Beau Tidwell, Spokesperson for Mayor of New Orleans LaToya Cantrell
The city of New Orleans’ website says there will not be any Mardi Gras parades in 2021. The announcement caught many by surprise. Director of Communications for Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Beau Tidwell, said the mayor has been consistent that Mardi Gras 2021 will have to look different because of the pandemic.
“Where we are given the conditions parading is impossible in those conditions right, a gathering under the state guidelines that exist, under the local guidelines, a large gathering over 250 people is not safe right now,” said Tidwell.
Tidwell said they are asking for input on how carnival season can be celebrated under the current guidelines of no gatherings larger than 250-persons. Carnival krewe captains have been asked to submit detailed plans on how they will comply with COVID-19 guidelines to the city by December 5th and the city will accept public input until December 4th.
“So your common sense would tell you parades that we have traditionally celebrated them here are not possible under the current guidelines, and that’s why we are asking for people to help us work on some creative alternatives,” said Tidwell.
Carnival season 2020 was noted as a super spreader event before a pandemic was declared and because of that Tidwell said Mardi Gras, 2021 will feel different.
“It has to be different. Given the public health emergency that we face, given what we know, we can’t proceed as if nothing has changed. And that’s why we’ve tried to work with the krewes throughout this and the Mayor has tried to be consistent in her message that it’s not canceled but it is really going to be different,” said Tidwell.
Fat Tuesday is February 16, 2021.
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