The Christmas tree lights are now purple.

Do you know what that means? Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Mardi Gras comes early this year with the first parades rolling on the Alabama Gulf Coast Saturday, Jan. 13. Gulf Coast Media is here to help you plan with our list of parades spanning from Dauphin Island to Elberta.

MARDI GRAS NEWBIE?

Are you new to the area and Mardi Gras? Don’t worry because Gulf Coast Media is here to help you prepare, whether you are brand-new to town or want to get involved after years of sitting on the sidelines.

Plan to arrive early if you want a front-row spot to a parade. Bring a chair and don’t forget a bag for each member of your group. The bag is key to holding all your parade throws and could include everything from the sought-after plastic cups and stuffed animals to beads, candy and moonpies.

The Mardi Gras parades in Baldwin County are impressive considering how small our cities are. The floats are massive moving art pieces.

Parking for any event can be difficult, but with road closures that come with parades, we advise to check the website or Facebook for the city you are parading in to get an idea of road closures and recommended parking areas.

The final parade tip is to leave your furry friends at home, but bring the family. Mardi Gras on the Alabama Gulf Coast is family-friendly, but all the jumping around and objects being thrown don’t create a good atmosphere to bring your pet. There are, however, two parades dedicated to four-legged friends. Fairhope and OWA have pet parades in which you can participate.

2024 Mardi Gras Parade Schedule

Saturday, Jan. 13
1 p.m. – Krewe de la Dauphine, Dauphin Island

Saturday, Jan. 20
1 p.m. - Dauphin Island People’s Parade, Dauphin Island

Friday, Jan. 26
6:30 p.m. – Conde Cavaliers, Mobile

Saturday, Jan. 27

2 p.m. Elberta Mardi Gras Parade, Elberta
2 p.m. - Bayport Parading Society, Mystic DJ Riders, Mobile
2 p.m. – Order of the Rolling River, Dauphin Island Parkway
6:30 p.m. – Pharaohs, Conde Explorers, Mobile

Sunday, Jan. 28

6:30 p.m. – Massacre Island Secret Society, Dauphin Island

Thursday, Feb. 1
6:30 p.m. – Order of Polka Dots, Mobile

Friday, Feb. 2
6:30 p.m. – Order of Inca, Mobile

6:45 p.m. – Apollo’s Mystic Ladies, Daphne

Saturday, Feb. 3
1 p.m. – OWA Puppy Gras Pet Parade, Foley
1 p.m. – Mobile Mystics, Mobile Mystical Revelers, Mobile Mystical Friends, Mobile
3 p.m. – The Mystic Mutts of Revelry, Fairhope

6:30 p.m. – Knights of Ecor Rouge, Fairhope
6:30 p.m. – Maids of Mirth, Order of Butterfly Maidens, Krewe of Marry Mates, Mobile

Sunday, Feb. 4
6:30 p.m. – Neptune’s Daughter, Order of Isis, Mobile

Monday, Feb. 5

6:30 p.m. – Order of Venus, Miracle on the Bay, Order of Many Faces, Mobile

Tuesday, Feb. 6
6:30 p.m. – Order of LaShe’s; Order of Olympia, Mobile

Thursday, Feb. 8
6:30 – Mystic Stripers Society, Mobile

Friday, Feb. 9
6:30 p.m. – Crewe of Columbus, Krewe de Second Line, Mobile
6:45 p.m. – Maids of Jubilee, Fairhope

Saturday, Feb. 10
11 a.m. – Krewe de Kaoz, Foley

Noon – Floral Parade, Knights of Mobile, Mobile Mystical Ladies, Order of Angels, Joy of Life, Mobile
Noon – Krewe of Goats, Prichard Carnival Association, Prichard
Noon – Krewe of Sparta, Saraland
2 p.m. – Krewe of Mullet Mates, Mullet Point, Fairhope
2 p.m. - Joe Canine Parade, The Waterfront, Daphne
5:30 p.m. - The Marshals - Orange Beach
5:45 p.m. – Mystics of Time, Mobile
6 p.m. – Mystics of Pleasure, Orange Beach
6:45 p.m. – The Shadow Barons, Daphne

Sunday, Feb. 11 (Joe Cain Day)

1 p.m. – OWA Mardi Gras parade, Foley
1 p.m. – Fort Morgan Parading Society, Fort Morgan
2 p.m. – King Elexis I Motorcade, Mobile
2:29 p.m. – Loyal Order of the Fire Truck, Daphne
2:30 p.m. – Joe Cain Procession, Mobile
5 p.m. – Le Krewe de Bienville, Mobile

Monday, Feb. 12 (Lundi Gras)
Noon – King Felix III, Floral Parade, Mobile
3 p.m. – MLK Business and Civic, MLK Monday Mystics, Northside Merchants, Mobile
4 p.m. – Moonpies on Main at The Wharf, Orange Beach

6:45 p.m. – Order of Mystic Magnolias, Fairhope
7 p.m. – Infant Mystics, Order of Doves, Mobile

Tuesday, Feb. 13 (Fat Tuesday)
10 a.m. – Gulf Shores Parade, Gulf Shores
10 a.m. – Order of Athena, Mobile
12:30 p.m. – Knights of Revelry, King Felix III, Comic Cowboys, Mobile
2 p.m. – Orange Beach Parade, Orange Beach
2 p.m. – MAMGA Mammoth Parade, Mobile
6 p.m. – Order of Myths, Mobile