Following the news New Orleans would not be hosting Mardi Gras parades in 2021, the leaders of Mobile, Ala., also made the decision to cancel the festive parades in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday. This year Fat Tuesday falls on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
In normal years hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world flock to the Alabama port city for Mardi Gras. Actually, Mobile is the oldest annual Carnival celebration in the United States, started by Frenchman Nicholas Langlois in 1703 when the city was the capital of Louisiana.
Business owners in the city hope to make as much money as possible during the three-week celebration, despite the loss of visitors and activities caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The parade cancellations of Mardi Gras 2021 marks the first time since the World War II years of 1942-45 that Mobile is not hosting Carnival parades.
However, individuals are stepping up to make the most of the unusual year. Some have created “Poarch Parades” and “Yardi Gras” events around the area.
Visit Mobile does have a website posted with helpful information to help make the good times roll for Mardi Gras, coronavirus or not.
