Parade Route

17th Annual Joan of Arc Procession

MONDAY January 6, 2025, 8 p.m. 

REVISED ROUTE AND LATER START TIME THIS YEAR, PENDING CITY APPROVAL, CHECK BACK FOR DETAILS

Parade starts at French Market Place and Barracks, right onto Decatur, past Joan of Arc statue, right onto Dumaine, left onto Chartres, past St. Louis Cathedral, pause for sword blessing ceremony, continue on Chartres, pause at Conti Street for toasts from the balcony of the Historic New Orleans collection, continue on Chartres, left onto Bienville, continue to S. Peters St., left on S. Peters, pause at Oscar Dunn Park (sidewalk amphitheater at Jackson Square, pause for king cake ceremony, continue on S. Peters back to Barracks Street, finish.

Joyeux Anniversaire, Jeanne d’Arc!
Celebrating St. Joan of Arc’s birthday and Twelfth Night, this annual  walking procession is a medieval-themed theatrical procession, inspired by Joan’s time in 1400s France.  Joan of Arc liberated the citizens of Orleans, France, from a British siege in her first victory in 1429—resulting in her moniker “The Maid of Orleans.” Our procession honors our own unofficial patron saint, The Maid of New Orleans: the beloved  golden French Quarter statue, a gift to the City of New Orleans from France in the 1950s, and our French history and heritage. It’s a short, family-friendly parade — quirky, whimsical and spiritual.  

If you’d like to learn more about our parade in advance, watch the video of our krewe storybook (Great for children!) or check out our detailed line-up.

The procession starts on time at 8 sharp, makes a few pauses for a bit of medieval pageantry, and ends around 9:30 p.m:

  • The sword blessing at Saint Louis Cathedral 
  • a pause to sing Happy Birthday at the Joan of Arc statue
  • a toast to the royalty and young Joan “Maid of Honor” in English and French from the balcony of the Historic New Orleans Collection
  • the crowning of the king and king cake ceremony at the end at Oscar Dunn Park (the sidewalk amphitheater next to Cafe Du Monde).  

Parking

  • Suggested best parking: Premium Parking Lot 407 (map, reserve).