Twelfth Night Fit for a King
We have a lot to look forward to as we enter the new year and Mardi Gras is one of them. Twelfth Night, also known as the Feast of the Epiphany, marks the beginning of the Carnival season. Usually, New Orleans celebrates with private balls and street parades to psych people up, and king cakes are in high demand. The city has a lot of exciting things planned for this year, so grab your friends and family, and let the good times roll!
St. Joan of Arc Parade
joanofarcparade.org
The St. Joan of Arc Parade will be held on Twelfth Night, January 6 at 7 p.m., in the French Quarter. The parade will begin at the corner of Bienville and N. Front Street, then will continue for three blocks on Bienville where it will turn right onto Chartres Street. From there, the parade will proceed down Chartres Street, with occasional pauses for royalty toasts from the balcony of the Historic New Orleans Collection Williams Foundation Building and the sword blessing ceremony at Saint Louis Cathedral.
When the procession reaches Ursuline, it will make a right, and then another right, onto Decatur. The parade continues on Decatur, pausing at the Joan of Arc statue to sing "Happy Birthday," to Washington Artillery Park where the parade concludes with a king cake ceremony.
Phunny Phorty Phellow's Parade
phunnyphortyphellows.com
Each year on Twelfth Night, the Phunny Phorty Phellows participate in a "Carnival Countdown" before loading up on a streetcar for a ride up and down the St. Charles Streetcar. The Phellows will load the streetcar at the Willow Streetcar Bar on S. Carrollton, and then the krewe will the streetcar down S. Carrollton to St. Charles Avenue. At the end, the krewe will return to the Willow Streetcar Barn.
Twelfth Night Celebration at the Sazerac House
101 Magazine St., 504-910-0100
sazerachouse.com
The Sazerac House is hosting a "Cheers to Carnival'' event at 5 p.m. on Twelfth Night, January 6, to kick off the Carnival Season. Admission to the event is $10 and includes three cocktails, King Cake samples, access to the Elektra Glitter Bar and entertainment by DJ87.
The event will begin with a communal Toast of Twelfth Night with the Mardi Gras Ojen Cocktail. Here, you can mingle with members of the iconic Mardi Gras Krewes while enjoying themed cocktails and Sazerac House's Pralines and Cream King Cake. Also, Sazerac House will be hosting The Golden Geaux-Cup Competition where the winner of the best decorated toast-ware will receive a prize. The celebration will end just in time for guests to continue the fun with the Joan of Arc parade.
Twelfth Night Party at Buffa's with Davis Rogan
1001 Esplanade Ave., 504-949-0038
buffasbar.com
Davis Rogan will be performing for the Twelfth Night Party at Buffa's on Saturday January 6, from 8-11 p.m. Rogan is a rhythm and blues musician and has performed at Buffa's many times before, as well as other local favorite music venues. Some of his hits include "Joe Biden will do Just Fine," "Mardi Gras Chicken!," and "Road Home." Tickets are $10.
Societé des Champs Elyseé Streetcar Ride
societedeschampselysee.org
On January 6 at 5 p.m., Societé des Champs Elyseé will be participating in a streetcar ride to celebrate Twelfth Night and the beginning of the Carnival season. The ride will begin at North Rampart Street and Explanade Avenue, and then proceed southwest down North Rampart.
When the procession reaches Canal Street, it will make a sharp right for one block before proceeding down Elk Place. The krewe continues down Elk Place to where it becomes Loyola Avenue. From here, the ride will continue until Union Station. Then, the ride will turn around and follow the same path until reaching the starting point at Esplanade Avenue.
