New Orleans – Giving up was never in New Orleans’ DNA, so the cancellation of Mardi Gras parades because of the pandemic, an old tradition has not killed, but a new one: Yardi Gras.
It’s a parade where spectators are the ones on the move and houses are littered with decor. “Every time he gets older, I want to look back and show him how Mardi Gras was quarantined,” said Alyssa Hicks, a mom.
Yardi Gras started as a social media joke. Megan Boudreaux tweeted that without parades she would turn her home into a float. Today, some 3,000 homes in New Orleans are part of an immobile porch parade.
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“I am absolutely blown away by how exaggerated the response was,” said Boudreaux.
On First Street, it’s like shark week – they put their teeth in. Further up, neighbors honor a local favorite, the Cafe Du Monde fritter.
“New Orleans is going to have a good time anyway,” said one resident.
To help the community, some homeowners hired unemployed performers or hired props from struggling float companies. Some residents hope that the decorated houses will become a tradition.
From the wild to the whimsical, the stationary parade has brought neighbors together, turned Mardi Gras into a literal house party, and found a way to let the good times roll.
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