SOULARD, Mo. – Preparations are in place and pleasant weather is expected for the grand finale of Mardi Gras 2024 this weekend.
Tens of thousands of people are expected in Soulard, and organizers are asking attendees to be respectful of the neighborhood.
“We’re in the process of putting up over 100 tents, from 200 square feet to 15,000 square feet,” Bess McCoy of the Mardi Gras Foundation board said. “And of course, there will be more than 1,500 portable restrooms in the neighborhood and if you can’t find one, you’re not looking hard enough.”
No cans, coolers, bottles or backpacks will be allowed in Soulard on parade day.
“It’s hard to believe we need to say this, but do not urinate on the streets, sidewalks, houses, cars, trees, flowers, or on the property of the residents and businesses downtown,” Capt. Pierre Benoist from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said.
Organizers recommend having a plan when going with friends to have a meetup spot, as cell service will not be reliable.
Parking is restricted to Soulard residents only. No motorcycles, golf carts, e-scooters or cars will be allowed in the neighborhood.
MoDOT will also be closing several ramps, including Arsenal, Gravois, Russell and Park Avenue, from northbound Interstate 55. When traveling southbound on I-55, Seventh Street will be closed.
New this year is Carni Gras, a carnival featuring games, treats, a legal cannabis consumption tent and a high-heeled drag race.
According to the Office of the Mayor of St. Louis, Angela Pearson, Mardi Gras generates more than $20 million for the St. Louis economy.
“An impact comparable to hosting a world series,” Pearson said.
