The best Mardi Gras events in Huntsville + North Alabama

A group wearing futuristic silver costumes in the Mardi Gras at The Camp parade — People + pups take to the streets for The Camp’s annual Mardi Gras Paw Parade in MidCity. (The Camp / Facebook)

Since Mobile is the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the U.S., it’s no wonder that Carnival season means a calendar packed full of fun Mardi Gras events in Huntsville and North Alabama, too.

Huntsville, Decatur and Athens each put a distinct stamp on the season. Sweetening the cake, many of our gatherings support important community causes.

We’ve gathered the details on where to be for the best of all the fun, food and fundraising over the next few weeks. Keep reading to not miss a minute and plan your parade route positions to catch allll the beads, MoonPies and more.

Mardi Gras events in Huntsville

Manny Randazzo's King Cake for sale at The Camp during Mardi Gras festivities in Huntsville, Alabama — Mardi Gras at MidCity brings people together for food, music + fun from Feb. 3-17 (The Camp / Facebook)

Mardi Gras at The Camp

For Mardi Gras flavors, music and mingling, The Camp at MidCity is the place to be the first two weeks of the month for themed events, live music and more. Experience it all amid fab decor from Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World while savoring authentic treats like Manny Randazzo king cakes, pillowy beignets and specialty cocktails.

Bonus: The dog-friendly venue doesn’t charge cover, which means more money to buy treats!

👉 PARADE: 4th Annual Mardi Gras Paw Parade | Sunday, Feb. 15 @ NOON
📍5909 University Drive NW Huntsville, AL 35806
🅿️ Parking is FREE throughout all of MidCity
⚜️ Get full details on all events via The Camp’s Facebook page

Mardi Gras Huntsville

Mardi Gras Huntsville, benefiting Blount Hospitality House, begins its season on Saturday, Feb. 7, with the Mardi Gras 5K starting at 8:30AM at Twickenham Station. Runners are encouraged to race in costume and raise a toast after with a post-race drink from Cajun Steamer, one of the event sponsors.

👉 PARADE: 12th Huntsville Mardi Gras Grand Parade + Krewe of Barkus Dog Parade | Saturday, Feb. 14 (time TBD)
📍Downtown Huntsville
⚜️ Get more details on the Mardi Gras Huntsville website

Five Points Mini Mardi Gras

Huntsville’s Five Points neighborhood celebrates the season in its own whimsical way, with the return of Mini Mardi Gras with a theme of “Five Points Celebrates the Stars, Stripes and Beads.”

Why “mini,” you may ask? While the floats are miniature, the fun is big. Expect plenty of creativity, delicious eats and smiles all around.

👉 PARADE: Five Points Mini Mardi Gras Parade | Sunday, Feb. 15 @ 3PM
📍Franken Alley + meet before at Lewter Park, 1501 NE Wellman Ave, Huntsville, AL 35801
⚜️ A grassroots community event + you can catch neighborhood updates via the Five Points Historic District Association

Mardi Gras events in Decatur

Carnegie Carnival

What began as a single parade in 2012 has become a months-long Carnival season in Decatur, where numerous krewe and royalty candidate fundraisers benefit the Carnegie Visual Arts Center, as well as Court Appointed Special Advocates of North Alabama (CASA) and Decatur Animal Services.

The season concludes with a day full of events downtown on the Saturday before Fat Tuesday, including a Carnival Frolic Half Marathon in the morning, separate daytime parades for local children and dogs, and a main parade in the evening.

👉 PARADES: Carnegie Carnival Parade Day | Saturday, Feb. 14 | Prince + Princess Parade @ NOON; Carnival Canines Parade @ 2PM; Main Parade @ 6PM
📍Downtown Decatur (Founder’s Park is a good starting point), 905 Canal St NE, Decatur, AL 35601
⚜️ See all Carnegie Carnival Season events on the Carnegie Carnival Events Calendar

Mardi Gras events in Athens

Athens Mardi Gras participants celebrate canned food donations from the annual parade. — The Athens Mardi Gras Parade doubles as a canned food drive for Community Table. (Athens Art League / Facebook)

Athens Mardi Gras Parade

Athens marks Fat Tuesday with a parade that celebrates service and features floats made of… shopping carts? That’s right.

And wait ’til you hear what organizations and businesses do with these beautiful buggies to fulfill the mission of the event being a “Parade with a Purpose.”

Beyond adorning the carts with artful, themed decorations, the sponsors fill them with canned goods for a local food pantry, Community Table. The drive, “Let the Good Cans Roll,” begins Feb. 1, with the Athens City Hall as a drop-off.

👉 PARADE: Athens Mardi Gras Parade | Tuesday, Feb. 17 @ 6:30PM
📍Athens Square, 200 W Washington St., Athens, AL 35611
⚜️ Follow Athens Arts League for the latest updates + more details