Menu Close

Welcome!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

The Order of Cimarrón  hosts the City of Wetumpka’s annual Mardi Gras Festival and Parade. 

Mardi Gras 2024 is Set to Roll!

February 10, 2024 at 1 pm!

Countdown until the parade!

Welcome to the home of the River Regions largest and best Mardi Gras parade! This years Mardi Gras parade is Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 1 pm! Check out our Festival and Parade page for more information and to see our Parade route.

The 2020 parade had over 15,000 people in attendance and over 200 parade participants and vendors! Come join the excitement and be a part of a fun, family friendly, parade, and celebration!

Our History

With remnants of French history scattered throughout the City of Wetumpka, Alabama combined with the area’s rich Creek Indian heritage, The Order wanted a name that reflected both legacies. 

The Order also wanted a name that was unique to the group that chartered this organization. To that end, we chose the name Cimarrón.

What is a Cimarrón?

Cimarrón is a Spanish term used to describe runaways or the “wild ones” and is historically used by certain Native American groups in Florida.  Seminole, for instance, is a corruption of the word Cimarrón. And just as they made the word their own, their identity is one built upon the Cimarróns who made their way to Florida from tribes throughout the Gulf Coast area. 

The OOC – Our Future

We were founded in February 2012 and have been a parading order ever since. Our parade is always held the last Saturday before Fat Tuesday and has grown exponentially throughout the years. As our parade has grown, so has our membership. This group of Wild Ones, Runaways, Cimarróns began with 12 charter members meeting at different homes to lay the foundation and create our bylaws, The OOC’s roster now exceeds 30 and adds new members annually.

That’s what the OOC is at heart – a community group focused on celebrating the city of Wetumpka in a way that is new and exciting and unlike anything else offered throughout the year. Our method has worked as our event – humble and nerve-wracking at first – has grown into one of the centerpiece events throughout the River Region.

Building upon the success of the year prior, the Order of Cimarron’s annual Mardi Gras Parade and Festival has grown to attract a crowd of more than 15,000 into Wetumpka’s historic downtown. The parade has grown to include more than 100 participants from throughout the state and we have almost that many vendors joining the good times and bringing Gold Star Park to life with food, fun and music.

The Future looks bright as we continue to build and grow and get better at celebrating Mardi Gras. We can’t have this success though without the help of people like you.

We are always looking for members of the community – be they friend groups, community groups or businesses – to join in on the good times.

It’s free to parade with us, we just ask that you provide your own throws and the form can be found here.

We are always looking for sponsors at the $250 or $500 level as monies brought in through sponsorships will go to help offset any miscellaneous parade costs and then portions will be donated back to select parade participating groups. The Sponsor form can be found here and additional information regarding sponsorships can be found by contacting OOCMARDIGRAS@GMAIL.COM.

According to the website mardigrasneworleans.com
Mardi Gras, like Christmas, is a whole season – not just one day. That being said, Fat Tuesday is the biggest day of celebration, and the date it falls on moves around.

Fat Tuesday can be any Tuesday between Feb. 3 and March 9. Carnival celebration starts on Jan. 6, the Twelfth Night (feast of Epiphany), and picks up speed through midnight on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.

How Do You Know Which Tuesday It Will Be?

Ash Wednesday is always 46 days before Easter, and Fat Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday.

Easter can fall on any Sunday from March 23 to April 25, with the exact date to coincide with the first Sunday after the full moon following a spring equinox. There you have it. Voila! If you’re still confused, get out a calendar that has the holidays printed on it. Fat Tuesday is always the day before Ash Wednesday!

Mardi Gras Mask

Future Fat Tuesday and Parade Dates

Click the date to see photos

YearFat TuesdayWetumpka Parade
2020February 25February 22
2021February 16February 13
2022March 1February 26
2023February 21February 18
2024February 13February 10
2025March 4March 1
2026February 17February 14
2027February 9February 6
2028February 29February 26
2029February 13February 10
2030March 5March 2
2031February 25February 22
2032February 10February 7
2033March 1February 26
2034February 21February 18
2035February 6February 3
2036February 26February 23
2037February 17February 14
2038March 9March 6
2039February 22February 19
2040February 14February 11
2041March 5March 2
2042February 18February 15
2043February 10February 7
2044March 1February 26
2045February 21February 18
2046February 6February 3
2047February 26February 23
2048February 18February 15
2049March 2February 28
2050February 22February 19