Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association, Founded 1939

Each year, MAMGA presents King Elexis I and his queen, the Mammoth Parade, and the Grand Marshall's Ball. Tickets to these events can be purchased. The King, his queen, and his court are chosen from the black community. Yearly events include:
  • Mobile International Carnival Ball. The royal coming together of King Felix III and King Elexis I held annually in Novemeber. The first Ball was held 1993.
  • Grand Marshall's Ball. Held on the Friday night before Fat Tuesday.
  • Arrival of King Elexis I. King Elexis I officially arrives in Mobile from his royal yacht around 2pm each year at the foot of Government St. This event is held on the Sunday before Fat Tuesday.
  • King Elexis I Motorcade. Immediately after his arrival, a motorcade of limousines carries King Elexis I, his queen, and their entourage through the streets of Mobile, ending their journey at the Mobile Civic Center Theater.
  • Coronation of King Elexis I. Held on the Sunday night before Fat Tuesday in the Mobile Civic Center Theater. The event proclaims the "season of misrule".
  • Royal Feast of King Elexis I. Held annually on the day before Fat Tueday.
  • Mammoth Parade. Held annually in the late afternoon on Fat Tuesday, this parade boasts the longest parade route of the parading season. This parade consists of many small Mystic groups. Some of the floats for this parade are rented from the Mystic Stripers Society and masked by various Social groups of the black community. Though the floats are rented, a new parade theme is executed diligently. The Mammoth parade can be seen on Fat Tuesday (Feb. 16, 1999) around 3pm. The first Mammoth parade rolled in 1939.
    1998 floats featured:
    • Jolly Jesters
    • E's Sportsmen
    • Independent Ladies
    • Apollo
    • Sunshine Ladies
    • Knights of Joy
    • Insatiable Ladies
    • Down the Bay Boys
    • Emeralds
    • Krewe of Mystic Merry Makers
    • Flo & Gene Spirits
    • Monday Nighters
    • Eastern Shore Jubilettes
    • Classic Ladies
In 1938, the Colored Carnival Association (CCA), lead by A.S. May, crowned King Tuttle and presented him in a 2 float night parade on Feb. 21 of that year (Fat Tuesday). Winston A. Allen served as King Tuttle with his queen Ruby Morgan. The CCA was founded by the Knights of May Zulu Club. The organization renamed itself MAMGA the following year.
Dr. Wilborne L. Rossell, dentist and civic leader, was president of MAMGA for 50 years, from its very beginnings until 1987. In 1969 MAMGA built its first float warehouse (Den) to house and construct parade floats. Mrs. Frederica G. Evans choose the title of King Elexis I to rule over Mardi Gras. Known as the "Mother of colored Carnival", she died in 1967. There have been/are many black mystic societies in Mobile. Some of these are:
  • Order of Doves, 1890-1914
  • Original Utopia Club, founded in 1814
  • Original Dragons
  • Comrades Social Club
  • Midnight Maskers
  • Dragons
  • Strikers Social Club
  • Krewe of Elks
  • Emerald Social Club
  • Sauvettes Social Club
  • Athenian Valentine Sweetheart Ball organization
  • Knights of Ebony
  • Sophisticated Ladies Social Club
  • Krewe of Don Q
  • Utopia Club


Former Department of Labor Secretary Alexis M. Herman was the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association Queen for 1974. She has been Secretary of the DOL since April of 1997. She has recently donated her coronation gown and train, along with her scepter and crown, to the Museum of Mobile. These artifacts were placed on display at the Museum on November 3, 1998. Secretary Herman became a Mobile Mardi Gras royalty alumni along with King Elxis I, Douglas M. Wicks. MAMGA was founded in 1939.

Isle of Joy
King Felix III and King Elexis I both arrive in Mobile on royal yachts each year from the Isle of Joy after crossing the Sea of Lemonade. Both monarchs rule until midnight on Fat Tuesday.

Visit Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association's Website