ST. LOUIS – Thousands of Mardi Gras revelers will return to the streets of Soulard this year after the pandemic forced it to be virtual last year.
All events produced by Mardi Gras, Inc. will comply with the City public health orders. They will also have entry requirements for indoor events affiliated with the event’s organizers.
Here are the entry requirements for indoor events:
All guests 12 and older will be required to show proof of full vaccination via a print or digital version of an official government-issued COVID-19 vaccination card
Or you can provide a print or digital copy of a negative COVID-19 PCR or rapid test within 72 hours of event.
A photo ID will also be required to match and confirm vaccination and testing information.
Indoor events include:
- February 25: Mayor’s Ball
- February 26: Bud Light Party Tent, Blues Alumni Tent, all Mardi Gras Village tents, and all events in Bud Light Party Centre.
Other venues operated by neighborhood bars or restaurants are not affected by these safeguards and each establishment makes its own entry requirements. You can find more information at Soulard Mardi Gras's site.
- Arrive early. You may even want to book a nearby hotel room for Friday and Saturday to eliminate parking hassles and ensure you have plenty of time. Several hotels offer shuttles to and from or provide access to plenty of cabs.
- No cans, no coolers, no bottles, no backpacks. No exceptions. For public safety reasons, these items are not allowed in the Soulard festival zone. If you do somehow manage to have these items in the festival zone, you will be asked to dispose of them immediately.
- Dress for the weather. St. Louis weather is notoriously fickle, so plan appropriately. The Grand Parade rolls on, rain or shine, and you’ll be on your feet a lot, so wear comfortable shoes.
- Use the port-a-potties. There are thousands of portable restrooms located throughout the festival zone. The police will ticket you for, let’s say, using alternate outdoor methods. If you can’t find one, you’re not really looking.
- Don’t drive. Take a shuttle, a taxi, a ride-share service, or, if you must drive, have a DD.
- Respect our neighborhood. As one of the oldest residential and entertainment districts west of the Mississippi, Soulard is recognized as a national historic jewel. Be respectful of the neighborhood and its residents.
Outdoor sales in Soulard end early at 7 p.m. Soulard’s bars and restaurants will remain open on the inside until 11:30 p.m.
There are two designated taxi/Uber/Lyft locations for Grand Parade Day:
South 13th Street and Russell Boulevard (west entry to Soulard, near Gravois and Russell), and 1511 South 10th Street (LaSalle Park neighborhood, near South 10th and Marion Street, at the west end of the I-55 pedestrian bridge). These sites are shown on the Grand Parade Day map.
