(Photo: Brendan Riley | CC Flickr)
New Orleans will experience a vastly different Mardi Gras in 2021, if at all, with Mayor LaToya Cantrell on Feb. 5 announcing additional restrictions ahead of the holiday, including no packaged liquor in the French Quarter, a ban on to-go drinks, and bar closures and no live music across the entire fucking city.
The restrictions go into effect 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 and will last until 2 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17.
Louisiana State Police will assist New Orleans Police, who were instructed to break-up gatherings, and possibly ticket or arrest those who do not comply.
In addition to the restrictions, there will be closures of several public spaces and parking restrictions all over the French Quarter.
Street closures limited access include:
- Decatur Street: closure from Dumaine and Toulouse streets
- Bourbon Street: limited access from Canal to Dumaine streets
- Frenchmen Street: limited access in the 500 to 600 blocks
Park closures include:
- Jackson Square: closure from Feb. 13 to Feb. 16
- Armstrong Park: closure from Feb. 13 to Feb. 16, not including people driving into the Basin Street entrance to use the COVID-19 testing site or employees reporting to work
- Washington Square: closure on Feb. 15 and Feb. 16
Washington Square will be monitored over the weekend and will be closed if “crowd activity” increases, according to officials.
No parking zones will be implemented on the following streets, between the intersections of Dauphine and Royal streets, from the hours of 12 p.m. to 3 a.m. between Feb. 12 and Feb. 17:
- Iberville Street
- Bienville Street
- Conti Street
- St. Louis Street
- Toulouse Street
- St. Peter Street
- Orleans Street
- St. Ann Street
Additionally, Canal Street will be closed from Convention Center Boulevard to Burgundy Street.