Mardi Gras comes to Homewood

On Feb. 17, strollers will transform into floats for a Mardi Gras parade at Homewood Central Park.

Toddlers donning masks will be pulled in wagons, and older kids walk — all passing out beads and moon pies. Some of the older children will decorate boxes to wear to become their own “float,” while others play maracas, tambourines and whistles as they make several laps around the park.

A CD will play New Orleans brass band music, but you won’t be able to hear it over the kids’ shouts.

“Kids are told so much to be quiet,” said Melanie Lewis, president of MOMS Club International, Over the Mountain Chapter. “But here we tell them to be loud.”

Now in its fourth year, the club is inviting the community to join them either as participants in the parade or as audience members. The event begins at 3:30 p.m. In case of rain, the parade will be postponed to the following day. The club will provide beads and moon pies for participants.

After the parade, the group will gather to eat cake or cookies under a pavilion. It’s the one day many of the moms said they don’t monitor their kids’ sugar intake.

Members of the MOMS Club thought the timing of Mardi Gras was perfect. After the activities of the summer, fall and holiday season, moms are looking for an exciting activity in the winter as they await spring break.

In addition to the parade itself, the event provides a second activity for families: decorating wagons, making posters and other advance preparations. 

“We are making our own fun in February and getting our kids out and active,” Lewis said.

Lewis fell in love with the New Orleans parade season when she lived there for a year. 

“It’s a way of life down there,” Lewis said. “Everyone is so happy having a good time. We got to know people who stand in the same spot every year.”

Upon moving to Birmingham, she was surprised to not find any Mardi Gras celebrations here. Lewis teamed up with fellow MOMS Club member Eva Gonzalez, who had lived in Baton Rouge, to organize the first parade.

They said they would love for it to be a large community event one day.

“Who doesn’t love a parade?” Lewis said. 

The parade is one of many events the MOMS Club holds throughout the year. The organization acts as a support group for stay-at-home moms and organizes play dates, a book club, lunches, hiking, kids’ crafts and other events. Around 40 moms currently in the group use one another as sounding boards for questions about what’s going on in the area and the going rate for the tooth fairy. They also raise money for the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama’s Weekenders backpack program.

For more information, search for “Homewood’s 4th Annual Mardi Gras Parade” on Facebook or visit the “MOMS Club of Birmingham, Over the Mountain” page.