Mobile is not only recognized as celebrating the first known American Mardi Gras celebration in 1703 (yes, even before New Orleans), but also as home to "America's Family Mardi Gras." Delighting both young and old from around town and across the nation, this magnificent celebration lasts more than two and a half weeks and culminates on Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent. For weeks, the streets of downtown Mobile are filled with the sights and sounds of live marching bands, brilliantly colored floats and, of course, crowds of parade-goers. The floats are glowing spectacles manned by masked riders festooned in satin and sequins, and armed with crowd-pleasing "throws" such as beads, Moon Pies, doubloons and candy. Mardi Gras must be experienced to be fully understood, and Mobile is the perfect place.