Fans of Betty White are giving the beloved actress a true Mardi Gras send-off on what would have been the day before her 100th birthday Sunday. Retired New Orleans realtor, Santa T Claus said it began as a passing thought the day after her death and has now grown into a full-blown parade and fundraiser.
“We thought we might have a hundred maybe 200 people. It’s going to be a few more than that I think now,” said Claus.
White’s birthday would have been on Monday but due to the Martin Luther King holiday, the parade was moved to Sunday. Claus said because the first lady of television loved animals’ attendees are more than welcome to bring their well-behaved four-legged friends. The parade begins at 4 o’clock at the corner of Bourbon and Canal.
“And we’re going to go right down Bourbon Street, to St. Ann, we’ll make a righthand turn, we’re going to go over to Jackson Square, and then we’re going to have a dedication and memorial right in front of the cathedral right there in Jackson Square,” said Claus.
Claus said attendees are also encouraged to bring a pet toy to donate and they are also raising money for the Villalobos Rescue Center in memory of the actress.
“Betty White even though she was a famous actress and a wealthy actress, the love of her life were animals. She helped rescue animals here after Katrina and she flew them to California,” said Claus.
It’s not the first time a Mardi Gras parade has memorialized an out-of-town celebrity, in 2017 actress Carrie Fisher was honored, and in 2016 both David Bowie and Prince received memorial parades.
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