Mobile, Alabama. (March 13, 2025): When people think of Mardi Gras, visions of parades down Bourbon Street in New Orleans come immediately to mind. What most Americans don’t realize is Mobile, Alabama has an even longer history of celebrating this pagan event. In this photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sophie A. Pinkham, Command Master Chief Petty Officer Brian Barrineau-Juhas and Petty Officer 2nd Class Aboudoulaye Ibrahim participate in a floral parade through downtown Mobile as part of their Mardi Gras celebration.

The Sailors are assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul which arrived in Mobile for a scheduled port visit in conjunction with the city’s 2025 Mardi Gras celebration. Local citizens rolled out a red-carpet welcome for the troops including community outreach events and numerous opportunities to meet and interact with Sailors from the McFaul.

Mardis Gras celebrations began in Mobile in 1703 when the city was the Capitol of Louisiana. The first Floral Parade was held in 1930, making it the oldest official Carnival celebration in the United States. This year’s theme was Zoo Krewe and featured eighteen custom floats designed by area carnival artists.

This centuries-old celebration originated in medieval Europe and was a time of feasting and merriment before the fasting of Lent. The name Mardi Gras comes from the French words Mardi which means "Tuesday" and gras which means "fat". 

Master Chief Barrineau-Juhas previously served as a hull maintenance technician aboard the submarine tender USS Frank Cable and he enlisted in the Navy in 2001. Electrician's Mate Ibrahim is tasked with maintaining and repairing the electrical systems and equipment aboard the McFaul.