection as Mardi Gras cranks up the floats for a month of fun. This season of revelry is celebrated on the Alabama Gulf Coast prior to the Christian season of Lent. 

Taking the first ride of the season are the revelers in the Krewe de la Dauphine parade at 1 p.m. on Jan. 28, along Bienville Boulevard on Dauphin Island. The following Saturday, Feb. 4, Dauphin Island is again the place to be for Dauphin Island’s Mardi Gras parade at 1 p.m. Mardi Gras kicks into high gear the next Friday, Feb. 10, when the Conde Cavaliers present their parade on the streets of Mobile. On Saturday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m., the Order of the Rolling River gets the fun going on the Dauphin Island Parkway.

Want to enjoy the Mardi Gras season in Baldwin County? Parades there begin Friday, Feb. 17, at 6:45 p.m., when Apollo’s Mystic Ladies kick off Mardi Gras on the Eastern Shore. The Knights of Ecor Rouge, the oldest parading society on the Eastern Shore, presents its annual parade Saturday, Feb. 18, at 6:45 in Fairhope. The fun continues the following week in Baldwin County with the Maids of Jubilee in Fairhope at 6:45 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24, and the Mystical Order of Mirams at 6:30 p.m. in Orange Beach. 

There are several places on Alabama’s Coastal Connection in Baldwin County to catch a parade on Saturday, Feb. 25, including:

  • 11 a.m., Foley parade
  • 12 p.m., Mystic Revelers, Bay Minette
  • 2 p.m., Krewe of Mullet Mates, Mullet Point
  • 5:30 p.m., Mystics of Pleasure, Orange Beach
  • 6:45 p.m., Shadow Barons, Daphne

The Loyal Order of the Fire Truck keeps the fun going on Sunday, Feb. 26, at 2:30 p.m. in Daphne. On Monday, Feb. 27 (also called Lundi Gras), the Order of Mystic Magnolias celebrates its 24th year with a parade in Fairhope at 6:45 p.m. 

On Mardi Gras day, Feb. 28, two parades will finish out Carnival season in Baldwin County: The Gulf Shores parade rolls at 10 a.m., and the Orange Beach parade at 2 p.m.

Expect to get more beads than you’ll ever need and have more fun than you can imagine at Mardi Gras parades along Alabama’s Coastal Connection. For more information about Mardi Gras parades, see Alabama’s Coastal Connection events calendar.