Mobile Mardi Gras One Million Strong!

More than a million people packed downtown Mobile for the entire 2009 Mardi Gras season. Mobile Police say it was a safe season with no major incidents.

By: | WKRG-TV
Published: February 25, 2009

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MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - More than 143,000 revelers turned out for
Mobile's Fat Tuesday celebration as Mardi Gras ended safely, with
an overall attendance at more than one million.
Police gave that 143,000 attendance estimate for crowds that
jammed downtown all day Tuesday under sunny skies.
Police spokesman Cpl. Charles D. Bagsby Jr. said officers made a
total of 80 adult misdemeanor arrests and 14 juvenile misdemeanor
arrests on the final day.
Overall, police said the two-week carnival was safe, without
major incident. Police estimated the total attendance at a little
over one million.
It boosted businesses struggling with the slow economy. Bar
owner David Rasp called it a "once-a-year revenue opportunity"
needed more than ever this year.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)