After years of allowing Carnival organizations to build and fund Mardi Gras parades at their own expense, the City of New Orleans has identified one remaining cost: paying the city for the privilege.
Mayor Helena Moreno’s proposal would charge Carnival organizations $850 per float, capped at $45,000 per parade, on top of what they already spend building floats, purchasing throws, and providing the finished parade to the public free of charge.
The revenue would help cover sanitation, public safety, and other essential city services, including studies of previous studies, emergency repairs to recent repairs, and outside consultants hired to determine why there is no money for sanitation or public safety.
Under the proposal, spectators would continue paying nothing, while krewes would assume more of the cost of providing them with something to watch, catch, and immediately abandon in the street.
“The public will not be charged,” one city official explained. “Krewes will continue covering the cost of Mardi Gras, plus the cost of being allowed to cover the cost of Mardi Gras.”
City estimates show New Orleans spends roughly $4 million more on Mardi Gras than it collects in related revenue, leaving officials with the difficult task of finding additional money without disturbing the word “free.”
Sources say the city is also studying a tiered spectator ticketing system. Free general admission would remain available several blocks from the parade route, where spectators could enjoy distant marching-band audio and occasional views of the tallest floats, weather permitting. Paid upgrades could include curbside access, unobstructed bead trajectories, and a premium viewing area close enough to confirm there are people on the floats.
The top-tier “A Place to VIPee” package, the most expensive of the free options, would allow holders to relieve themselves anywhere along the parade route, with cleanup funded by the $850 float fees. Restroom access would be sold separately.
Discussion of the krewe fee was recently postponed by the City Council, giving Carnival organizations additional time to explore sponsorships, dues increases, and the exciting possibility of fewer floats.
City officials stressed that no fee has been approved and Mardi Gras would remain completely free for spectators. Access to Mardi Gras would be sold separately.