Author Archives: joankrewe

Costume Pick-Up This Weekend: Tonight, Saturday or Sunday

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Thank you so much for signing up to be a foot soldier in Joan of Arc’s Army!  Remember that you MUST pick up your costume before parade day. What would be most helpful for us would be for everyone to pick up at the storage unit the weekend of Dec. 19-21 if you can. We’d still love for you to COME to New Year’s Work Party, but the more costumes picked up in December, the fewer costumes need to be hauled over to the New Year’s Work Party.

Costume pick-up dates are:

  • 5-8  p.m. TONIGHT Friday Dec. 19 at the krewe storage unit;
  • 9 a.m. – noon Saturday Dec. 20 at the krewe storage unit;
  • 4-8 p.m. Sunday Dec. 21 at the krewe storage unit;
  • 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.  Thursday Jan. 1 at the krewe New Year’s Work Party at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

More about the foot soldier costumes: Foot Soldier Costume Guide

Picking up at the krewe storage unit (Dec. 19, 20 and 21)

Foot soldier costume pick-up at the krewe storage unit #2 (right near the front gate) at the Public Storage at 3900 Tchoupitoulas. Krewe volunteers should be within sight from the gate, so you can park outside the gate and wave for them to let you in, or you can call Antoinette 504-717-1451 to open the gate for you.

NEW ROUTE AND START TIME: DETAILS

Seeking a foot soldier coordinator and team

We’d love to have more help with managing the foot soldier costumes, assigning foot soldiers to volunteer slots, and directing foot soldiers on parade day. Contact the captains if you’re interested in leading this effort OR in helping out with the costume pick-ups, costume inventory, etc. 

Let us know where you want to be assigned

Usually we have a question on our foot soldier application about where you want to be placed or who you want to be assigned with. That question is there now, but we FORGOT that question for a few months. Many of you told us in the open-ended comments about your preferences, but if you’re not sure if you did, feel free to contact us to let us know who you want to be placed with.

Foot Soldiers, where is your costume from last year????

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If you did not return your costume last year, we need it desperately!

We are missing a LOT of foot soldier costumes from last year and with the increased cost of this year’s permit, we REALLY do not have the money to buy more. We need them THIS WEEK. Ways to return your costume:

  • TODAY! Bring it to tonight’s throws workshop at Captain Amanda’s house, 7-9 p.m., Wednesday Dec. 17, 7330 Sycamore map
  • Leave it on Captain Antoinette’s porch 617 Hyman Drive, Metairie (map) There’s a small wooden coffin on her porch (who knows why), and you can leave it inside that coffin.
  • Bring it to the foot soldier costume pick-ups this weekend at the krewe storage unit at 3900 Tchoupitoulas (map). Call Antoinette when you arrive 504-717-1451 to let you in the storage unit gate, and our unit is right by the entrance.
    • 5-8 p.m. Friday Dec. 19 at the krewe storage unit
    • 9 a.m.-noon Saturday Dec. 20 at the krewe storage unit
    • 4-8 p.m. Sunday Dec. 21 at the krewe storage unit

You can leave your costume on Captain Antoinette’s porch at 617 Hyman Drive, but do NOT leave it on Captain Amanda’s porch.

Workshop and Tea Light Kit Pick-Up Tonight

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Wednesday Dec. 17, 7-9 p.m., 7330 Sycamore Street

Come pick up a kit to make some of our 3500 tea light votives at home over the holidays and bring back your assembled votives to the New Year’s Work Party.  These are super easy, nothing more than a strip of scotch tape. This workshop is 7-9 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 17 at the home of krewe co-captain Amanda Helm, 7330 Sycamore St.  (map). We make many tea lights during our New Year’s Work Party, but it really helps if we have a head start with a lot of finished tea lights coming in as the work party starts! We fully encourage being authentically medieval and getting all your family to be your tealight serfs over the holidays!

We’ll also be finishing up other throws projects — stay to help or drop in for a quick kit pick-up as your schedule permits. You’re welcome BUT ABSOLUTELY NOT REQUIRED to bring wine or snacks to share.

Full members’ included throws

As usual, full members do receive some “free” throws included with your membership price: a bag of 20 tea lights, 20 prayer cards, a box of 50 matches, a collector pack of one of each playing card, and 5 doubloons. These throws will be available for you to pick up ONLY at the New Year’s Work Party, 11 a.m. to 3. p.m. at St. Andrew’s. Individual members get one bag, which you share with your companion if you have a companion. Companions are not eligible to receive their own bag. But DONOR members can take two bags (one for each of you, since the donor membership includes parading rights for 2).  

If you cannot pick up your membership-included throws on New Year’s Day, the best strategy is to have a friend pick up your bag for you. If that doesn’t work for you, you must email Captain Amanda BEFORE New Year’s Day to have her set aside a bag for you, and then make arrangements to pick it up later.  Bags that are neither reserved or picked up are given away to others at the close of the New Year’s workshop! 

We do it this way because once the tea lights are assembled they become bulky and fragile — it’s easy to manage a little bag of 20, but it’s quite a problem to store or transport 3,500! Also, since these items are all dated, we especially want to ensure they all end up being distributed on the parade route this year!

Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Work Party

Most members have a reason to at least stop by this workshop, which makes it a bustling party. Full members will be picking up throws, foot soldiers will be picking up costumes, and everyone will be working on making our signature tea light throws. 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Parish Hall of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church at the corner of Carrollton and Zimple (1031 S. Carrollton, map). Enter from the side door on Zimple. Show off your own projects or bring a snack or wine to share if you like.  Delicious holiday leftovers welcome. Dress: casual.

Hang around until the end if you want to score some extra tea lights — at 3 p.m. any member bags that were not picked up will be given to others.

Volunteers needed: Sign up to help with loading in, packing out, or food.

Get the scoop on the upcoming New Year’s Work Party, Cathedral Mass and Second-Line, and Medieval Banquet in the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc Party Planner

Our parade costs have risen dramatically

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Last year’s police cost was about $1,500, and the initial price the city quoted us for this year’s parade was $12,000! We revised our route and are hoping to get that down closer to $7,000. We have received the green light for the new route, but we have not yet received the new price quote. Meanwhile, our storage unit rent has increased from $558 per month to $855 per month (an increase of about $3,500 per year); our insurance costs also doubled from about $1,500 to nearly $3,000; and our required parade trash clean-up contract may increase as well. This is well beyond the cushion in our budget, so please be generous with your krewe purchases this year. Also, full members, don’t forget you can add one companion for $50 (limit one companion per full member). 

Thank you to our donors

We want to thank those who have already given extra gifts beyond membership — they are truly needed this year, now more than ever!  We would like to acknowledge those who gave donor-level memberships:

  • Patron Saints: George Corey, Cynthia Krus (aka Artist Cleo), Richard and Judy Helm, and one anonymous donor.
  • Nobility Members: Ed Azemas and Charles Coleman, and Cathy Rehfus-Wilsek and Richard Wilsek, 
  • Cavalry Members: Columbia Barrosse, Tonya Brown, John and Frannie Conner, Alex and Suzanne Labry, Rachel Lyons, Ember Mandell, and Kirk and Amy Ruffo.

We also thank the many krewe members who have donated their time. We are an all-volunteer organization with no paid staff. In fact, the captains, Founder Amy, and all our board members are paying members who purchase their throws and tickets. The skills and creative artistry our members contribute is priceless! 

To make an extra contribution or upgrade to a donor membership:

Coronation tomorrow night!

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Monday, Dec. 15th Coronation and Kick-Off Party at the Degas House

Sign up to help with set-up, sales and pack-up!

Order throws by 8 a.m. Monday to to pick up at the Coronation Party

Kick off the season with this very special krewe-only “mandatory” party announcing our 2026 king, queen and Maid of Honor as well as other updates. Full members, group members and foot soldier volunteers are all invited to this coronation and kick-off party 7-9 p.m. This is an important moment of unity for our krewe, and we hope krewe members will do everything in their power to be part of it. 

  • FREE. Hors d’oeuvres and Cash bar
  • We’ll announce our 2026 Maid of Honor (award to a local teen leader), Queen Yolande (community award to a female business leader), and King Charles VII (award to a community leader who embodies New Orleans’ French connection). 
  • Dress: holiday party/krewe colors of blue and gold, krewe bling (not costumes). 
  • Signature throw orders will be ready for pick-up (pre-order your throws!) and on-site sale. 
  • Note: If you did NOT select the Coronation Party as your pick-up, your throws are not ready and will NOT be at the party. Membership-included (“free) throws should be picked up 

The Degas House, where Impressionist painter Edgar Degas lived and worked, is one of the few official French national landmarks outside of France, and its owner, our first king David Villarubia, was knighted for his work on the award-winning restoration and museum.

Get the scoop on the upcoming New Year’s Work Party, Cathedral Mass and Second-Line, and Medieval Banquet in the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc Party Planner

Throws workshop and Take-Home Throws Kit Pick-Up Wednesday Dec. 17

Come pick up a kit to make some of our 3500 tea light votives at home over the holidays and bring back your assembled votives to the New Year’s Work Party.  These are super easy, nothing more than a strip of scotch tape. This workshop is 7-9 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 17 at the home of krewe co-captain Amanda Helm  (map). We make many tea lights during our New Year’s Work Party, but it really helps if we have a head start with a lot of finished tea lights coming in as the work party starts! We fully encourage being authentically medieval and getting all your family to be your tealight serfs over the holidays!

We’ll also be finishing up other throws projects — stay to help or drop in for a quick kit pick-up as your schedule permits. You’re welcome BUT ABSOLUTELY NOT REQUIRED to bring wine or snacks to share.

Foot soldier costume pick-up

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Foot soldier costume pick-up dates!

Thank you so much for signing up to be a foot soldier in Joan of Arc’s Army!  Remember that you MUST pick up your costume before parade day. What would be most helpful for us would be for everyone to pick up at the storage unit the weekend of Dec. 19-21 if you can. We’d still love for you to COME to New Year’s Work Party, but the more costumes picked up in December, the fewer costumes need to be hauled over to the New Year’s Work Party.

Costume pick-up dates are:

  • 5-8 Friday Dec. 19 at the krewe storage unit
  • 9-noon Saturday Dec. 20 at the krewe storage unit
  • 4-8 Sunday Dec. 21 at the krewe storage unit
  • 11-3 Thursday Jan. 1 at the krewe New Year’s Work Party at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

More about the foot soldier costumes: Foot Soldier Costume Guide

Picking up at the krewe storage unit (Dec. 19, 20 and 21)

Foot soldier costume pick-up at the krewe storage unit #2 (right near the front gate) at the Public Storage at 3900 Tchoupitoulas. Krewe volunteers should be within sight from the gate, so you can park outside the gate and wave for them to let you in, or you can call Antoinette 504-717-1451 to open the gate for you.

Seeking a foot soldier coordinator and team

We’d love to have more help with managing the foot soldier costumes, assigning foot soldiers to volunteer slots, and directing foot soldiers on parade day. Contact the captains if you’re interested in leading this effort OR in helping out with the costume pick-ups, costume inventory, etc. 

We still need more foot soldiers, so invite your friends

Friends can list your name in the comments section to be placed with you. Here’s the sign-up!

Let us know where you want to be assigned

Usually we have a question on our foot soldier application about where you want to be placed or who you want to be assigned with. That question is there now, but we FORGOT that question for a few months. Many of you told us in the open-ended comments about your preferences, but if you’re not sure if you did, feel free to contact us to let us know who you want to be placed with.

2025-2026 Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc Party Planner

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Confetti cannon firing in the 2025 parade

Photo by Kim Welsh

Mark your calendar: 2025-2026 Pre-Parade Events with Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc

35 action-packed days until the parade!  Crafting, costume sewing, puppet and prop construction and music and flag rehearsals are all in full swing!  Be part of the fun for 2026!

Details of All Events Below

 

royal crowns and armor waiting to be presented to the court

Monday, Dec. 15th Coronation and Kick-Off Party at the Degas House

Kick off the season with this very special krewe-only “mandatory” party announcing our 2026 king, queen and Maid of Honor as well as other updates. Full members, group members and foot soldier volunteers are all invited to this coronation and kick-off party 7-9 p.m. This is an important moment of unity for our krewe, and we hope krewe members will do everything in their power to be part of it. 

  • FREE. Cash bar and hors d’oeuvres.
  • We’ll announce our 2026 Maid of Honor (award to a local teen leader), Queen Yolande (community award to a female business leader), and King Charles VII (award to a community leader who embodies New Orleans’ French connection). 
  • Signature throw orders will be ready for pick-up (pre-order your throws!) and on-site sale. 
  • Dress: holiday party/krewe colors of blue and gold, krewe bling (not costumes). 
  • Sign up to help with set-up, pack-up etc.
  • The Degas House, where Impressionist painter Edgar Degas lived and worked, is one of the few official French national landmarks outside of France, and its owner, our first king David Villarubia, was knighted for his work on the award-winning restoration and museum.

 

View of bustling room at New Year's Work Party

Photo by Gary H. Jones

Thursday, January 1: New Year’s Work Party

Most members have a reason to at least stop by this workshop, which makes it a bustling party. Full members will be picking up throws, foot soldiers will be picking up costumes, and everyone will be working on making our signature tea light throws. 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Parish Hall of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church at the corner of Carrollton and Zimple (1031 S. Carrollton, map). Enter from the side door on Zimple. Show off your own projects or bring a snack or wine to share if you like.  Delicious holiday leftovers welcome. Dress: casual.

Volunteers needed: Sign up to help with loading in, packing out, or food.

 

Krewe Joan of Arc, 2nd Line parade from cathedral to statue and restaurant

Photo by Gary H. Jones

Sunday, January 4th: Mass, Second Line and Jazz Brunch

Join your fellow krewe members for 9 a.m. worship at Saint Louis Cathedral the Sunday before the parade. In the spirit of Joan, worship is the way to begin any important endeavor!  After mass, the Soul Heirs Band will lead us in a jam and second line 4 blocks from the Cathedral to the Joan of Arc statue, where we’ll do a jazz brunch at Market Cafe.  You can attend the mass, second line, brunch or all three, but you’ll need an advance ticket for the brunch.  Dress: second line spirit, krewe colors blue and gold, krewe gear, medieval-inspired (not costumes). You may want to get a krewe umbrella!

 

NOLA Angels flag corps performs at the 2025 medieval banquet

Photo by Gary H. Jones

Monday, January 5: Pre-Parade Medieval Banquet at Livaudais Hall

We’ll have king cake, a hot buffet supper, wine at your table, and medieval music, 7-9:30 p.m. Caterer Jacques-Imo’s makes us a medieval roast pig and a full medieval menu of roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, and fig compote.  Two bottles of wine are provided per table, and you may also bring your own wine. We’ll be welcoming the French “Jeanne d’Arc” and the rest of the delegation from our sister city Orléans, France. Luke Brechtelsbauer and friends will entertain us with medieval music, and we’ll have a drum and chant performance of Joan’s trial. Show off your beautiful medieval costume and share a sneak preview of your throws with friends! All paraders are invited to purchase tickets — full members, honoraries and their entourage, group members, performers, and foot soldier volunteers. Paraders may also purchase non-member tickets for your guests. Tickets are $75 for members, $15 extra for non-members. BUT after  December 25th, ticket prices will increase to $85, and after January 1, ticket prices will increase to $95, so buy your ticket now! Dress: Medieval costumes are strongly encouraged. Many krewe members (including foot soldier volunteers) wear their parade costumes.  There is street parking near the hall. 

We need volunteers to help with set-up and pack-up for the banquet. Sign up here!

* – Yes, the banquet ticket price has increased, but please note that even with this increase and a sell-out crowd, ticket sales do not quite cover the cost of the event.  We DO expect a sell-out though, so get your ticket now.

 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6th, PARADE!!!!!

Photo by Gary H. Jones

Line-up at French Market (same as last year)

Report to French Market vendor parking lot around 90 French Market Place to line up (map), costumed, ready to go, and carrying only what you plan to carry in the parade.  Foot soldiers and leaders will arrive by 5:45 p.m. to unload the props; full members should be there no later than 6:30 p.m. to roll the parade at 8 p.m. sharp.  Arrive in costume. Come early so you have time to see everything and get your photo taken. Best parking is in Premium Parking Lot P407, the long lot running along the river behind the French Market.

8 p.m. Parade!!!! 

We’ll kick off Carnival season at 8 p.m. sharp, make our stops to salute the Joan of Arc statue, the sword blessing ceremony, toasts in French and English to our court, and the king cake ceremony at Oscar Dunn Park (sidewalk amphitheater by Cafe Du Monde). (Route and stop details) 

Remember that we are a family-friendly parade and also a saint procession with a ceremony at the Cathedral.  Marchers are required to hold off on the adult beverages until after the parade. We’ll be done around 9:45 p.m.; surely you can wait that long!

Route changes: We’ve been assured that we WILL be permitted to parade in the Quarter in spite of the ongoing street construction, with some modifications to our route. Modifications have not yet been finalized but the new route due to construction will likely be a little longer than usual, 1.7 miles; so you may wish to plan for extra throws. These changes will not be finalized until closer to the parade date.

 

Members Only website 

Remember, the Members Only page (password:   Joan1412  )  is where you can order throws, view and order prints of last year’s photos from our amazing volunteer photographers, and find the costume guide, throws guide, downloadable logos, relevant coats of arms, and characters wanted.  And our online Joan library is full of not only books but also music, movies and TV shows.

2026 Paper Doll throw, with two outfits what the New Orleans young Joan wears in our parade and what the guest French Jeanne d'Arc wears in our parade

Order your throws now!

Calling all foot soldiers to battle!

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Thanks so much for volunteering with Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc in the past!  We hope you’d like to parade with us again on January 6, 2026, and now’s the time to sign up!    Enlist here

Our foot soldier volunteers are essential to the Joan of Arc parade. They carry banners, shepherd props, and walk along the sides of the parade as security. As in past years, it’s free and we provide a costume. Foot soldiers are welcome to attend all our free events and may purchase tickets for ticketed events. There’s a comment box on the form where you can note which section of the parade you want to be in, or who you want to be placed with, so get your friends to sign up with you!

The sooner you sign up, the sooner you can start joining us for fun events such as our upcoming coronation party Monday December 15th!

More ways to volunteer

Helping with the parade isn’t the only way to volunteer!  We’d love to have your help at throws and props workshops. 

  • TODAY! Sunday Nov. 23, 1-4 p.m.: Throws workshop @ Captain Amanda’s
  • Wednesday, Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m.: Throws workshop @ Captain Amanda’s
  • Sunday Dec. 7, 1-4 p.m.: Throws workshop @ Captain Amanda’s
  • Thursday, Dec. 11, 5:30 p.m.: Throws workshop @ Captain Amanda’s
  • Saturday Dec. 13, 1-4 p.m.: Throws workshop @ Captain Amanda’s

Come craft 2026 throws with us at the home of krewe captain Amanda Helm at 7330 Sycamore St. (map)  All skill levels are welcome and all supplies will be provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own tools if you prefer. These are a great way to connect with other krewe members, get your questions answered, show off your own krewe projects, and bounce ideas.

Feel free to show up to workshops anytime. No need to be registered with us. Workshops and other open events are posted on our website calendar.

Throws workshops tonight and Saturday

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Get your raffle tickets now for this handmade 12×16 mosaic glass shield!

We could use your help at throws workshops

  • Thursday, Dec. 11, 5:30-8:30 p.m.: Throws workshop @ Captain Amanda’s
  • Saturday, Dec. 13, 1-4 p.m.: Throws workshop @ Captain Amanda’s
  • Wednesday, Dec. 17, 7-9 p.m.: Tea light kit pick-up and workshop @ Captain Amanda’s

Come craft 2026 throws with us at the home of krewe captain Amanda Helm at 7330 Sycamore St. (map)  All skill levels are welcome and all supplies will be provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own tools if you prefer. These are a great way to connect with other krewe members, get your questions answered, show off your own krewe projects, and bounce ideas. 

Save the date! Coronation Party and first throws pick-up Monday December 15th.

Mark your calendar for this “mandatory party” Dec. 15. Pick up your signature throw orders, purchase throws and merchandise on-site, and meet our 2026 royalty and Maid of Honor at this private members-only party, one of our biggest social events — all levels of membership are welcome — including foot soldiers, group members and royal entourage as well as our full members. Cash bar.

Handmade mini quote journal book

 

Throw Sales for 2026 have launched!

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La Hire knight figure and playing card

100 Years War hand-embellished collectible toy soldiers set

Check out our 2026 throws line-up with lots of exciting new stuff. Here’s the direct link to the krewe store: https://joanofarcparade.org/store/  Get your orders in now to pick-up at the first pick-up the December 15th coronation party at the Degas House. It’s not uncommon for some items to sell out before the party, so don’t wait too long to place your order.

Remember that in the Members Only section of the website you can find the krewe store, costume guide, throws guide, downloadable logo files, and more. The case-sensitive password is:  Joan1412    .  Plus, you can learn all about Joan in our online library, including movies and music as well links to items available through our area physical libraries.

We could use your help at throws workshops

  • Saturday Nov. 15, 1-4 p.m.: Throws workshop @ Captain Amanda’s
  • Wednesday, Nov. 19, 5:30 p.m.: Throws workshop @ Captain Amanda’s
  • Sunday Nov. 23, 1-4 p.m.: Throws workshop @ Captain Amanda’s
  • Wednesday, Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m.: Throws workshop @ Captain Amanda’s
  • Sunday Dec. 7, 1-4 p.m.: Throws workshop @ Captain Amanda’s
  • Thursday, Dec. 11, 5:30 p.m.: Throws workshop @ Captain Amanda’s
  • Saturday Dec. 13, 1-4 p.m.: Throws workshop @ Captain Amanda’s

Come craft 2026 throws with us at the home of krewe captain Amanda Helm at 7330 Sycamore St. (map)  All skill levels are welcome and all supplies will be provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own tools if you prefer. These are a great way to connect with other krewe members, get your questions answered, show off your own krewe projects, and bounce ideas.

Save the date! Coronation Party and first throws pick-up Monday December 15th.

Mark your calendar for this “mandatory party” Dec. 15. Pick up your signature throw orders, purchase throws and merchandise on-site, and meet our 2026 royalty and Maid of Honor at this private members-only party, one of our biggest social events — all levels of membership are welcome — including foot soldiers, group members and royal entourage as well as our full members. Cash bar.

Get your raffle tickets now for this handmade 12×16 mosaic glass shield!

Handmade mini quote journal book