Mobile is home to America’s Family Mardi Gras,delighting young and old from around town and across the nation. Dating all the way back to 1703, Mobile’s magnificent modern celebration lasts for nearly two weeks.

During Carnival Season Mobile’s streets are filled with the sights and sounds of live marching bands, brilliant-colored floats and of course teeming crowds of parade goers. The floats are glowing spectacles manned by masked riders festooned in satin and sequins, and armed with crowd-pleasing "throws" such as beads, moon pies, doubloons and candy. Mardi Gras must be experienced to be fully understood and Mobile is the perfect place.

On the Sunday before Ash Wednesday Mobile remembers the founder of the cities modern Mardi Gras with their “Joe Cain Day”. Known as "the people’s day," Mardi Gras revelers decorate anything they can push, pull, or drag for the Joe Cain Procession and parade, which is as much fun to watch as it is to ride.

Home to more than 80 Krewes and Mystic Societies, Mobile’s Mardi Gras history and tradition makes it one of the world’s truly great “Celebrations of the Ages”.

Information compiled from Mobile Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau (www.mobile.org/mardigras.html)