Mammoth Parade=Mammoth Mess?

Mardi Gras Mamga A new shorter route is approved for the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association (MAMGA) but not everyone is happy about it.

by Tiffany Craig

Published: Thu, January 03, 2008 - 7:00 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, January 29, 2008 - 6:38 pm CST

William Dotch can work his magic in the barber shop!

But his hands are tied about a shortened parade route approved for the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association. "You know if I had a magic wand I could fix it myself."

Dotch is a MAMGA member and says float riders just found out about the changes. "We're talking 19-20 different organizations! Some of them fell out! Some of the other ones are talking about pulling out. If they pull out, we got a mess."

The old route was almost 6 miles long and made its way through downtown Mobile and MLK Avenue. The length of the route caused some high school bands to back out!

The 2008 route is about 2 miles shorter but doesn't wind through the heart of downtown Mobile. In other words, you won't see the Mammoth parade from Bienville square. Board members are hoping the shorter route will attract the bands again!

Barbara Drummond with the City of Mobile says that they got the request for a route change in September. "This was submitted from the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association for the City of Mobile. We approved it and sent it to the police department. Logistically, there's a lot that goes into Mardi Gras besides internal conflict with the organizations!"

Some association members want the old route back!

Drummond says the city is willing to listen to member concerns about the route but won't tell us definitively if they will agree to any changes.

MAMGA is meeting again Thursday night to discuss the issue.

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