Macaroni Kid brings you the best Mardi Gras Guide, to all the parades, parties, fireworks in and around the Wiregrass Area. Please scroll down to find all the Mardi Gras Events. Let the party begin with beads, masks, coconuts, and masks! Scroll down for a list of all the Mardi Gras Fun
First, we bring you a few facts about Mardi Gras:
Why did Mardi Gras start?
Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday as it's also known, is the Christian feasting period before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. ... French-Canadian explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville arrived in what is now modern-day Mobile, Alabama on Fat Tuesday, 1699. He named the location Point du Mardi Gras and threw a little party.
What's the meaning of Mardi Gras?
An annual festival held in France on the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday” — meaning it is the last opportunity to eat rich food before the fast of Lent begins.
What do Mardi Gras krewes do?
A krewe is any group or organization of revelers to band together to host a Mardi Gras ball, ride on a Mardi Gras parade float and participate in social events throughout the year.
Each Krewe hurls party favors into the crowds. Floats notoriously give out "throws," which are exactly what they sound like: objects thrown into the crowd. They range from coconuts, to stuffed animals or gold doubloons. Beads are the most ubiquitous throws, which are given by almost everyone. A known code of asking for throws is to shout the phrase "throw me something, mister". It's considered a great honor to receive a throw. If you shout out "moon pie" you just might get one. too!
Why do they throw at beads?
The traditional colors are purple, green, and gold. Throwing the beads from the floats became such a huge hit, all krewes adopted the practice, and Mardi Gras has never been the same. The colors of the beads hold more significance than the act of throwing them. The Purple represents justice, the Green symbolizes faith and the Gold exemplifies power.
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler: is a Cajun French saying that means “let the good times roll.” It's become a mantra of Mardi Gras throughout the years.
After all the parades are over, hang on to those beads. There are a few organizations that will have a drop off locations to collect the beads for next year.
We will be updating our list as more information is known. Please contact them to get a collection place and time.
1. The Dothan Elks Lodge - https://www.facebook.com/Dothan-Elks-Lodge-347636231935353/
2. Miss Angel Pageant - https://www.facebook.com/MissAngelPageant/
3. Alyson Stephenson Powell - https://www.facebook.com/alyson.s.powell?sk=wall&fref=gs&dti=781967698613746&hc_location=group_dialog
The following Mardi Gras Parades and Parties are all Kid-Friendly. They are listed by Date of the Parade.
Please visit our complete Family Fun Events Calendar for the Wiregrass Area HERE
Annual Gras Fest in Defuniak Springs - Feb. 1st
Lake Defuniak 11 AM - 4 PM
Mystics of Solomon Park - Pet and Kids Wagon Parade - Feb. 2nd
Solomon Park 10:30 AM
Visit HERE for More Information
Colley Senior Center's Annual Mardi Gras Gala - Feb 8th 7:00 PM
2020 St. Andrews Mardi Gras Festival Feb. 14th and 15th
Historic St. Andrews - Times are listed in the article.
Visit HERE for More Information
Krewe of Kolosse Mardi Gras Parade Dothan 2020 - Feb. 22 @ 3:00 PM
Parade Map listed in the article.
Visit HERE for More Information
PCB Mardi Gras and Music Fest Feb 21st - 22nd
Pier Park All Day Events
Schedule and Event happenings Listed in Article
Visit HERE for More Information
After all the parades are over, hang on to those beads. There are a few organizations that will have a drop off locations to collect the beads for next year.
We will be updating our list as more information is known. Please contact them to get a collection place and time.
1. The Dothan Elks Lodge - https://www.facebook.com/Dothan-Elks-Lodge-347636231935353/
2. Miss Angel Pageant - https://www.facebook.com/MissAngelPageant/
3 Alyson Stephenson Powell - https://www.facebook.com/alyson.s.powell?sk=wall&fref=gs&dti=781967698613746&hc_location=group_dialog
Macaroni Kid Dothan is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and things to do with kids in the Wiregrass region. We gather together all kinds of local family events and activities each week and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides and more. We proudly serve families in Dothan, Enterprise, Fort Rucker, Ozark and the surrounding Wiregrass Region. Sign up for our newsletter and never miss another awesome event again! Subscribe here for FREE at https://Ozark.MacaroniKid.com/subscribe
