The 2025 carnival season for 2025 starts on January with Mardi Gras 2025 falling on March 4. It was also announced recently that New Orleans will be the official host city for Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, 2025. So with the Super Bowl falling directly in the middle of carnival season, many people across the city are wondering what impacts the big game will have on the city.
The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus has been the first Mardi Gras krewe to announce a change to their plans based on the Super Bowl timing. A disturbance rippled through the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus leadership when they realized that their 2025 parade would coincide with the night before the Super Bowl, scheduled to be held in the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, February 9.
Concerns arose among the Chewbacchus organizers, or “overlords” as they are known, as they feared challenges in securing a downtown venue for their traditional post-parade gathering. Additionally, there were worries about the potential depletion of hotel rooms, restaurant bookings, and other amenities due to the influx of visitors for Super Bowl LIX weekend. This disruption threatened to complicate the plans of krewe members and out-of-town enthusiasts of the beloved science-fiction-themed walking parade.
To compound matters, the leaders of Chewbacchus expressed uncertainty regarding the New Orleans Police Department’s capacity to cover both the citywide pre-football festivities and the extensive Chewbacchus parade route, which winds through the Faubourg Marigny and French Quarter.
In light of these concerns, Chewbacchus made the decision on Friday to move its parade from February 8 to February 1, effectively sidestepping the majority of potential conflicts. This adjustment comes as a relief to many, alleviating worries and ensuring smoother proceedings for all involved.
Chewbacchus, which was named for both Han Solo’s furry sidekick in the “Star Wars” movies and the Roman god of wine, first rolled in 2011. The parade is one of the local favorites and also one of the biggest walking parades of the season. So now everyone can make plans to attend and not worry about the extra pressures of the Super Bowl.