We arrived several hours early to get a good spot for the Saturday noon Floral Parade and Knights of Revelry, parades in Mobile, Alabama, that are mostly for kids, by kids, but still great fun. My father got into a key spot and I went inside the Mobile Civic Center to see what was happening for that evening’s events.
The Mystics of Time were beginning preparations for their fancy ball that night, as well as their parade. Men, women, and children, often whole families, were spread out inside the Civic Center decorating rooms and hallways and the grand ballroom with their theme, “A Time for Exploration”.
Bare white walls inside of the small meeting rooms around the auditorium were being covered with gold, purple, and green mylar and Mardi Gras decorations. Ceilings were being filled with helium balloons of the same trio of colors so synonymous with Mardi Gras.
A few people were bringing in costumes for the parade that night, tucking them in corners and hanging them on racks, but for the most part, all the hard work was going into the extravaganza ball that night. Food was being hauled in on huge wire racks along with massive volumes of alcohol and soda pop for the party goers that night. Bars were set up in most of the meeting rooms and on both sides of the main ballroom.
The main stage was being dressed up as huge props and sets rolled off trucks and onto the stage. Workers moved in and around volunteers to change this convention hall/stadium into a place of magic and music.
This is the 58th year the Mystics of Time, more commonly called “MOT”, have held their festivities in Mobile.
Unfortunately, due to weather and other obligations, we couldn’t return that night to watch the parade or the ball.
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