USA, New Orleans, Louisiana, Fleur de Lys and street in background

Twelfth Night is coming! Here’s how to celebrate the start of Carnival season

by Mary Staes | January 2, 2019

So you thought the “holidays” were over?

Catch your breath while you can, because Sunday is the official start of Carnival season, and this year it’s going to be a doozy. Almost twođź‘Źfullđź‘Źmonths of Carnival season are on the horizon; this year, it’s definitely not a sprint, it’s a full on Ironman marathon.

Here’s what’s going on Sunday to celebrate Twelfth Night, and there’s no Saints game, so you can focus!

Ready, set….

Joan of Arc Parade

Saint Joan of Arc’s birthday is also largely celebrated on Twelfth Night, and the patron saint of soldiers and France even has her own golden statue in the French Quarter.

An annual walking parade through the French Quarter celebrates her birthday Sunday, with participants dressed as different depictions of the saint, with everything from armor to wings and halos adorning their costumes. The parade usually starts at 7 p.m. Click here for the route and more information. 

Phunny Phorty Phellows

 

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And so it begins! #mardigras #phunnyphortyphellows #carnival #neworleans #thisisnola

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Known as the first parade of Carnival season, the Phunny Phorty Phellows is a krewe that goes back to 1878. It was revived in 1981 by a small group of friends, and a year later, the tradition of riding a streetcar to begin in the Carnival season started. The ride begins at 7 p.m. Click here for route information. 

Funky Uptown Krewe

There’s a new krewe on the avenue this year! Following the Phunny Phorty Phellows, will be the Funky Uptown Krewe. They’ll also be riding a streetcar, where inside, the party will be DJ’ed by Mannie Fresh. The krewe’s signature throw will be a mixtape featuring some of the city’s most recognized bands, including the Hot 8 Brass Band, Big Sam’s Funky Nation and Cowboy Mouth. Only 1,000 of the mixtapes will be thrown, so make sure you get your hands on one. Click here for the route and more information.

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Mary Staes

Mary Staes

Mary Staes is Digital Content Lead for Very Local. She works with our freelancers and crafts content for our social media platforms and website. Before Very Local, she worked with CBS affiliate WWL-TV as a web producer and weekend assignment editor for about 4 years. She has also handled broadcast coverage for 160 Marine Reserve training facilities while she served as an active duty Marine. As a native New Orleanian, she takes being "very local" to heart. She loves being intertwined with the culture and figuring out how there are less than two degrees of separation between us all, whether we're natives or not.

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