New Orleans, which became one of the nation’s first Covid-19 hotspots after last year’s Mardi Gras parades has cancelled this year’s parades, but not the spirit of the traditional celebration. Instead of parade floats, this year it’s house floats drawing the attention.
Hundreds of homes across the city have broken out in bright and sometimes elaborate front-yard displays, which some have dubbed ‘Yardi Gras.’ Among the unusual decorations are life-size dinosaurs in top hats, a cutout of a famous local chef with a steaming pot, bubble machines, and more.
In addition to home-made displays, the growth of ‘house floats’ has provided a stream of income for a number of otherwise unemployed artists and crafts people turning out decorations for homes.
