Comedy and television icon Betty White has been the subject of a number of tributes since passing away at the age of 99 on New Year’s Eve.
But no one gives out flowers quite like the Crescent City.
New Orleans will hold a second-line parade in White’s honor on the day before what would have been her 100th birthday: Sunday, January 16, at 4pm in the French Quarter.
The parade was originally scheduled for her actual birthday, but was moved after fielding some concerns over its placement on Martin Luther King Day. Dr. King's commemorative day this year falls on Monday, January 17.
White’s importance to one particular New Orleans institution was made public following her death after having been a secret for over 15 years.
A spokesperson for the Audubon Aquarium relayed how White spent $70,000 to relocate the attraction’s otters and penguins to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in the days following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The jaunt memorializing the famed “Golden Girl” will start at the corner of Bourbon Street and Canal Street, then head down to St. Ann Street and turn right towards Jackson Square. The parade is being bankrolled by Santa T. Claus and Carl Mack Presents.
The Bourbon Street Brass Band will lead the parade, which will also double as a fundraiser for animal rescues.
A GoFundMe page called Birthday Bucks for Betty has been set up for donations to help defray parade costs like police escorts, route cleanup, permits and signage. Any money raised past the parade’s costs will be donated to Villalobos Rescue Center in New Orleans.
Paradegoers are invited to bring their pets, and dog toy donations will be collected.
This story has been updated to reflect the change in the event date.
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