Photo by Kim Welsh. Check out more fabulous photos of foot soldiers (maybe even YOU!), videos and press coverage here.

Thank you, foot soldiers, for your valuable volunteer service for our 2023 parade. We couldn’t do it without you! As a thank-you we’re offering foot soldiers a special discount if you want to upgrade to full membership so you can financially support our year-round activities, hand out throws and choose your own costume for 2024. The discount expires after Mardi Gras 2023!  To join as a full member, fill out the application here, then on the payment page, add your membership to your shopping cart, then enter FOOTSOLDIER in the coupon code box when you check out.

Your discount is $25 off, a 20% discount. After Mardi Gras, you’ll still have access through the website menus to our regular membership prices, which increase on Joan’s Feast Day May 30 and All Saints Day Nov. 1. 

If you prefer to remain as a free foot soldier, that’s cool. We still need you and love you, and you can still come to any of our events.  You can also re-enlist as a foot soldier here.

Fantastic weather, fantastic crowds, and mostly only the right kind of excitement — what a great “roll” for 2023!  Thank you for all your creativity, your attention to detail, and your enthusiastic, energetic performances. Thank you to all those who headed off problems before we noticed, from the foot soldiers warning of potholes to the people armed with safety pins, duct tape and zip ties.

View our glowing press coverage here and see videos of our parade in action here. Our volunteer photographers Kim Welsh and Gary H. Jones have posted more than 600 pictures of our parade, mass, second line and banquet from 2023 on our Shutterfly share site.  The Shutterfly site includes many photos of individuals (maybe even YOU!) High-res versions of the drone photos that have been circulating on social media are there too (thank you, Marco Rasi!).  Be sure to open the several different “albums” to see all this year’s photos. The password for the Shutterfly share site is Joan1412. You don’t need to be a member of Shutterfly or our share site to view photos, but if you create a free Shutterfly account you’ll also be able to save photos to your own account and from there order prints (including one-hour from Walgreens and CVS), make photo books, etc.  We’d love to see your photos too!  Request to become a site member if you’d like to use Shutterfly’s upload tool, or just email us if you just want to share a few good shots.

Drone photo of the 2023 Joan of Arc parade by Marco Rasi

Photo by Gary J. Jones

Photos are already uploaded from our volunteer photographer Gary H. Jones, including some terrific shots of individual participants, maybe even YOU.  You can view, download and order prints of the photos on our free Shutterfly share site, password:   Joan1412  .  You do NOT need to create a Shutterfly account to view the photos unless you want to place an order.  We’d love to have your photos of any of our events including our upcoming parade, and Shutterfly has a pretty easy upload system for large batches of files, so just email us if you’d like to create a free Shutterfly account and become a “member” of our share site so you’ll be able to upload.

Meet the 2015 French “Jeanne d’Arc” tomorrow at Columns!

Greetings fellow Krewe members. 
 
We are pleased to share that we will be hosting a special visitor, Ines Canut, who played the role of Jeanne d’Arc in Orleans, France, in 2015. Ines will be here for only a short visit, arriving on January 4th, attending the Krewe Pre-Party on January 5th, and participating in the parade on January 6th. 
 
After arriving in New Orleans the morning of Wednesday, January 4th, we thought it would be nice to take her to the beautiful Columns Hotel on Saint Charles Ave. for an opportunity to say “bonjour” to people in the krewe. Coffee and light snacks are available at the Columns espresso bar (menu). 
 
Please feel free to come by the Columns (3811 St Charles) between noon and 1:00 on 1/4/23 to help us welcome her to the city and the Krewe. 
 
Questions or comments? Contact Gretchen Zalkind 504-439-4530 or Joan Fox 504 427-2877

Sunday, January 1st: Mass, Second Line and Brunch

Only one ticket left for the brunch, but all are welcome to join us for the mass and second line!

• 9 a.m. Mass at Saint Louis Cathedral (map)
• 10 a.m. Second Line with the Soul Heirs Brass Band (4 blocks from Cathedral to Joan statue)
• 10:30 a.m. (ish) Brunch at Market Cafe at the foot of the Joan statue once the second line arrives (buy a ticket)
• Dress: Second line spirit, Krewe colors blue and gold, krewe gear. Mass-appropriate!  Medieval inspiration is always welcome but most adults do not costume for this.

9 a.m. Mass 

• The Krewe will have reserved seats toward the front. When you arrive, hang out at the back of the church near the entrance doors and wait with the Krewe.  Look for the group dressed in our krewe colors, blue and gold. Let the usher know you’re with us.
• The Krewe will process up to our reserved seats when the usher cues us.
• Please represent the Krewe well by arriving on time and looking appropriate.
• Immediately after the mass ends, the ushers will cue us to process out behind the priest (Father Phillip Landry), and on the Cathedral steps he will briefly bless the handmade wooden swords our young Maid of Honor will hand out in the parade.
  • This means you need to anticipate the worship endpoint and gather your purse and jacket in advance for a smooth exit. Plus you’d hate to be too slow to catch the blessing.

10 a.m. Second Line with the Soul Heirs Brass Band 

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. 

10:30 a.m. Buffet Brunch at Market Cafe (if you bought tickets)

Pick up membership-included (free) throws at the Work Party Monday!
Full members are entitled to one package of battery tea light candles, a pack of 25 prayer cards, a box of 50 Flaming Heretic matches to give away on the parade route, and, for your own mementos, a pack of 5 of this year’s doubloons and one of each of this year’s playing cards. Full members share this package with any companion or child members under their membership (companions and kids do not get their own throws package).

Drop in the work party at St. Andrew’s any time between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to pick up your package. (1031 S. Carrollton, side entrance on Zimple, map)

At 3:30 p.m. we will give away any throws bags not picked up!  

• If you CANNOT pick up your throws on Monday, you can have a friend pick up your throws for you (easiest for us) or, if you want us to make a special effort to set aside your throws for you, you MUST reserve your throws in advance by email or text.
• Hang around the work party after 3:30 p.m. if you are hoping to score some extra throws.

Tea Light Serfs — remember to deliver your finished tea lights at 11 a.m.

First, a huge grateful thank-you to all the people who helped assemble tea light candles over the holiday. Just reminding you that we need you to deliver your finished tea lights right at the start of our work party at 11 a.m. Monday January 2 at St. Andrew’s (1031 S. Carrollton, side entrance on Zimple, map).  We’ll need to add the matches and other goodies to your tea light bags, and people will be eager to pick up their finished packages, so we’ll need them right at the start.

Everyone needs a parade wristband

The wristband is how our security will know who is legitimately in our parade, so we need every single man, woman and child, every performer and musician to have one. This involves confirming you are on the list as parade eligible.  Avoid bottlenecks at the parade line-up check-in desk by picking up in advance. 

3 Ways to get your wristbands

• At the January 2nd Work Party 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at St. Andrew’s (1031 S. Carrollton, side entrance on Zimple, map)
• At the January 5th pre-parade dinner party check-in table 
• At the January 6th parade line-up check-in desk before 5:30 p.m. (300 N. Front St., map)

YES, you can a friend or family pick up yours for you, but do coordinate those plans because we will mark off each person as picked up, so the same name will not be able to pick one up later.

GROUP LEADERS should pick up for the whole group.

Dragon workshop Thursday, Dec. 29

Calling our prop artists to the home of Captain Amanda from 2-8 p.m. this Thursday Dec. 29 (7330 Sycamore St., map). Jobs for any skill level (including zero skills!). Our goal is to finish our dragon Adversaire at this workshop — we’ll be hand sewing to attach his skin and creating his legs.

Props and Banners Workshops Parade Week

The Army of Artists at work! We’ll be making some new banners, spot cleaning and ironing existing banners,  replacing batteries and repairing props, and whatever needs to be done to get our props ready for parade day. All these workshops are at 7330 Sycamore St., map, the home of Captain Amanda. Jobs for any skill level (including zero skills!). If you sew, you might want to bring a sewing machine for working on the new banners.

• Sunday, January 1, 3-6 p.m.
• Tuesday, January 3, 2-5 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 4, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Work Party January 2 at St. Andrew’s 

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. – 4 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.  Potluck snacks, delicious holiday leftovers welcome. Dress: casual.

Throws pick-up and in-person sale

Order throws now for pick-up at the January 2 workshop!  We’ll also have throws and keepsakes for sale in person January 2. Many throws have already sold out, so don’t wait too long to order yours!  

Get your tickets now!!!!

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

• Sunday, January 1, 9 a.m.-noon Mass at Saint Louis Cathedral, second line and jazz brunch at Market Cafe (Get your tickets!)
• Monday, January 2, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. New Year’s Work Party, last throw pic
  k-up and foot soldier costume pickup at St. Andrews Parish Hall
• Thursday, January 5, 7-9:30 p.m. Pre-Parade Dinner Party at Livaudais Hall  (Get your tickets!)
• Friday, January 6, 4:45-5:30 p.m. Line-up at 300 N. Front
• Friday, January 6, 7 p.m. PARADE!!!!
• Member Resources: costume guide and krewe store

Details of all events below

Sunday, January 1st: 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).

Monday, January 2: 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. – 4 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.

Thursday, January 5: Pre-Parade Dinner at Livaudais Hall

We’ll have king cake, a hot buffet supper, medieval music and dancing, and a cash bar, 7-9:30 p.m. Caterer Jacques-Imo’s is going to make us a medieval roast pig! Livaudais Hall (LEE-vo-day) is a new venue for us, and we’re excited about the larger space and the chance to create a more medieval atmosphere with the wood interior, hung with our banners of the cities Joan liberated. The Bells and Motley band will be back again to entertain us on authentic medieval instruments and lead the dancing. We’ll also have a drum and chant performance by Skinz-N-Bonez, the bones gang that parades with us as Joan’s murderous judges. Show off your beautiful medieval costume and share a sneak preview of your throws with friends! All paraders are invited — 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 $50 for members, $10 extra for non-members. BUT after  December 25th, ticket prices will increase to $60, and after January 1, ticket prices will increase to $70, so buy your ticket now! Dress: Medieval costumes are strongly encouraged. Many krewe members (including foot soldier volunteers) wear their parade costumes.  There is ample street parking near the hall.

Thursday, January 5: Twelfth Night Yule-Carnival Transition Ceremony

At the close of the banquet at 9:30, we’ll carry lanterns out to the adjacent grotto to meet the Krewe of Krampus for the light ceremony celebrating the Twelfth Night transition from the Yule season represented by Krampus to the Carnival season represented by us. This will be our third year for the ceremony. Like us, Krampus has its roots in medieval Europe. Krampus puts on a highly artistic walking parade around Krampus night (this year their parade is Dec. 3).

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6

4:45-5:30 p.m. Parade Line-Up

Report to the corner of Bienville and Front 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 4:45 p.m. to unload the props; full members should be there no later than 5:30 p.m. to roll the parade at 7 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 P402, and we can use the restrooms inside the Jax during the line-up. 

7 p.m. Parade!!!! 

We’ll kick off Carnival season at 7 p.m. sharp, make our stops for the French Consul/Historic New Orleans Collection toasts, the sword blessing ceremony at the Cathedral, salute to the Joan of Arc statue, 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.  Please hold off on the adult beverages until after the parade. We’ll be done around 8:30 p.m.; surely you can wait that long!

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 (password same), 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.

Queen Beth Arroyo Utterback, King Joseph Dunn, and Maid of Honor Emmeline Meyer

December 16, 2022, New Orleans: The Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc is pleased to announce the 2023 Honorary Characters!
 
The Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc held a coronation reception and ceremony at the historic Degas House on December 15. The krewe, which will parade for the fifteenth time on January 6, 2023 celebrating St. Joan’s 611th birthday, selects the honorary characters in the parade in recognition of their service to the community and their embodiment of the mission of the krewe and the spirit of Joan of Arc.
 
King Charles VII will be portrayed by JOSEPH DUNN, director of public relations and marketing at Laura: Louisiana’s Creole Heritage Site. Mr. Dunn is also a Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite and a member of the Order of Francophones of America. The krewe honors Joseph Dunn for his ongoing role in celebrating our French heritage and preserving and promoting the development of the language of our ancestors and communities.
 
Queen Yolande, the mother-in-law of King Charles and supporter of Joan, will be portrayed by BETH ARROYO UTTERBACK, general manager of WWOZ 90.7FM, New Orleans. The krewe honors Beth Arroyo Utterback for her embodiment of the spirit of Queen Yolande by her support of the community and the culture bearers who enrich our lives.Our royalty have chosen to honor community culture bearers by including them in their parade entourages.
 
The young Maid of Orleans will be portrayed by EMMELINE L. MEYER, a 17-year-old senior at Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans and the daughter of Andrea and Kenny Meyers.  She won the contest held to select the young woman who best represents qualities of Joan. Her facility in the language of France, her school leadership at her French immersion school, and her longtime enthusiasm for portraying Joan singled her out this year. Our maid will be accompanied by her pages portrayed by her father and uncle. 
 
The court was presented by krewe founder, Amy Kirk Duvoisin, and Co-Captains Antoinette de Alteriis and Amanda Helm.
 
Joseph Dunn stirred the crowd with these words, “If there is any message that I want to communicate to you tonight and throughout my reign, it’s the fact that the French and Creole languages in Louisiana are not simply relics of some far-away past that exists only in historic documents, artifacts, or Cajun music. They are not “broken” and they are spoken by a very diverse mosaic of people that includes Native Americans, Afro-descended people, and Euro-descended people. I want to challenge you to help me change this narrative, change the way we talk about these languages, and change our relationship to them. If gumbo is not a foreign food, If jazz is not foreign music, If French Quarter buildings are not foreign architecture, If Carnival is not a foreign celebration, Then French and Creole are NOT FOREIGN LANGUAGES in LOUISIANA. They are HERITAGE LANGUAGES. And they are our most undeveloped natural, green, renewable resource!” Read his full speech and bio.
 
In her acceptance speech, Beth Arroyo Utterback spoke of Queen Yolande, “She was a politically astute power broker who employed her considerable directorial, logistical, and persuasive skills to save Orléans.  Amazingly, Yolande was born in a Northern Spanish province just three provinces away from where my Arroyo family ancestors lived!”

Arroyo went on to say, “As a native New Orleanian whose family has lived here for more than 300 years, I am thrilled to be part of this parade and theatrical procession through the magical French Quarter. I dedicate my reign to everyone who holds New Orleans in their heart-to all of our musicians, artists, culture bearers, and Guardians of the Groove. And finally, I dedicate my reign to the caregivers-the unsung heroes who are, in fact, superheroes every day.”

Her entourage will include members of the incredible staff of WWOZ- the worldwide voice, archive, and flag-bearer of New Orleans Music and Culture heard daily in over 190 countries around the world–and the station that brought you Jazz Festing in Place. Read her full speech and bio. 
 
In her acceptance speech, given in French and English, Ms. Meyer, a member of the first graduating class of Lycée Français, the first public French immersion high school in the United States, expressed her passion in these inspiring words, “Joan’s resilience is an example of New Orleans. Our city remains unbowed, in spite of threats to our future; we have found our “joie de vivre”–we embrace life, even in the face of death.” Read her full speech.