Thousands turn out for Joe Cain Day

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - There was a big crowd outside the Church Street Cemetary in Mobile even before the Merry Widows arrived Sunday.

Many of them were there to kick off a double celebration. Joe Cain Day fell on Valentine's Day this year.

It was a perfect combination for sweethearts.

"You get the whole nine yards. Gotta get some of those black beads, and I got my Valentine right here," said Charlie and Bonnie Shuhlman.

"It's actually pretty cool. It kind of put the pressure off of the whole day," said Meggan Holden.

"I think it's really sweet, it's fun. It's an awesome day to celebrate Valentine's Day," Rikki Lake said.

Even the Merry Widows got the day started with a visit to the gravesite of their favorite Valentine, Joe Cain.

After a little mourning, it was time for a lot of partying.

Following the gravesite ceremony, the Joe Cain parade hit the streets around 2:30.

"It's really fun. I already got beans. She found them. I found them on the ground," said one young parade goer.

There were also plenty of beads and moon pies flying through the air.

Many of the folks catching the throws know Joe Cain is the man who revived Mardi Gras in Mobile after the Civil War.

"It stopped for a while, and Joe Cain got him a couple of people together, and they got on some kind of wagon or whatever. They say we need to do something to have a good time, and they started partying all over again, and the rest is history," said Rose Ruffin.

Ruffin said she comes to Mardi Gras every year from Nashville.