MoonPie Over Mobile is Thursday, Dec. 31: a free downtown party with a kids' noon drop, a second-line parade and the giant MoonPie dropping at midnight.

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from the organizers’ site, moonpieovermobile.com, and the City of Mobile’s 2026 events calendar. Restaurants are listed only when they announce New Year’s Eve plans on their own pages.

New Year’s Eve is Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026. Mobile rings in the new year with MoonPie Over Mobile, a free downtown street party that the City of Mobile lists on its 2026 events calendar. At midnight, a 12-foot, 600-pound lighted MoonPie drops 317 feet in 60 seconds from the 34th floor of the RSA Trustmark building. The celebration began on Dec. 31, 2008, and organizers say it draws more than 50,000 people.

Who to call

  • MoonPie Over Mobile: contact form
  • City of Mobile Special Events: 251-208-1550
  • Mobile Police non-emergency: 251-208-7211. Emergency: 911.

The schedule

Organizers had not posted the 2026 running order as of Oct. 17. Their schedule page still showed the last celebration, New Year’s Eve 2025, and the event has followed the same shape each year:

Last year’s time What happened Where
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids Zone: bounce houses, crafts, MoonPie treats and a second line to the drop Mardi Gras Park
Noon Noon Year’s Eve MoonPie drop for kids Downtown
6:30 p.m. DJ on the main stage between acts, through 12:30 a.m. Main stage
7:30 p.m. Best Decorated Umbrella Contest; the Jukebox Brass Band plays Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel courtyard
7:45 p.m. Cutting of the World’s Largest MoonPie Hotel courtyard
8:10 p.m. Second-line parade, led by elected officials, to the main stage; bring a Mardi Gras umbrella and join in Courtyard to main stage
8:30 p.m. Opening remarks Main stage
8:45 p.m. Kickoff performance, Jukebox Brass Band Main stage
9:30 p.m. Opening act Main stage
11 p.m. Headliner Main stage
Midnight Countdown and MoonPie drop Main stage

Who is playing in 2026: the organizers’ entertainment page listed the headliner and opening act as “TBA” as of Oct. 17. The Jukebox Brass Band is confirmed for the courtyard set, the second-line parade and the kickoff on the main stage. We will update this page when the organizers post the lineup.

Getting there and parking

From the organizers’ FAQ:

  • Street parking and paid lots downtown. The Mobile Civic Center and GulfQuest lots have offered spaces for $10 until full.
  • Park-N-Ride shuttle: park at the Southeastern Salvage store lot, 1100 West I-65 Service Road South, and ride to Mardi Gras Park, Royal and Government streets, for $3 round trip. The first shuttle has left at 6 p.m. and the last left downtown at 1:15 a.m.
  • Organizers recommend rideshare or a taxi for the trip home.
  • Second Line Transit buses do not run on New Year’s Day; check its holiday list for New Year’s Eve service.

What to know

  • It is free. There is no charge to attend. A paid VIP area in front of the stage, with re-entry wristbands and VIP restrooms, is optional; it bars chairs, blankets, glass, weapons, professional cameras and children under 12.
  • Drinks: the party is in the LODA (Lower Dauphin) Entertainment District, where drinks bought at bars and restaurants may be carried onto the street. Bring ID.
  • No age limit, but the main events run late. Families with young children have the noon Kids Zone and drop.
  • Why a MoonPie: Mobile holds America’s first Mardi Gras, and the MoonPie has been the favorite float throw since 1952.

New Year’s Day

Friday, Jan. 1, 2027: Second Line Transit does not run on New Year’s Day. In 2026 the city skipped garbage and yard trash pickup on New Year’s Day and ran those routes the next Saturday, and closed its recycling centers; the city had not posted its 2027 holiday schedule as of Oct. 17. Check our trash and recycling page before you put the carts out. Downtown parking meters are free on New Year’s Day under the city’s parking program.

Frequently asked questions

Is MoonPie Over Mobile free?

Yes. There is no cost to attend the New Year’s Eve celebration downtown. Organizers also sell an optional paid VIP experience with a spot in front of the stage.

What time does the MoonPie drop in Mobile?

At midnight. The 12-foot, 600-pound electronic MoonPie drops 317 feet in 60 seconds from the 34th floor of the RSA Trustmark building. A separate kids’ MoonPie drop is held at noon.

Where do I park for MoonPie Over Mobile?

Organizers point to downtown street parking, paid lots, the Mobile Civic Center and GulfQuest lots ($10 until full in past years) and a $3 round-trip Park-N-Ride shuttle from 1100 West I-65 Service Road South.

Who is headlining MoonPie Over Mobile 2026?

As of Oct. 17, the organizers’ entertainment page still listed the 2026 headliner and opening act as to be announced. The Jukebox Brass Band leads the second-line parade and kickoff.