The Order of Polka Dots was founded by 20 women in May 1949 and in 1950 was the first ladies' organization to parade in Mobile. According to Mardi Gras historian Emily Hearin, the ladies chose the name (which, for the first year, was written Polkadots) "because they liked the sound of it."
Still a robust and active group, the OOP was a trailblazer for a number of ladies' organizations.
The group's emblem is the Gypsy Queen, and its nine officers represent the nine ancient Greek Muses: Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpischore, Thalia, and Urania.
OOP rolled on February 9 at 6:30 p.m. The theme was 80s Ladies, and the parade included 15 floats, designed by Brent Amacker and built by Meagan Marler's Mythic Float Works. Costumes were by Seams to Be.
To see the Mask's exclusive photo album of the 2023 Polka Dots parade, place your cursor on the image below and click on the arrows.
To see the Mask's exclusive HD video of that parade, click HERE.
To see the Mask's exclusive HD video of the 2018 Order of Polka Dots parade, click HERE.
To see the Mask's exclusive album of photos from that parade, place your cursor on the image below and click on the arrows.
To see the Mask's exclusive HD video of the 2016 Order of Polka Dots parade, click HERE.
To see the Mask's exclusive album of photos from that parade, place your cursor on the image below and click on the arrows.
2017
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2020
2018
Order of Polka Dots
Archive
2019
To see the Mask's exclusive HD video of the 2019 Order of Polka Dots parade, click HERE.
To see the Mask's exclusive album of photos from that parade, place your cursor on the image below and click on the arrows.
2022
2023
To see the Mask's exclusive HD video of the 2022 Order of Polka Dots parade, click HERE.
To see the Mask's exclusive album of photos from that parade, place your cursor on the image below and click on the arrows.
To see the Mask's exclusive HD video of the 2017 Order of Polka Dots parade, click HERE.
To see the Mask's exclusive album of photos from that parade, place your cursor on the image below and click on the arrows.
To see the Mask's exclusive HD video of the 2020 Order of Polka Dots parade, click HERE.
To see the Mask's exclusive album of photos from that parade, place your cursor on the image below and click on the arrows.
2016