Mobile’s MAMGA Society Celebrates 87 Years of Mardi Gras Tradition with 2026 Fat Tuesday Parade

Mobile, AL (BuzzReport) — The Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association once again rolled through the streets of downtown Mobile on Fat Tuesday, bringing music, pageantry, and decades of tradition to thousands of spectators celebrating Mardi Gras 2026.

Large crowds lined the parade route as bands, DJs, dance teams, and elaborately decorated floats passed by, creating a festive atmosphere filled with energy and optimism. The parade was led by MAMGA organizers alongside the society’s King, Queen, and Royal Court, continuing a tradition that has been a cornerstone of Mobile’s Black Mardi Gras celebrations for generations.

MAMGA traces its roots back to 1938, when it was founded as the Colored Carnival Association by prominent African American leaders, including Dr. Wilborne Russell, J.T. McKinnis, Sam Besteda Jr., and J.A. Franklin. The organization was created to provide Black residents of Mobile with an organized and official presence in the city’s Mardi Gras season, which has deep historical roots dating back centuries.

The society held its first parade in 1939, followed by the presentation of its first Royal Court in 1940, with Alex Herman crowned King and Aliene Jenkins Howard crowned Queen. That milestone established MAMGA’s enduring tradition of selecting Mardi Gras royalty each year.

Over the decades, MAMGA has grown into one of the most prominent African American Mardi Gras mystic societies in Mobile. Its annual events, including the Grand Marshal’s Ball and the Fat Tuesday parade, have become highlights of the local Mardi Gras calendar. The organization’s history also includes notable figures such as former U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, who once served as a MAMGA Queen, and baseball legend Hank Aaron, who previously served as Grand Marshal.

“It’s exciting to see MAMGA roll through the city one more time,” said longtime attendee Mary Jackson. “It’s the oldest Black parading society in Mobile. It’s guaranteed to give revelers an unforgettable experience. I’ve been attending this parade for over 30 years.”

With its first parade dating back to 1939, MAMGA has now been parading for approximately 87 years, continuing to honor its legacy while bringing joy, culture, and community pride to each new generation of Mardi Gras revelers.