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Group finds ways to celebrate Mardi Gras without parades

Posted by Dale Liesch | Jan 20, 2021 | Bay Briefs | 0 |

No parades will roll in the city of Mobile during Carnival season, Mayor Sandy Stimpson’s office confirmed in a statement Friday afternoon.

In a discussion with Mardi Gras organization leaders over possible alternative plans, Stimpson confirmed parades — a staple of Carnival festivities — would not take place before Ash Wednesday, when the season officially ends.

“One of the main topics covered in our call with local carnival associations was ways we can celebrate Mardi Gras in Mobile while mitigating the spread COVID-19,” Stimpson said in the statement. “At this point, we are still working with those organizations and other community groups to come up with some safer alternatives. Mardi Gras is a holiday and its significance to our citizens and our city’s identity can’t be overstated. We will continue to look for ways to balance these important traditions and the health of our citizens and city employees.”

At this time, most organizations have outright canceled parade plans, and the few that haven’t did not file for parade permits by the Dec. 11 deadline.

Parades not happening won’t dampen the Carnival spirit, as a number of homes and neighborhoods plan to showcase Mardi Gras decorations on porches and balconies throughout the city.

The idea for a “porch parade” was hatched among a group of friends looking to try to keep the good times rolling despite the unusual circumstances surrounding the 2021 Carnival calendar. Stacy Wellborn, who created the porch parade Facebook page, said the effort is for “anyone and everyone” who wants to decorate for Mardi Gras.

“It really came together through a network of folks,” she said.

From shopping for smaller decorations at Toomey’s or Mardi Gras & More to incorporating bigger float pieces from local artists, Wellborn said the idea is to fill some of the void left by not having parades this year.

“We’re really trying to promote local businesses and local artists,” she said.

So far, 165 homes or addresses have been added through mobileporchparade.com, Wellborn said, and those interested in participating can register on the page by Feb. 1. Participants can be homeowners, renters, condo owners or business owners. On Feb. 1, the group will release a map of the registered addresses and create routes for self-guided tours, she said.

The page has several local vendors and artists listed. One of the float artists Wellborn mentioned is Craig Stephens, who has a warehouse full of small to larger float flourishes that can be purchased and placed on porches for the event.

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About The Author

Dale Liesch

Dale Liesch

Dale Liesch has been a reporter at Lagniappe since February 2014. He covers all aspects of the city of Mobile, including the mayor, City Council, the Mobile Housing Board of Commissioners, GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico and others. He studied journalism at The University of Alabama and graduated in 2007. He came to Lagniappe, after several years in the newspaper industry. He achieved the position of news editor at The Alexander City Outlook before moving to Virginia and then subsequently moving back a few years later. He has a number of Alabama and Virginia Press association awards to his name. He grew up in the wilderness of Baldwin County, among several different varieties of animals including: dogs, cats, ducks, chickens, a horse and an angry goat. He now lives in the Oakleigh neighborhood of Mobile with his wife, Hillary, and daughter, Joan. The family currently has no goats, angry or otherwise, but is ruled by the whims of two very energetic dogs.

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