You’ve probably heard it a thousand times: "Mardi Gras started in Mobile, not New Orleans." Locals will defend that fact until they’re blue in the face, but if you really want to know the secret to surviving the season without the shoulder-to-shoulder madness of Government Street, you look across the bay. Honestly, Baldwin County Mardi Gras 2025 is where the actual magic happens.
It’s different over here. It’s "park your golf cart on the sidewalk" kind of fun. It’s "catch a moon pie while standing in the sand" kind of weird. If you’re expecting a carbon copy of the Mobile parades, you’re going to be surprised. The Eastern Shore and the beach towns have their own rhythm, their own krewes, and—thankfully—their own parking logic.
The Eastern Shore Shuffle: Daphne and Fairhope
Daphne and Fairhope don’t just throw parades; they host street parties that feel like high school reunions where everyone actually likes each other. The 2025 schedule is packed, but you have to know which ones are worth the traffic.
Apollo’s Mystic Ladies kicks things off in Daphne on Friday, February 21, at 6:45 p.m. It’s the first big night parade of the season for the county. If you’re coming from the Mobile side, give yourself an extra hour. The Bayway is a nightmare on Friday nights during Carnival.
Then you have Fairhope. Fairhope is... Fairhope. It’s picturesque and a little bougie, but the parades are surprisingly rowdy in a polite way.
- Mystic Mutts of Revelry: Saturday, February 22, at 3:00 p.m. This is the dog parade. If you don't like golden retrievers in tutus, skip it. If you have a soul, be there.
- Knights of Ecor Rouge: Saturday, February 22, at 6:30 p.m. This is the big one. It’s the oldest parading society on the Eastern Shore, and they take their "knighthood" seriously.
- Maids of Jubilee: Friday, February 28, at 6:45 p.m.
- Order of Mystic Magnolias: Monday, March 3 (Lundi Gras), at 6:45 p.m.
Basically, the Fairhope parades follow a tight loop through the downtown business district. The best move? Park near the Fairhope Public Library or the parking garage on North Church Street. Do not—I repeat, do not—try to park on Section Street after 4:00 p.m. You’ll just end up circling until the parade is over.
The Mystery of the Fire Truck
Wait, we have to talk about the Loyal Order of the Fire Truck in Daphne. It rolls on Sunday, March 2 (Joe Cain Day) at exactly 2:29 p.m. Yes, 2:29. Why? Because that’s just how they do it. It’s a shorter, quirky parade that feels very "Small Town Alabama," and it’s usually the best time to bring kids because it’s not as overwhelming as the night-time floats.
✨ Don't miss: Finding Your Way: The Sea Ranch California Map and Why GPS Usually Fails You
Fat Tuesday at the Beach: Gulf Shores and Orange Beach
If you want to spend March 4, 2025, anywhere else, you’re doing it wrong. Fat Tuesday on the coast is peak Baldwin County.
The Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade starts at 10:00 a.m. sharp. It runs along Highway 59, starting at the Intracoastal Waterway bridge and heading south toward the beach. People start setting up chairs at 6:00 a.m. You don't necessarily have to be that early, but if you want to see the Gulf Shores High School band without standing on your tiptoes, aim for 8:30 a.m.
Once that ends, everyone migrates east. The Orange Beach Mardi Gras Parade rolls at 2:00 p.m. along Perdido Beach Boulevard. This one is huge—usually over 50 floats. It’s sun, salt air, and enough beads to sink a shrimp boat.
Boats and Golf Carts
The real Baldwin County Mardi Gras 2025 experience isn't always on wheels.
✨ Don't miss: Icon of the Seas Tracking: How to See Where the World’s Biggest Ship Is Right Now
- LuLu’s Mardi Gras Boat Parade: This happens on Fat Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. It starts at LuLu’s and travels along the Intracoastal. Watching Mardi Gras from a dock while eating Gumbo is basically the local's version of a spa day.
- The Wharf’s "Moon Pies on Main": On Monday, March 3, The Wharf in Orange Beach does a kid and pet parade at 4:00 p.m. followed by an evening float parade at 6:00 p.m. It’s contained, safe, and there are plenty of places to grab a drink nearby.
What Most People Get Wrong About Throws
"It’s just beads, right?" Wrong.
If you’re a rookie, you’re going for the plastic necklaces. If you know what you’re doing, you’re looking for the Moon Pies. Banana is the gold standard, but don't sleep on the salted caramel ones. In 2025, krewes are also leaning heavily into "useful" throws. We’re talking branded sunglasses, fly swatters (classic South Alabama), and even ramen noodles.
Seriously, I once saw a guy catch a whole head of cabbage in a Daphne parade. Why? Who knows. But he looked thrilled.
Surviving the Logistics
Honestly, the biggest mistake people make is underestimating the weather. It’s early March in Alabama. It could be 80 degrees or it could be 45 and raining. Layer up.
Parking Strategy: In Daphne, use the store lots along Main Street like Regions Bank or City Hall. In Fairhope, use the side streets near the post office. At the beach, if you aren't staying in a condo on the parade route, you're going to struggle. The city parking lots at the Gulf State Park Pier are a good fallback, but you'll be walking.
✨ Don't miss: Why the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose Still Creeps Us Out
The "Getaway" Rule: Never park "inside" the parade loop. If you do, you are stuck there until the last float passes and the police clear the barricades. If you need to leave early, always park on a side street that has a clear path away from the route.
Baldwin County Mardi Gras 2025: The Action Plan
You've got the dates. You've got the times. Now you need a plan.
- For Families: Stick to the daytime parades. The Foley Parade on Saturday, March 1, at 11:00 a.m. is incredibly underrated and way less stressful for toddlers.
- For the Party Crowd: Hit Mystics of Pleasure in Orange Beach on Saturday, March 1, at 6:00 p.m. It’s got a much higher energy level and the floats are elaborate.
- For the Locals' Experience: Go to Mullet Point for the Krewe of Mullet Mates on March 1 at 2:00 p.m. It’s small, it’s quirky, and it feels like a backyard BBQ that grew into a parade.
The most important thing to remember? Don't be "that person" who fights a kid for a 10-cent bead. There are plenty to go around. Just bring a big bag (a reusable grocery bag is better than a plastic one—it won't rip) and a folding chair.
Check the local city websites for Fairhope and Gulf Shores the morning of your chosen parade. Road closures happen fast, and sometimes the weather forces a 30-minute delay. If you're coming from out of town, book your room now. By mid-February, "no vacancy" is the only sign you'll see from Spanish Fort to the Florida line.
Go ahead and clear your calendar for that first weekend in March. You're going to need a few days to recover from the sugar rush and the sound of marching bands ringing in your ears.