MASKS & MOON PIES TOUR

Festive Parades and Elegant Balls

Welcome to the birthplace of Mardi Gras in America! This fun walking tour highlights 188 exciting years of Mardi Gras in Mobile. Locals and visitors will hear about European traditions and the American Mardi Gras innovations created here. At Mardi Gras Park you’ll learn about our parades, balls, royal courts, brass bands, and Joe Cain, Mobile’s most celebrated citizen. See the secret den of the oldest mystic society in America, get insider tips on the best places to watch parades, and get into the Mardi Gras spirit with a walking beer or beverage of your choice. (Drinks are not included.) We’ll learn about the mystic societies that built our traditions, from the Cowbellion de Rakins founded in 1830, to the diverse set of women’s societies, African American societies, LGBTQ societies, and fully-integrated societies that are creating their own traditions today.