Mardi Gras season is in full swing across the Mobile Bay area, and between elaborate mystical society balls, a first-year King Cake competition and a Hollywood film crew setting up shop in Fairhope, there has been no shortage of local buzz over the past week.
The Order of Osiris, one of Mobile’s most flamboyant Mardi Gras mystical societies, held its annual ball on a recent Friday night, drawing a large crowd eager to see the group’s signature theatrical flair. This year’s presentation carried a Hollywood Walk of Fame theme, with King Gregory the 37th and King Marty the 37th leading a procession alongside the society’s emblems, Osiris, Isis and Horus. Performers dressed as entertainment icons including Liberace, Dolly Parton, Freddie Mercury, and Siegfried and Roy took to the dance floor, and guests described the atmosphere as electric, with one attendee comparing it to being at a concert. A costumed performer portraying Cher made a grand entrance atop an elephant prop, followed by a stage production featuring performers in the style of Fleetwood Mac.
The evening built toward the crowning of King James the 38th and Queen Jason the 38th, after which roughly 3,200 balloons dropped from the ceiling to signal the start of the general dance floor. The Order of Osiris has built a reputation over the years for elaborate productions, and this year’s ball was no exception, drawing praise from longtime attendees as one of the group’s best showings yet.
Elsewhere in the celebration calendar, the inaugural Mobile King Cake Cook-off brought together 18 teams at Azalea Manor for a sold-out afternoon of Mardi Gras tradition and culinary creativity. Local bakeries and restaurants, including Rouse’s, the Warehouse Bakery, ellenJay and Bake My Day, served up their takes on the seasonal pastry, while attendees sampled king cake-flavored cocktails alongside the sweets. Organizers said the strong turnout for the first-year event has them already looking ahead to an even bigger competition next year.
When the results came in, Wonder Wife Bakery claimed top honors in the traditional king cake category, while Cammie’s Old Dutch took the nontraditional category with a king cake-flavored ice cream that quickly became a crowd favorite. Organizers credited the strong lineup of local bakers for making the event’s debut a success and said they expect even more teams to enter as word spreads about the cook-off.
Mardi Gras season is also drawing more than just costumed revelers to the area. A Hollywood production crew has been filming scenes in Fairhope for a new feature film titled “The Friend,” which stars Academy Award winner Casey Affleck alongside actors Jason Segel and Dakota Johnson. Notably, the film’s story is set in Fairhope, meaning the city is playing itself on screen rather than standing in for another location.
Cast members have been spotted around town throughout the shoot. Segel was seen dining at Mama’s Downtown, and all three lead actors were spotted together at Sage Lebanese Restaurant in Fairhope. Segel was also seen at The Grand Hotel and browsing at Page & Palette, the well-known downtown Fairhope bookstore. Production also moved into Mobile’s Oakleigh neighborhood, with crews filming near Selma and Chatham streets. There has also been talk that Johnson may be doing some recording work at Dauphin Street Sound while the production is in the area.
The filming follows a string of celebrity sightings in the region in recent months, with actors Liam Hemsworth and Vince Vaughn also having been spotted locally, adding to a growing sense that the Mobile Bay area has become a regular stop for film productions looking for authentic Southern settings.
Between the mystical society pageantry, the new King Cake Cook-off tradition and a genuine Hollywood production filming on local streets, residents have had plenty to keep an eye on this Mardi Gras season, with still more balls, parades and festivities ahead before Fat Tuesday arrives.