Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, New Orleans will not be conducting its annual Mardi Gras parade in 2021.
What We Know:
- Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced in a statement on Tuesday that the most tourist-drawing event in New Orleans, Mardi Gras, will not be celebrated in the same manner as previous years. “Mardi Gras … [is] a season of traditions that we celebrate every year, a time that the community comes together in formal, fun, and often unexpected ways,” the statement reads. “With COVID-19 cases increasing around the country, we will have to modify how to observe [Carnival] season. … We are surrounded by hot spots and we don’t know what the future holds in store for us.”
- The decision comes as Covid-19 cases are surging nationwide. Louisiana has seen more than 205,000 confirmed cases and 6,139 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
- Although the holiday cannot officially be canceled due to religious reasons, the traditional parade and party that takes place will not be allowed. The public decision to prohibit these celebrations comes after Krewe du Vieux, a popular carnival organization, announced it would not be parading next year.
- In attempts to still celebrate Mardi Gras, the Mayor’s office is asking the public for suggestions on safe, socially-distanced ways in which people can participate, as well as themes for next year’s festivities. Ideas will be accepted through December 5th, after which they will be reviewed by the city’s public safety and health team.
- The cancellation will also harm new Orleans’ businesses and organizations that profit significantly from the parade. The Roots of Music, a nonprofit, is projected to lose $60,000 in funding, according to the organization’s executive director Suzanne Raether. Furthermore, a study by WalletHub found that Mardi Gras had an economic impact of more than $1 billion in New Orleans.
Mardi Gras is set to take place on February 16, 2021, and although Bourbon Street and Frenchmen Street will stay open, the city still requires everyone to wear masks in public and maintain social distancing.
