This year’s Carnival season marks the 10th in which Sandy Stimpson has served as Mobile’s mayor.

During that time, he’s overseen a rebranding of the city’s image that includes a heavy emphasis on Alabama’s largest annual festival – Mardi Gras. “Birthplace of Mardi Gras,” is a common phrase pushed out by city boosters and Visit Mobile’s “Born to Celebrate” slogan has leaned heavily on those Carnival roots since 2015.