Moon Pies fly at Alabama's Gulf Coast Mardi Gras

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — The Carnival celebration is in full swing along Alabama's coast this weekend. This coming Tuesday is Mardi Gras, and thousands of people in coastal cities are turning out for the final parades and get-togethers before the end of the season. Nine different parades are planned Saturday in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Float riders will be tossing colorful beads and moon pies from Mobile to Gulf Shores. Sunday marks what's traditionally the largest day for Mardi Gras in Mobile. It's Joe Cain Day, which celebrates the man credited with reviving the Carnival celebration in Mobile after the Civil War. While New Orleans has the largest Mardi Gras festivities, Mobile claims the nation's oldest Mardi Gras celebration. It leads up to the Christian season of Lent.