Mardi Gras!

from Gulfshores.com
The Moonpies and beads will begin sailing through the coastal air on Friday, February 1 as the Mystical Order of Mirams take to the streets of Orange Beach at 6:30 p.m. Joining this all-woman krewe will be a special guest all the way from the Capstone. Famous college mascot “Big Al” will serve as the parade’s grand marshal while the University of Alabama Cheer Squad will also appear in the festivities in addition to several high-energy marching bands. The parade will begin at the Ruby Tuesday in Orange Beach and travel east along 182 to Highway 161.

Then, the Mystics of Pleasure will continue the party atmosphere during a Saturday night parade starting at 6:30 p.m. With a theme of “Crazy Eights” and several Harley-Davidson riders, Parade Marshall Katy Diamond (an Auburn University senior) will reign over the revelry. An entourage of past queens will also join her. This all-male Mardi Gras krewe was the first group to organize a nighttime parade for the Alabama Gulf Coast. This parade will follow the same route as the Mystical Order of Mirams.

After a day (or two) of rest, gear up for a Fat Tuesday packed with activities. Starting at 10:00 a.m. on February 5, the Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Association will roll through this Pleasure Island community and will be lead by long-time Gulf Shores Police Officer Mac Yohn. Roadways will shut down at 9:30 so be sure to get a great vantage point along the parade route (Highway 59 from the base of the ICW bridge south to Highway 182).

Extend your bead and Moonpie collection by moving onto the Orange Beach Mardi Gras Parade, set to roll at 1:30 p.m. along Highway 182 (starting at Ruby Tuesday and ending at Highway 161). With almost 60 entries for this year, the parade attracted approximately 30,000 spectators in 2007. Reigning over the festivities will be parade’s grand marshal of the Gulf Shores High School Softball team, who captured the Alabama State 5A championship in 2007.

Then, let the good times flow at LuLu-Gras! On Tuesday, February 5, LuLu’s at Homeport Marina makes Gulf Coast Mardi Gras even more unique with the area’s only carnival-season boat parade. A krewe of about twenty-five costumed boats launch from The Wharf in Orange Beach at 2 p.m. These boat-floats will toss beads to those watching from shore, and parade watchers can continue the revelry at LuLu’s; live music kicks off at 1 p.m. and continues through the evening. This year’s Mardi Gras Day line-up includes JJ Caillier & the Zydeco Knockouts followed by Scott Holt.

Finally, cap off an exciting Mardi Gras season with high energy Cajun and Zydeco style music at Zeke’s Landing Marina in Orange Beach, where the Alabama Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a free 90-minute concert. Authentic Cajun artist Wayne Toups and ZyDeCajun will take to the stage at 4:00 p.m. while concert goers dine on seafood gumbo and beer, which will be sold by the chamber.