Fairhope Daily: Parades, Pups, and Art Walk Fill Mardi Gras Saturday

Mystic Mutts of Revelry takes over downtown this afternoon

Fairhope’s Mardi Gras season really begins today with the Mystic Mutts of Revelry walking dog parade. The Oz-themed procession steps off at 3 p.m. from Fairhoper’s Community Park at the corner of South Church Street and Morphy Avenue, then winds through the downtown streets.

The event is a major fundraiser for The Haven, the city’s no-kill animal shelter, with parade registrations and sponsorships helping cover shelter, medical care, and adoption programs for homeless pets. Organizers encourage families to dress up with their dogs in Wizard of Oz or wicked inspired costumes and arrive early to find a good viewing spot along the route.

Knights of Ecor Rouge rolls tonight

Once the pups clear the streets, the Knights of Ecor Rouge evening parade is set to roll at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Fairhope. The krewe’s floats, bands, and throws traditionally draw some of the biggest Mardi Gras crowds on the Eastern Shore.

Residents should expect road closures and slow traffic near Fairhope Avenue, Section Street, Church Street, and De La Mare Avenue from late afternoon through the evening. If you live or work near the route, it is a good idea to move vehicles early and plan extra time for getting in and out of downtown.

Art walk and date-night events round out the weekend

Last night’s First Friday Art Walk brought extended gallery hours, live music, and new exhibits to streets around Fairhope Avenue and Oak Street, and many of those shows will stay up through the end of the month. It is a good weekend to duck into local galleries between parades and see work by regional artists.

This evening, a Valentine themed paint-and-sip event called Our Love is in the Stars is scheduled around 5 p.m. at a studio on North Church Street, giving couples and friends a quieter way to celebrate after the parades. Local event calendars also highlight wine education classes, tastings, and other small gatherings over the coming week as Fairhope heads deeper into festival season.

Sources

• https://mysticmutts.org/
• https://www.havenforanimals.org/mystic-mutts-of-revelry-returns-with-paws-of-oz-a-wicked-good-time-to-benefit-the-haven-no-kill-animal-shelter/
• https://fairhopers.com/fairhope-mardi-gras-parades/
• https://www.gulfshores.com/events-calendar/byway/knights-of-ecor-rouge-parade-0/
• https://allevents.in/fairhope/2026-mystic-mutts-of-revelry-walking-dog-parade/200029461581841
• https://esartcenter.org/event/first-friday-art-walk-feb2026/
• https://allevents.in/fairhope-al/february