Mobile's Mardi Gras parades, the oldest in the United States dating to 1703, require Krewe parade permits coordinated through the Mobile Police Department and the city's Special Events office, with route, throw, and float-safety rules.
Mobile invented American Mardi Gras, and the city takes its parade tradition seriously. Each Krewe applies through the Special Events office and Mobile Police Department for an annual parade permit specifying route, time, float count, and emergency staging. Throws must comply with safety rules: no metal beads, no glass, no items that could injure crowds. Float occupants must be tethered. Streets along the route close hours in advance and reopen after sweeping. Spectator behavior is governed by general public-conduct rules; ladders on sidewalks must allow pedestrian passage and many areas restrict them entirely.
Parading without a permit, throwing prohibited items, or violating float safety rules can lead to revocation of the Krewe's parade privileges and per-incident fines.
See how Mobile's parade permits rules stack up against other locations.
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