New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell joined NOPD Superintendent Shaun Ferguson today to announce Carnival parade routes and changes for the upcoming Mardi Gras season.
The mayor said weeks ago that the city may have to consolidate all of the parades onto one route because there are not enough cops to cover multiple routes at the same time.
"The big news and the best news is that Mardi Gras is returning to the city of New Orleans and to the World in 2022. It is happening," Cantrell said as she opened the news conference. "We have been working very hard and diligently working on public safety."
The mayor said after looking at all of the resources, every krewe was asked to make some accommodations.
"Changes to the routes are carefully considered."
Zulu President Elroy James and President of Rex James Reiss joined the city officials.
-The Uptown parades will have modified start locations, but stay on the Uptown route.
-Parades that traditionally started on the lakeside of St. Charles Avenue now will start at Carondelet and Napoleon.
-Parades that traditionally started on riverside of St. Charles Avenue will now start at Napoleon and Prytania.
-Endymion will remain on its original and traditional route with some modifications. The parade will not, however, pass in front of Gallier Hall. Another viewing and toasting location will be identified.
-Zulu will remain on its original route with some modifications. Route will be same as the 2020 route that bypassed the Hard Rock site.
-Rex will start on Napoleon at Carondolet
-NOMTOC will remain in Algiers with a new start location
Below are the changes announced to Mardi Gras parade routes for the 2022 parading season that begins February 18, 2022.
• Parades that form on Napoleon Ave. and S. Saratoga St. will this year form at Napoleon Ave. and Carondelet St.
• Parades that form at Holiday Dr. and Fiesta St. will this year form at Wall Blvd and Holiday Dr.
• Endymion will remain on its original route with the following modifications: • Turning right onto Elks Pl/Loyola Ave. instead of turning right onto St. Charles Ave.
• Turning right onto Girod St. from Loyola Ave. and proceeding to the rear of the Superdome.
• Endymion’s current route is over 5 miles long, while the average Uptown parade route is only 4 miles.
Zulu will remain on its original route, with the following modifications:
• After passing Gallier Hall, Zulu will turn left onto Poydras St. and right onto Loyola Ave.
• Zulu will then continue its original Basin St. route.
Rex will remain on its original route with the following modification:
• Rex will start on Napoleon Ave and Carondelet St. instead of S.
Claiborne Ave. and Napoleon Ave.
Elks and Crescent City will stay on their original route, which permits them to turn left onto Poydras St. from St. Charles Ave. and continue straight on Poydras St. to disband.
All parades which start on the riverside of Napoleon Ave., Jefferson Ave. and Magazine St., Tchoupitoulas St. and Henry Clay St. will this year form at Napoleon Avenue and Prytania Street.
• Parades that form on Napoleon Ave. and S. Saratoga St. will this year form at Napoleon Ave. and Carondelet St.
• Parades that form at Holiday Dr. and Fiesta St. will this year form at Wall Blvd and Holiday Dr.
• Endymion will remain on its original route with the following modifications:
• Turning right onto Elks Pl/Loyola Ave. instead of turning right onto St. Charles Ave.
• Turning right onto Girod St. from Loyola Ave. and proceeding to the rear of the Superdome.
• Endymion’s current route is over 5 miles long, while the average Uptown parade route is only 4 miles.