VOODOOFEST on the Blue Moon Halloween
Queen Cherise Harrison-Nelson was one of the presenters at the 22nd annual VoodooFest on rue Dumaine in the French Quarter.
Hosted by Voodoo Authentica, this educational and spiritual event has taken place on Halloween for the past 22 years. This year, it coincided with a rare blue moon that rose over the final ancestral healing ceremony.
- photos by Ellis Anderson
Editor's note re. health precautions: VOODOOFEST attendees were required to wear masks and practice social distancing, with hand sanitizer being distributed often. OPSO Detail Officer and 12 COVID-19 protocol enforcers were onsite to ensure public safety. Although the street was blocked to vehicular traffic, it was open to pedestrians and some of those passersby were unmasked. Also, several folks temporarily took off their masks when we asked to photograph them.
Queen Cherise Harrison-Nelson presides over the Release of the Doves ceremony. The first dove was released by Mambo Brandi to honor Mama Lola. The second dove was released by Mambo Maggie to honor Papa Fan Fan. The third dove was released by Queen Cherice to honor her father, who was a Big Chief of the Mardi Gras Indians. Ghanaian Priest Osofo Andrew says a few words to honor the ancestors.