DAPHNE – After being called off in 2021 due to COVID-19, Carnival parades are scheduled to roll through Eastern Shore streets in February.
All five mystic societies that parade in Daphne and Fairhope are moving forward with plans to roll during the 2022 season, city officials said.
The Daphne City Council voted Monday, Nov. 1, to approve a parade permit for the Shadow Barons. The group is scheduled to parade Saturday, Feb. 26 with a rain day the next day.
Daphne Mayor Robin LeJeune said that after parades were called off in 2021, the city is ready for Mardi Gras.
“We’re definitely ready to move forward,” LeJeune said Friday. “Mobile has already announced that they plan to have their parades and we feel that the time has come. We’ve made a lot of progress with vaccines, and we feel this will be good for everyone.”
During the Nov. 1 meeting, resident Curt Fonger asked Daphne council members if the timing was right to resume Mardi Gras. “Are we back to normal? Is there a new policy? Are we in a post-COVID time? Are there contingencies for canceling these events if there is another spike?” Fonger asked.
LeJeune said city officials will continue to monitor the outbreak and can call off the parades if necessary. In 2021, Daphne officials approved parade permits for Carnival organizations, but later canceled the events as the outbreak continued.
In Fairhope, the three parade organizations are also making plans to roll in 2022. Mayor Sherry Sullivan said the groups have booked the Fairhope Civic Center for balls and are working with the city to prepare for parades.
She also said that the parades can be called off, if necessary, but for now the parades are being scheduled.
“Because of everything involved in the planning, it’s easier to go ahead and make plans than to wait and see and try to get things done at the last minute,” she said. “For now we’re going ahead.”
If organizations follow their traditional schedule, Carnival parades on the Eastern Shore will start with Apollo’s Mystic Ladies in Daphne at 6:45 on Friday, Feb. 18
The Knights of Ecor Rouge will parade Saturday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in Fairhope.
The following weekend, the Maids of Jubilee will parade in Fairhope at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25.
The Shadow Barons will roll in Daphne at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26.
The final Eastern Shore parade will be the Order of Mystic Magnolias in Fairhope on Lundi Gras, Monday, Feb. 28 starting at 6:45 p.m.
