New Orleans may get all the publicity, but Mobile claims to be the birthplace of Marti Gras holding their first in 1703, fifteen years before New Orleans was founded, and the entire social structure is based around it. The Marti Gras Museum details the background and history and this link has a rather cool virtual tour that shows many of the same costumes I have highlighted below. The article at Marti Gras History also gives a good history of the events.
Planning for the annual events actually begins the day after, and rather fits in with the hangover from all the parties the night before. It's not even a single event but starts in November and extends until Fat Tuesday the day before Lent starts. The major parades are organized by the Mobile Carnival Association (white folks) and the Mobile Area Marti Gras Association (formally the Colored Carnival Association). In addition there are well over 500 mystic societies, some public and many totally secret, organizing events.
These costumes are not simple or cheap and consume extensive family time for the whole year sometimes borrowing parts or remaking them for the younger extended family. From talking to one of the museum guides it is keeping up with the Joneses
taken to a whole new level and can represent a substantial financial burden.
Even the kids get involved with their own costumes and also provide a very essential service at the pageant. Compare the size of the cape to the actual dress in the background. The cape tends to be very heavy and many young ladies cannot gracefully make their grand entrance pulling this enormous weight. Pages can help and some capes even have castors to help them move smoothly.
For many of the young people the costumes and the associated competition for King and Queen
mark their coming out
or the announcement that they are now available dating and attending adult social functions. Seems to be rather reminiscent of a midieval meat market.
To help you get a slight feeling of participating in the parade this simulated float is available and the tour group all got to have their picture taken here waving to the simulated crowds.