Second-line season returns for 2025–2026
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The Valley of Silent Men will hit New Orleans' streets on Sunday afternoon to begin the next second-line season.
Why it matters: It'll be a welcome celebration for the community after the season's start briefly looked to be in peril when, earlier this month, New Orleans police were poised to enforce what the City Council called misapplied and potentially cost-prohibitive rules.
The big picture: There are dozens of social aid and pleasure clubs across the city.
- The unique groups are rooted in a mutual aid tradition within Black New Orleans, and their annual parades honor that history and their ongoing commitment to celebrating life and developing community projects, like school supply giveaways.
- See this year's second-line schedule from WWOZ, and here's the route for the Valley of Silent Men.
Yes, but: Club leadership was informed this summer about a new NOPD plan to crack down on what it saw as dangerous behavior on the trailers and trolleys that have become part of the clubs' parades.
- The NOPD looked to apply a city ordinance to the trailers that would have required a level of insurance similar to a tour bus.
- In a contentious City Council meeting, Councilman JP Morrell said it was inappropriate to hold second-line trolleys to any standard beyond that expected of a Mardi Gras float.
- The NOPD maintained that its focus was on ensuring participants' safety.
What they said: "There needs to be a conversation about safety and harnesses and people can't dance on the roofs of trailers, but that's very different than making [the trolleys] have all the requirements of a party bus," Morrell said.
- "That is very, very, very different. The level of insurance required is astronomical."
Between the lines: It was a difficult moment for the NOPD and especially Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, whose approval rating was highest among select city leaders last fall.
- Public commenters lambasted Kirkpatrick for the intended policy, characterizing her as an outsider who doesn't understand New Orleans culture.
- "I made a commitment to this city that culture would be respected," she said early in the meeting. "The culture will be honored."
What we're watching: The City Council ultimately directed NOPD to apply the same standards it maintained for 2024–2025 until stakeholders could agree on new rules that wouldn't endanger the club traditions.
- Those standards have not yet been announced.