Who is King Felix and how is the Mardi Gras court selected each year?
The first recorded king of Mobile Carnival was 1872 – when Daniel Huger was crowned Felix I. From that time until 1919, a loosely organized group of business men worked together for economic and business reasons to encourage up-country residents to come to Mobile for the social season during Carnival. The idea was that these revelers would come in the city with their families and live in local hotels, spend their money and enjoy the parties and balls at Mardi Gras. In 1920, Alfred L. Staples formally organized the Mobile Carnival Association which is still functioning today. King Felix III, the ruling monarch, and his Queen are selected by the Carnival Association almost a year in advance of Fat Tuesday. The debutantes of the season make up the Ladies of the Court. Each Lady selects her escort or Knight. Events begin in November with the Camellia Ball – traditionally held on Thanksgiving weekend.
