Parade Route

17th Annual Joan of Arc Procession

MONDAY January 6, 2025, 8 p.m. 

REVISED ROUTE AND LATER START TIME THIS YEAR

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, right 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.

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.  

The procession starts on time at 8 sharp, makes a few pauses for a bit of medieval pageantry, and ends around 9:45 p.m. NOTE THAT THE ORDER OF THE STOPS HAS CHANGED, as the route will be “backwards” compared to previous years.

  • Starts at French Market Place and Barracks, left onto Decatur
  • A pause to sing Happy Birthday at the Joan of Arc statue as we pass it on the Decatur side; 
  • Right up Dumaine, left onto Chartres
  • The sword blessing at Saint Louis Cathedral;
  • a toast to the royalty and young Joan “Maid of Honor” in English and French from the balcony of the Historic New Orleans Collection;
  • Left onto Bienville, left onto S. Peters
  • the crowning of the king and king cake ceremony at Oscar Dunn Park (the sidewalk amphitheater across from Jackson Square).  
    • 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. Get your king cake from Bon’s New Orleans Street Food Cafe next to the park, and take your first bite with us during our king cake ceremony!
  • 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.
  • Ends at French Market Place and Barracks

Parking

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

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.

 

Detailed Line-Up Instructions for Parade Participants