Is Mardi Gras extra-early this year, or does it just feel like that? Either way, it’s time to brace for the storm, as parades begin well before January ends.

Fat Tuesday falls on Feb. 21. As these things go, that’s kind of middle of the pack. The date for Fat Tuesday is calculated by counting back from Easter Sunday, which varies with a calculation involving the spring equinox and a full moon. The earliest Fat Tuesday can happen is Feb. 3 and latest is March 9.

If Carnival 2023 feels like it’s coming on fast, that might be because it fell substantially later in 2022, on March 1. Brace yourself for more big swings – it’ll be more than a week earlier in 2024, on Feb. 13, then later yet in 2025, falling on March 4.

In the Mobile area, the Krewe de la Dauphine kicks off the season with its parade on Dauphin Island. That comes on Jan. 21 this year. In Mobile proper, the Conde Cavaliers are traditionally the first to roll on downtown’s Route A. This year, that happens on Feb. 3, and it should be an extra-festive occasion: The Reese’s Senior Bowl will be played on Saturday, Feb. 4, so the usual pre-game parade will roll right before the Condes and a free concert by Nelly will follow in Cathedral Square.

This list will be updated as additional dates are confirmed; to submit information on additional parades, email [email protected].

Route maps plus additional information on parking, safety and other topics can be found at the City of Mobile website. For continuing coverage, visit www.al.com/mardigras.

2023 Mobile-area Mardi Gras parade schedule:

Saturday, Jan. 21: Krewe de La Dauphine (Dauphin Island), 1 p.m. – As the ever-informative Dauphin Island Town Crier reminds us, new rules apply to tailgating in the Bienville Boulevard median this year. Bear these in mind if you plan to let the good times roll with the Krewe de la Dauphine. You’re not supposed to reserve space before sunrise on the day of the event, and you can’t mark off your turf with rope or tape boundaries. Once you’ve claimed space with parked vehicles, lawn chairs or canopies, at least one member of the party must remain on the scene. Sites should be fully cleaned up immediately after the parade.

Saturday, Jan. 21: Lucedale Carnival Association (Lucedale, Miss.) 11 a.m. — While this list focuses on coastal Alabama, it’s probably worth nothing that the region also has some early birds across the state line in Lucedale, where the Lucedale Carnival Association will hold its parade at 11 a.m. Jan. 21. Family Fun Day activities take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Coffee Pot parking lot. Check Facebook for more information.

Saturday, Jan. 28: People’s Parade (Dauphin Island), 1 p.m. – As the name would lead one to hope, this parade features a motley and highly creative assortment of floats, including marching units, trailer bands and towed boats. The new tailgating rules mentioned above apply to this parade as well.

Friday, Feb. 3: Conde Cavaliers (Downtown Mobile, Route A) 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 4: Mystic Krewe of Salty Paws (Dauphin Island) 10 a.m. – Mardi Gras goes to the dogs (and other pets) at the water tower plaza.

Saturday, Feb. 4: Bayport Parading Society/Mystic DJ Riders (Downtown Mobile, Route A) 2 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 4: Pharoahs Mystic Society, Conde Explorers (Downtown Mobile, Route A) 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 5: Massacre Island Secret Society Street Tableau (Dauphin Island) 6:30 p.m. – This recent addition to local tradition includes a flame-lit procession with participants whose costumes represent elements of the island’s history. There’s nothing else like it in the area. Details of the 2023 event hadn’t been posted as this article was published, so keep an eye on the Facebook page.

Thursday, Feb. 9: Order of Polka Dots (Downtown Mobile, Route A) 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 10: Order of Inca (Downtown Mobile, Route A) 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 11: Mobile Mystics, Mobile Mystical Revelers, Mobile Mystical Friends (Downtown Mobile, Route A), 2 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 11: Mystic Mutts of Revelry (Downtown Fairhope) 3 p.m. The theme for this year’s costumed canine parade, which benefits no-kill shelter The Haven, is “Top Dog.” Check the Facebook page.

Saturday, Feb. 11: Maids of Mirth (Downtown Mobile, Route G) 6:30 p.m. Route G is a path almost identical to Route A but starts and finishes at Conti and Broad streets.

Saturday, Feb. 11: Order of Butterfly Maidens, Krewe of Marry Mates, Order of Hebe (Downtown Mobile, Route A) 7 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 12: Neptune’s Daughters, Order of Isis (Downtown Mobile, Route A) 6:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 13: Order of Venus, Miracle on the Bay, Order of Many Faces (Downtown Mobile, Route A) 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 14: Order of LaShe’s, Order of Olympia (Downtown Mobile, Route A) 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 16: Mystic Stripers Society (Downtown Mobile, Route A) 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 17: Crewe of Columbus, Krewe de Secondline (Downtown Mobile, Route A) 6:30 p.m. With this parade, Mobile shifts up a gear. College students flock back home to join the revelries and the city enters a five-day weekend of folly sometimes known as “Deep Gras.”

Friday, Feb. 17: Maids of Jubilee (downtown Fairhope) 6:45 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 18: Floral Parade, Knights of Mobile, Mobile Mystical Ladies, Order of Angels, Joy of Life (Downtown Mobile, Route A) noon.

Saturday, Feb. 18: Krewe of Sparta (Saraland) noon – The Saraland Mardi Grass Association’s parade will roll on U.S. 43 starting at Bayou Ave. and ending at Jacintoport Avenue by the police department. More information at smgalife.com.

Saturday, Feb. 18: Krewe of Mullet Mates (Mullet Point Park, Fairhope) 2 p.m. Look for this community parade along Baldwin County Road 1.

Saturday, Feb. 18: Mystics of Pleasure, et. Al (Orange Beach) 5:30 p.m. According to the city of Orange Beach, mystic societies will travel along Perdido Beach Boulevard from the traffic signal just east of Phoenix West to the intersection of Ala. 161, near the Publix shopping center.

Saturday, Feb. 18: Mystics of Time (Downtown Mobile, Route H) 6 p.m. Route H is a path almost identical to Route A, but the parade starts on Government St. near Broad Street.

Saturday, Feb. 18: Shadow Barons (Daphne) 6:45 p.m. Check the Facebook page.

Sunday, Feb. 19: King Elexis I Motorcade (Downtown Mobile, Route E) 2 p.m. Route E starts on Water Street, proceeds west on Government to Broad, then north on Broad to Spring Hill Avenue, southeast on Spring Hill to N. Washington Ave., then north on Washington to Lyons St.

Sunday, Feb. 19: Joe Cain Procession (Downtown Mobile, Route A) 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 19: Le Krewe de Bienville (Downtown Mobile, Route A) 5 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 20: King Felix III, Floral Parade (Downtown Mobile, Route A) noon.

Monday, Feb. 20: MLK Business & Civic Organization, MLK Monday Mystics, Northside Merchants (MLK/Spring Hill Avenue, Route D) 3 p.m. Route D starts near the downtown end of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. and proceeds west along MLK to Lexington Avenue, returning via St. Stephens Road and ­Spring Hill Avenue.

Monday, Feb. 20: “Moon Pies on Main” at The Wharf (Orange Beach). Kid parade and pet parade, 4 p.m.; evening parade at 5 p.m. More information at alwharf.com.

Monday, Feb. 20: Order of Mystic Magnolias (Downtown Fairhope) 6:45 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 20: Infant Mystics, Order of Doves (Downtown Mobile, Route F) 7 p.m. Route F is a shorter route starting on Broad Street at Dauphin Street. It uses most of Route A but omits the southwestern loop on S. Washington Ave, Canal St. and S. Broad St.

Tuesday, Feb. 21: City of Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade, 10 a.m. The 44th annual event starts at Gulf Place before heading east and ending at Gulf State Park

Tuesday, Feb. 21: Order of Athena (Downtown Mobile, Route A) 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 21: Knights of Revelry, King Felix III, Comic Cowboys (Downtown Mobile, Route A) 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 21: Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association Mammoth Parade (Mobile, Route B) 2 p.m. Route B starts on north Broad Street; goes east on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to Lexington Ave.; returns to downtown via St. Stephens Road and Spring Hill Avenue; takes Government Street east, looping past Mardi Gras Park and Bienville Square; then takes Government Street west to N. Washington Ave.

Tuesday, Feb. 21: City of Orange Beach Mardi Gras Parade, 2 p.m. The route proceeds along Perdido Beach Boulevard from the traffic signal just east of Phoenix West to the intersection of Ala. 161, near the Publix shopping center.

Tuesday, Feb. 21: Order of Myths (Downtown Mobile, Route C) 6 p.m. Route C starts and finishes on St. Anthony Street at St. Joseph Street. It passes Bienville Square on its way to Government Street and turns west, making a loop on Broad Street, Spring Hill Avenue and S. Washington Avenue before returning via the same route.