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. 
Artist/musician Amzie Adams creates the annual festival poster and opens the event each year.
BB St. Roman and Dr. Ina Fandrich.
Bruce Sunpie Barnes performs at the festival each year.
Ghanaian Priest Osofo Andrew spoke and performed.
Voodoo Authentica hosts the event each year, which was founded by owner Mambo Brandi C. Kelley. Click the image to read a FQJ story about Kelley from 2019.
Houngan Paige (right) worked sound for the event.
A few attendees:
Veteran street performer and Dumaine Street resident Warpo Cole and friend.
Queen Cherise Harrison-Nelson presents to the crowd.
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.
Find more stories on French Quarter Journal's home page, or check out our Hunkering Down blog. Enjoy FQJ? Reader donations help us cover the French Quarter as a community, not a commodity.
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