Mobile, Alabama really knows how to put on a party and Mobile's New Year's Eve celebration is no exception - it might even be the rule!
Since 2008, Mobile's New Year's Eve event has featured the signature dropping of a giant MoonPie - "MoonPie Over Mobile" they call it - along with other attractions such as a second-line parade, live music, fireworks, a laser light-show, college football tailgate party, and other festivities.
Wait - a giant MoonPie?
Yup: Apparently MoonPie marshmallow sandwiches are more popular here in Mobile than any other city. More than four million of the things are consumed here, annually. A MoonPie, for those of you not in the know, is two graham cracker cookies, with a marshmallow filling, and coated in chocolate.
MoonPies also play a large role in Mobile's Mardi Gras celebration - America’s first Mardi Gras celebration, by the way - with MoonPies being a favored "throw." Throws are items thrown to the crowds from the floats during the annual Mardi Gras parade.
Consequently, a giant, 12-foot-tall MoonPie seemed a natural choice as the signature item coming down the pole during the midnight countdown for Mobile's New Year's Eve.
Actually, it's just a giant, internally-lit MoonPie sign that descends the pole at midnight. The REAL giant MoonPie - yep, a real one - features earlier in the celebration. The city of Mobile teams up each year with
Chattanooga Bakery, the maker of the MoonPie, to create a giant, edible MoonPie for Mobile's New Year's Eve festivities and cutting into it kicks off the evening!
Beyond the MoonPie madness that marks Mobile's New Year's Eve, there's also live entertainment, this year in the form of En Vogue.
En Vogue are the chart topping, rhythm and blues group who burst onto the scene in 1989 with such unforgettable Top Ten hits as "Hold On", "My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)," "Give Him Something He Can Feel," "Free Your Mind," and "Don’t Let Go (Love)," En Vogue has sold over 20 million records worldwide and have received seven Grammy nominations.
Other attractions at Mobile's New Year's Eve Celebration include the second-line parade to the main stage led by the historic Excelsior Jazz Band directly after the cutting of the giant MoonPie. You'll also be able to entertain yourself, if you wish, with the National College Football Championship play-off games via telecasts at the "tailgate party" set up in front of the main stage in downtown Mobile.
