Spread the word about our route and time change

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Start at Decatur and French Market Place, continue on Decatur to Dumaine Street (pause to sing Happy Birthday at the Joan of Arc statue), right on Dumaine, left onto Chartres, continue down Chartres with a stop at Saint Louis Cathedral for the sword blessing ceremony, stop at Conti Historic New Orleans Collection balcony for toasts, left on Bienville, left on Decatur, stop at Oscar Dunn Park sidewalk amphitheater for king cake ceremony, continue down Decatur/S. Peters back to French Market.

Revised Route and new later 8 p.m. start time for Joan of Arc Parade 2025 (Always January 6)

Key points to tell the public:

  • Starts at 8 p.m. and ends around 9:45 p.m. Check the route map for details.
  • The king cake ceremony will be a ceremonial stop
    • NEW THIS YEAR!  The PUBLIC is invited to fill the amphitheater risers, where they can enjoy an excellent view of the king cake ceremony and the entire parade. The public is invited to bring king cake or purchase king cake from Bon’s New Orleans Street Food Cafe next to the park, and take their first bite with us during our king cake ceremony! We are excited that Bon’s has agreed to stock king cakes to sell to the crowd.
    • NEW THIS YEAR! Following the king cake ceremony, the parade will continue back to the French Market, passing the statue for a second time on the S. Peters side around 9:45.

Help us spread the word

  • Share the route and time change news with your networks
  • Get familiar with the route yourself so you can answer questions from others
  • We need help to spread the word to businesses along the new and old route. Sign up to cover a few blocks to get the word out and get flyers posted.
  • If you see outdated route or time information posted anywhere, let the website, business, etc. know about the change and direct them to our website for the correct information.

Why the change?

Police recommended a change. Most importantly, this change significantly reduces the amount of time our parade blocks both directions of traffic on Decatur. Lengthening the route (even by just a few blocks) gives our growing crowd a little more breathing room. Starting later allows the French Quarter business traffic to clear out now that January 6 falls on a weeknight.

Changing the king cake ceremony to a stop and continuing the parade in formation all the way back to our starting point will streamline our pack-up process and help ensure we get our props and foot soldier costumes back promptly. 

Change is always an adjustment, but let’s make sure to focus on the positive as we spread the word.

Parade Instructions for the Krewe

  • Be sure to review the detailed instructions for your parade role! 
  • Everyone in the parade must have a wrist band, and needs to arrive at the line-up at 90 French Market Place in your costume ready to parade, carrying only what you plan to carry in the parade. There is no place at the line-up to leave anything or to change clothes. It’s a parking lot.
  • Foot soldiers report for duty at 5:45 p.m. and get their parade wristband when they check-in.
  • Everyone else needs to arrive by 6:30 p.m., and ideally you already have your wristband and know where you should go.
  • All groups — schools, performance groups, and king and queen entourage, can have one leader pick up the wristbands for the whole group in advance at the New Year’s Work Party or a workshop at Amanda’s house. 
  • Full members can pick up their wristbands in advance at New Year’s, the banquet, or any of the workshops at Captain Amanda’s house. If you have your wristband already, you can skip the check-in at the parade and go straight to your place in the parade line-up.