Unlike last year, though, the tradition gatherings and parades won’t happen for Mardi Gras. Instead, residents are decorating their homes like parade floats and other iconic Mardi Gras moments. They call it Yardi Gras.
The mayor's office released a statement reassuring the people of New Orleans that Mardi Gras 2021 is "not cancelled, just different." And so it will be. Mayor Cantrell asked the community to brainstorm safe and COVID-19-friendly ways to celebrate and it’s happening.
Krewe of Red Beans even created the Hire a Mardi Gras Artist program, where residents can make a donation to the fund and in exchange, enter the chance for their house to be carnival-sized!