No Mardi Gras parades in Biloxi in 2021

With COVID spikes across the nation and the start of carnival season just around the corner, whether to cancel or go through with Mardi Gras celebrations is a decision many organizations and cities have been debating.

22nd.

- - with covid spikes across the- nation and the start of carniva- season just around the corner,- whether to cancel or go - through with mardi gras - celebrations is a decision many- orgnaizations and cities have - been debating.- news 25's grace boyles has more- on what went into the decision- to cancel mardi gras parades in- the city of biloxi.

- - biloxi mayor andrew "fofo" gilich announced wednesday- afternoon there will be no mard- gras parades in the city of - biloxi in 20-21, due to the - ongoing - coronavirus pandemic.

- mayor gilich said the city has- spent months looking at the - number of new cases, deaths, an- hospitalizations- in south mississippi.

- seeing no downward trend that - would allow parades - to safely take place in just- about 7 weeks, it was decided t- cancel the potential- super-spreader events.- kenny holloway, gulf coast- carnival association: "the numbers are not in our- favor.

We've waited as long as- we could wait.

And like the - mayor said, there's a - lot of planning that goes on- with this."

Councilman kenny glavan, krewe- of neptune: "i will assure you, members of our- crew-- leadership of our crew,- are completely heartbroken that- we- see the numbers that are not- going to allow us to hold the - night parade this year in - biloxi."

Grace boyles, news 25: "several gulf coast carnival association- have- already decided to cancel their- 2021 events, including north ba- area mardi- gras association, second liners- mardi gras club, and the st.- paul carnival - association.

Now, costal- mississippi mardi gras museum - adds its name to that - list, cancelling their kids - parade and their twelfth night- celebration."

Bill raymond, historical- administrator of biloxi: "we always kick-off the mardi gras- season, which is january 5th- with our twelfth night- celebration.

Since we - can't together this year.

It's- always a big party with lots of- people, we can't do - that this year, so we're going- to do it virtually at the - museum."

Halting mardi gras parades help- the biloxi police - department--which usually relie- on extra help from other- local departments during the- active carnival season- -- make sure officers stay safe- and healthy as well.- chief john miller, biloxi polic- chief: "the way this works is w lone officers out for - events like mardi gras every- year from all the cities aorund- - - us.

I don't think we would've - had that this year because most- of them cancelled and they- probably- cancelled for a reason.

They- didn't want their officers-- at- leat part of it-- out in- that."

This isn't the first time mardi- gras celebrations - have been called off.

In the- last 112 years, carnival has- been interrupted during times o- war and the 19-18 spanish flu - pandemic.

- biloxi mayor andrew "fofo" gilich: "it should not be a surprise.

It's been - done.

But we'll survive.- laissiez les bon temps rouler.- let the good times roll - again!"

In biloxi,