Open up the moon pies and let the beads fly because Mardi Gras festivities are about to begin.
"If you come to Mardi Gras, you most certainly will want to attend as many of the parades you can," said Judi Gulledge, executive director of the Mobile Carnival Museum.
Taylor Wallace, graduate student and native of Mobile, takes a lot of pride in the Mardi Gras celebration.
"Mobile was the first place to celebrate Mardi Gras and I have been going since I was little," Wallace said. "If you want to go to a parade, make sure you get there early because people camp out to hold spots for the best views."
Wallace also said people hold spots so they can catch as many treats thrown from the floats as they can.
"Moon pies, bead necklaces, stuffed animals, candy and all sorts of trinkets are thrown from the floats," Gulledge said. "A seasoned parade attendee never uses a plastic bag to collect the treats because they break too easily."
Many of the people that attend Mardi Gras visit from out of town.
"It is a fun family event," Gulledge said. "The locals will welcome visitors with open arms and show them the ropes and a great time."
Mardi Gras is also a big tradition in New Orleans.
Emily Crane, senior in elementary education, has attended Mardi Gras in New Orleans since she was 4 years old.
"I love the elaborate parades, the incredible atmosphere and the constant smile that Mardi Gras puts on your face," Crane said. "Sometimes Mardi Gras can hold a negative and trashy connotation, but it is actually often a family event."
Crane said Mardi Gras is an experience that all college students should have at least once in their lifetime.
Gulledge said to visit mobilecarnivalmuseum.com to get a better idea of what Mardi Gras is all about.
"In case you didn't know, if someone comes up to you and says 'laissez le bon temp rouler,' it means 'let the good times roll,'" Gulledge said. "And that's what we plan to do during Mardi Gras.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
