Let the Good Times Roll in Downtown Decatur Eleventh Annual Carnegie Carnival Set for February 26

  DECATUR-North Alabama’s premier Mardi Gras style celebration will take place on February 26, 2022, when the Carnegie Visual Arts Center holds its annual Carnegie Carnival. Now in its eleventh year, Carnegie Carnival fills the city’s historic downtown area with parades, cakes, crewes, floats, throws, music and other family-friendly fun, all while promoting art and creativity. The event also serves as a fundraiser for the arts and other non-profits located in Decatur and Morgan County.

For anyone who wants to receive a free serving of cake, make plans to attend the Cake Shake set for Friday, February 25th from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Princess Theatre. Everyone is invited to join Queen Lindsey Faulkner, Queen Holly Whitt, King Doug Maze and King Wade Dinsmore in celebrating the carnival season with an evening of cakes galore, dancing along to the fantastic tunes of The Willies and a cash bar.

Carnegie Carnival gets underway at 7 a.m. with the Carnival Frolic, a 13.1-mile race through the historic districts, along the Tennessee River and through Point Mallard Park. To register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/AL/Decatur/CARNEGIEFROLIC. At 12:00 p.m., kids of all ages will want to make their way to the Decatur Morgan County Farmers Market on 1st Avenue for carnival-style games and prizes. A $5 armband provides unlimited play. The Carnegie Carnival Creation Station opens at 12:30 p.m., offering free hands-on art projects for kids. Sponsored by Kiwanis of Decatur, the Creation Station will also be located at the Farmers Market by the Carnival Midway games.

The Carnival Prince and Princess Parade gets underway at 12:30 p.m. Watch local children and teens parade via foot, bike and float starting at Founders Park at the corner of Bank Street and Church Street to 2nd Avenue and ending at the Farmer’s Market on 1st Avenue where the Carnival Prince and Princess are crowned.

At 2:30 p.m., dogs of all sizes and breeds, dressed in their Mardi Gras best, will take to the streets of historic downtown Decatur for a colorful pooch parade and dog walk. The parade begins at the intersection of Second Avenue and Johnston Street, goes to Lee Street, turns and ends where it started. The event is free to attend. Parade registration is $10 + $5 for each additional dog.

The grand finale of the daylong event is the Carnegie Carnival Parade where crewes proceed in traditional Mardi Gras-style complete with themed floats, costumes, throws, and music. Set to hit the streets at 6 p.m., the parade route travels along 2nd Avenue, Lee Street and Bank Street.
Parade watchers are encouraged to arrive early to claim a spot for viewing.

During Carnegie Carnival, downtown restaurants and merchants will be open and festival-goers can dine and shop for locally made and one-of-a-kind items. Festival organizers encourage parade goers to participate in the Catch and Release bead-recycling program. The Carnegie Visual Arts Center, in conjunction with the AIM Developmental Program, collect and recycle thrown beads from previous Carnegie Carnival parades.

For more information, go to www.carnegiecarnival.org, follow Carnegie Carnival on Facebook and Instagram or call the Carnegie Visual Arts Center at 256.341.0562.

Media Release/ Danielle Gibson, President & CEO
Decatur Morgan County Tourism, Inc.