Whether it’s a local event, a cultural tradition or a story worth listening to, Alabama has no shortage of voices that deserve the spotlight. From small-town happenings to statewide moments, these stories reflect the people, places and conversations that shape life across the Yellowhammer State.
I’m APR’s Digital Content Reporter and Producer, Aydan Conchin. Alabama Out Loud is an ongoing series where I highlight events, culture and community voices from across the state — turning up the volume on what makes Sweet Home Alabama worth listening to.
In this first episode of Alabama Out Loud, we’re starting at the beginning, exploring how Mardi Gras season gets underway in Mobile and why these early celebrations matter just as much as the parades themselves.
Long before the parades roll and beads fill the streets, Mardi Gras in Alabama begins with anticipation and tradition, according to the Encyclopedia of Alabama. In Mobile, the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the United States, the season starts quietly, marked by community gatherings and shared history…