One of the must-do activities near your Orange Beach condo rental is enjoying the sights and sounds of the parade of colors. Residents and tourists alike are always on the lookout for the annual Margi Gras to wear crazy costumes and masks while dancing to the tune of lively parade music. The whole family will surely enjoy the road festivities and the fun atmosphere will suit people of all ages. It is best to book Orange Beach vacation rentals a few months before the Mardi Gras for a hassle-free holiday.
History
Although the first recorded Mardi Gras in the country was in Louisiana in 1699, Alabama holds the title of having the first organized Mardi Gras celebration. In 1704, Mobile celebrated its first parade festivities under the French colony. Pierre Le Moyne d'lberville led the parades and after more than 300 years, the beat of trumpets and drums are still echoing down Alabama's roads.
Schedule
Mardi Gras in Orange Beach is celebrated during Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, which usually falls between February 3 and March 9 of each year. The long carnival celebration usually starts on the 6th of January and continues until Fat Tuesday. Most schools in Orange Beach are out on this day and almost all communities participate in the parade.
Parade Guidelines
If you wish to participate in the parade with family and friends, you're required by the City Hall to fill out an entry form and pay the registration fee. The entry form should be submitted 2 weeks before Fat Tuesday, and the Mardi Gras committee does the screening. All activities and parade entries should be family-friendly. Any entry that does not adhere to the committee's family-friendly guidelines may be refused participation.
The entry fee starts at $50 per unit and an additional unit will cost you $25. If your parade entry includes a motorized vehicle, liability insurance is required. Horse-drawn carriages should have pooper scoopers trailing behind to remove any waste. These units are usually designated at the tail end of the parade.
Motorized vehicles and parade floats should have 4 to 6 walkers to keep spectators away from the wheel area. This policy ensures the safety of spectators along the road.
Nudity, offensive behavior and language, drunkenness and throwing of beads are not allowed. If proven guilty of these, you may not be granted permission to join the next Mardi Gras parade entry.
Night Parade
Aside from the usual daytime parade, Orange Beach also hosts the Mystical Order of Miriam's parade every Friday night after Ash Wednesday. The order is an all-woman organization and its members usually parade along the beach highway in their theme-based floats with marshals on horseback. The order has been supporting community events like the annual National Night Out.
Check out Vamoose.Com for a detailed listing of Orange Beach condo rentals that offer special discounts, such as early bookings or group rates during the Mardi Gras. Search for a rental based on prices, amenities and location.