Mobile...the Moon Pie Capital of the U.S.?

OK, they make them in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and no doubt eat them there as well.  But the city of Mobile, Alabama, has raised the the Moon Pie Bar to new levels.  

Last night, we were at the Mardi Gras parade there and while waiting for it, a new friend pointed to a building and said that was a giant 12-foot high moon pie that the city raises to 200 feet at the stroke of midnight to set off the celebration.  This tradition goes back to 2008.  That same year, the town also set a record for largest Moon Pie ever made, some 55 pounds worth of goodness weighing in with a mere 45,000 calories.

Then, during the parade, besides assorted ballistic beads to catch or duck, there were mini-Moon Pies thrown from the floats.  Let me tell you, a Moon Pie, even a mini-Moon Pie will wake you up if it hits you.

Mini Moon Pies became "throws" at Mardi Gras parades in Mobile in 1956.

And, let me tell you, I am not a big fan of Moon Pies, but we ate one of those Moon Pie Mini Mint Crunches when we got back to the motel and it is one of the best things I've ever eaten.  I will be looking for a box of them to buy the rest of the vacation.

A few other interesting Moon Pie facts from Wikipedia:

**  The western-most Moon Pie "Throws" are in Slidell, Louisiana, which also has a Krewe of Mona Lisa and Moon Pie.

**  Oneota, Alabama, has an annual Moon Pie eating contest which started when the local Wal-Mart ordered too many of them one year.

Oh, Give Me a Moon Where the Krewes Do Throw.  --RoadDog