Mardi Gras 2023, Predicting where and when the New Orleans parades will roll next year
Mardi Gras 2023 takes place on Feb. 21, and the traditional Carnival season starts up a few weeks earlier on Jan. 6. We know that for sure. Here's our prediction of what will happen in between.
Please take the following parade schedule with a grain of salt. Though parades follow certain patterns year after year, we won’t be sure of all the dates, times, routes, and themes until the end of 2022. Still, if you’re asking for vacation time and buying airline tickets in advance, this list is a pretty good bet.
We’ll be updating as more information becomes available, so check back.
Joan of Arc
Friday, Jan. 6, 7 p.m., French Quarter
The Carnival season traditionally kicks off on Jan. 6, and the Joan of Arc parade leads the charge. Established in 2008, the parade is a birthday party for the 15th-century, teenage warrior woman, who triumphantly led an army during the Hundred Years War and later became the patron Saint of New Orleans. That's the upside.
The downside was that she was also accused of heresy and infamously burned at the stake.
Blending history, anachronism, feminism, Crescent City cultural identity, marvelous costuming and a touch of Mardi Gras madness, the Joan of Arc parade is always a masterpiece.
For more information, visit the Krewe de Jeanne d'Arc website.
Phunny Phorty Phellows
Friday, Jan. 6, 7 p.m., St. Charles streetcar route
Phormed in 1981, the Phunny Phorty Phellows is a rolling costume party that takes place aboard a St. Charles Avenue Streetcar. Not a parade per se, the Champagne-fueled, satirical streetcar ride draws a crowd at its starting spot at the Willow Street Car barn, as it heralds the start of the Carnival season in Uptown New Orleans. The group takes its name from a bygone Carnival Club that marched from 1878 to 1898.
For more information, visit the PPP website.
Funky Uptown Krewe
Friday, Jan. 6, 7:05 p.m., St. Charles streetcar route
Established in 2019, the streetcar-borne Mardi Gras group, which is devoted to one of New Orleans best-loved musical styles, rolls behind the Phunny Phorty Phellows’ annual streetcar ride on the first day of Carnival. Krewe members dispense hand-decorated, vinyl record albums from the windows of the streetcar.
For more information, visit the FUK Facebook page.
Société Des Champs Elysée
Friday, Jan. 6, Rampart Street streetcar route
Formed in 2017, the group was a downtown answer to the Phunny Phorty Phellows’ season-opening, Uptown streetcar party. In 2022, the Société skipped its customary streetcar ride in favor of a neighborhood foot parade.
For more information, visit the krewe’s website.
Krewe of Nefertiti
Sunday (before Feb. 10, exact date undetermined), 1 p.m., New Orleans East
Premiering in 2020, the all-female brought Carnival parading back to the neighborhoods of New Orleans East for the first time since the Krewe of Minerva ceased parading there in 1992. Named for the legendary leader of ancient Egypt, the float parade will roll along Lake Forest and Read boulevards.
For more information on these queens of the Nile visit the krewe website.
Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus
Saturday, (before Feb. 10, exact date undetermined), 7 p.m., Marigny-French Quarter The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is a nerd-friendly, science fiction-oriented, foot parade named for Bacchus, the Roman God of wine, and Chewbacca, the furry "Star Wars" sidekick.
The assorted aliens, space heroes, robots, monsters, and cosmic musicians of Chewbacchus first hit the streets in 2011. With annual dues, starting at a mere $42, the do-it-yourself krewe grew to become what may be Carnival’s largest marching club, with 2000-plus members.
For more extraterrestrial information, visit the Chewbacchus website.
Krewe Boheme
Friday, (before Feb. 10, exact date undetermined), 7 p.m., Marigny - French Quarter
The mostly female krewe was inspired by absinthe, a formerly outlawed liqueur favored by Belle Époque artists, which is reputed to have hallucinatory properties. The dreamy Boheme parade sashayed through the downtown streets for the first time in 2019, led by their languid mascot, a green absinthe fairy -- imagine an Art Nouveau Tinker Bell that follows the Grateful Dead.
For further elucidation, visit the krewe’s Facebook page.
Krewe du Vieux
Saturday, (before Feb. 10, exact date undetermined), 6:30 p.m., Marigny - French Quarter
Expect paper mache sexual allusions and political satire aplenty from this procession of costumed marchers, mule-drawn mini floats, and spirited brass bands. Established in 1987, Krewe du Vieux is known for the sort of recklessly adolescent humor that sensible, sensitive folks avoid. Which is why the rest of us wouldn’t miss it.
For more information visit the KDV Facebook page.
krewedelusion
Saturday, (before Feb. 10, exact date undetermined), 7:15 p.m., Marigny - French Quarter
Krewedelusion, one of Mardi Gras' most eccentric, eclectic parades, usually follows immediately behind Krewe du Vieux through most of its trek, with homemade min-floats, dance troupes, and marching groups including the Mexican Krewe de Mayahuel and Kreweleidoscope (formerly Krewe du Seuss).
For more information, consult the krewedelusion Facebook page.
'tit Rex
Sunday, (before Feb. 10, exact date undetermined), 4:30 p.m., Marigny
Inspired by the shoe box parades traditionally created by New Orleans school kids during Carnival season, 'tit Rex (Little Rex) was founded in 2009 as an antidote to the lavish, big-footprint krewes such as Bacchus. Pronounced like the fierce dinosaur, the satirical do-it-yourself procession may be small, but it can have a big bite. Get there early for a good view.
For the smallest details visit the 'tit Rex website.
Krewe of Cork
Friday, Feb. 10, 3 p.m., French Quarter
The Krewe of Cork came of age in 2022, with its 21st vino-centric foot parade in the Vieux Carre. The rambling Royal Street procession is dedicated to sipping, sloshing and sharing custom-made beads and other throws.
For a few more sips of information and route map, visit the Krewe of Cork website.
Standard St. Charles Avenue route
Citing manpower shortages, the City Hall ruled that almost all 2022 float parades began on Napoleon Avenue, and headed downtown on St. Charles Avenue to Canal. This trimmed the routes of practically all parades. Those changes were meant to be temporary, but it's unclear if they will be revised in 2023.
Krewe of Oshun
Friday, Feb. 10, 6 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
In its 23rd year, the Krewe of Oshun is named for the Yoruba goddess of love and intimacy. The peacock is the krewe’s symbol, and hand-decorated fans are its signature throw.
For more information visit the krewe Facebook page.
Krewe of Cleopatra
Friday, Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
Named for the legendary Queen of the Nile, the all-female parade began rolling in 1972, previously on the West Bank.
For more information, visit the krewe’s website.
Krewe of ALLA
Friday, Feb. 10, 7 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
The Krewe of ALLA first rolled in 1932. The krewe's title is a pun, based on the parade's original location in the Algiers neighborhood of the West Bank: AL for Algiers and LA for Louisiana. Riders toss hand-decorated Genie Lamps.
For more information visit the krewe’s website.
Krewe of Pontchartrain
Saturday, Feb. 11, 1 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
Established in 1975, the parade once rolled in New Orleans East, along its namesake lake. Look for the signature floats titled Super Grouper and Mr. Mudbug and occasionally celebrity grand marshals, such as composer Allan Toussaint, actor Red Buttons, baseball star Will Clark, singer Irma Thomas, and rocker Dee Snider.
For more information visit the Krewe of Pontchartrain website.
Krewe of Choctaw
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
The parade, which has a Native American theme, first rolled on the West Bank in 1939, using 10 former U.S. mail wagons as floats. In 2013 Choctaw began parading on St. Charles Avenue. Look for the krewe’s signature hand-decorated wooden tomahawks.
For details of the parade visit the Krewe of Choctaw website.
Krewe of Freret
Saturday, Feb. 11, 3:30 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
Founded in 2011 by a handful of Loyola University grads, the Krewe of Freret is devoted to Carnival traditions and New Orleans’ musical heritage, as the enormous, animated Trombone Shorty float attests. Hand-decorated masks are the group’s signature throw.
In 2022, the Krewe of Freret welcomed members of the newly formed, all-female Krewe of Themis to its parade lineup. Themis, which is inspired by the Greek goddess of justice, arose from a controversy within the Mystic Krewe of Nyx, which was once arguably the largest Carnival parade.
For more information visit the KOF website.
Knights of Sparta
Saturday, Feb. 11, 5:30 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
The traditional, flambeaux-lit parade, which first rolled in 1981, is named for the mighty Greek warrior state. Formerly an all-male krewe, the Knights of Sparta were joined in 2022 by the Mystical Order of the Phoenix, founded in 2020 by 10 former members of the all-female krewe of Nyx.
For more information visit the Knights of Sparta website.
Krewe of Pygmalion
Saturday, Feb. 11, 6:15 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
Formed in 2000, the krewe reveres King Pygmalion from Greek mythology, a sculptor who fell in love with his own ivory statue of a nymph, which subsequently came to life. Look for the signature Pygmammoth float.
Like the Freret and Sparta parades that precede it, this year Pygmalion will be joined by an organization composed, in part, from former members of the Mystic Krewe of Nyx. The new Krewe of Harmonia, vows not to toss plastic Mardi Gras beads.
For more information, visit the Krewe of Pygmalion Facebook page.
Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale
Sunday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m., St. Charles Avenue route
Founded in 2013, the parade is composed of female riders that toss collectible hand-decorated compact mirrors that are meant to symbolize “a constant inward and outward reflection.”
For more information visit the Femme Fatale Facebook page.
Krewe of Carrollton
Sunday, Feb. 12, noon, St. Charles Avenue route
Formed in 1924 by a group of Oak Street businessmen, the all-male Krewe of Carrollton is New Orleans’ fourth-oldest parading organization. According to the krewe website its floats were originally built on the chassis of garbage wagons, and it was the first to employ tractors to pull floats instead of mules. This year’s theme is “Once Upon a Time.” Throws include hand-decorated shrimp boots.
To see more of the krewe’s history visit the Krewe of Carrollton website.
Knights of King Arthur
Sunday, Feb. 12, 1 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
Formed in 1977, the co-ed Knights of King Arthur began as a West Bank parade that rolled with borrowed Krewe of Choctaw floats. The krewe moved to the Uptown route in 2001. Parade fans vie for glittery Holy Grails tossed from 40-plus floats.
For more legendary information visit the King Arthur website.
Krewe of Barkus
Sunday, Feb. 12, 2 p.m., French Quarter
The theme of this year’s annual 15-block procession of costumed canines is “Barkingham Palace: Barkus is Going for the Crown.” VIP dog lovers will toast the krewe’s canine Royalty at the Good Friends Bar, corner Dauphine and St. Ann Streets. Fun fact, the concept for the Krewe of Barkus dog parade first came about at a meeting of the television meteorologist Margaret Orr fan club.
To snoop around for more information and a map, visit the Barkus website.
Mystic Krewe of Druids
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 6:15 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
Established in 1998, the anonymous riders are said to be members of other Carnival organizations. Expect wicked social satire from these mysterious representatives of an ancient Celtic sect.
Mystic Krewe of Nyx
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
In 2020 Nyx was arguably New Orleans’ largest parade with the smallest name. The all-female group, devoted to the goddess of night, first rolled in 2012 and rapidly rose to superkrewe status with almost 3,500 members.
But all of that changed with a well-publicized controversy and large-scale membership walkout in summer 2020 that reduced ridership to 240 members.
The Nyx Sisters, as riders are known, toss hand-decorated purses.
For more information, visit the Nyx website.
Knights of Babylon
Thursday, Feb. 16, 5:30 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
Founded in 1939, the krewe is named for the legendary kingdom on the banks of the Euphrates river. The Knights proudly adhere to old-time traditions including flambeaux lighting and floats with antique designs.
For more information visit the Knights of Babylon website.
Knights of Chaos
Thursday, Feb. 16, 6 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
The all-male parade is celebrating its 22nd roll in 2023. Named for a state of disorder, the bitingly satirical Knights of Chaos is historically connected with the Knights of Momus, which began parading in 1872. Momus ceased parading in 1991, when a city ordinance required krewes to publicly certify that they did not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation.
Krewe of Muses
Thursday, Feb. 16, 6:45, St. Charles Avenue route
The all-female parade, founded in 2000, is one of the most popular in Carnival. Named for the inspirational demigoddesses of ancient Greek mythology, the parade passes through the Uptown Streets that are also named for them.
Look for a satirical theme as well as some of the most beautifully sculpted signature floats of any procession. Plus, Muses provides a steady stream of dance troupes, including the renowned Rolling Elvi and the Camel Toe Lady Steppers. Parade-goers compete to catch one of the krewe’s elaborately hand-decorated shoes that have become Crescent City keepsakes.
For more information visit the Muses website.
Mystic Krewe of Hermes
Friday, Feb 17, 5:30 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
Founded more than eight decades ago, during the Great Depression, Hermes is New Orleans’ oldest nighttime parade and among the most artistic. Named for the wing-footed messenger of the gods, the all-male krewe’s brightly colored, skillfully sculpted floats are rolling masterpieces.
For more details visit the Krewe of Hermes website.
Krewe d'Etat
Friday, Feb. 17, 6:30 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
Founded in 1998, Krewe d’Etat is like a rolling comic strip of three-dimensional cartoons that skewer local and national social politics with particular gusto. Led by an anonymous dictator, the all-male krewe occasionally crushes politeness and humility beneath its wheels. As the d’Etat website stipulates: “Le Krewe d'Etat has opened the door for other krewes showing their most sincere form of flattery by trying in vain to imitate what comes naturally to this unique group of Mardi Gras revelers.”
Don’t miss The Dictator’s Dancin’ Darlings topical dance troupe. Catching Hermes and then d’Etat is one of Carnival’s great one-two punches.
For more details visit the Krewe d'Etat website.
Krewe of Morpheus
Friday, Feb. 17, 7:00 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
Founded in 2000, the Morpheus parade was named for the god of dreams, the co-ed riders toss hand-decorated sleep masks.
For more information, visit the Morpheus website.
Krewe of NOMTOC
Saturday, Feb. 18, 10:45 a.m., Algiers neighborhood, West Bank
Founded by the Jugs Social Club, NOMTOC first rolled in 1970. The name means New Orleans Most Talked-of Club.
For more information visit the NOMTOC website.
Krewe of Iris
Saturday, Feb 18, 11 a.m., St. Charles Avenue route
With almost 3,500 riders, Iris will almost certainly be New Orleans’ largest all-women parade in 2022, and probably the biggest parade of all. Named for the goddess of the rainbow, the krewe proudly proclaims that in its 60-year history the Iris parade has never been canceled due to rain. As if to emphasize their meteorological optimism, riders toss hand-decorated sunglasses.
For more sunny information, visit the Iris website.
Krewe of Tucks
Saturday, Feb. 18, noon, St. Charles Avenue route
Along with Endymion, Bacchus and the Societe de Sainte Anne parades, the upstart Tucks parade emerged in the late 1960s to shake up stodgy old-school Carnival. Founded by Loyola University fraternity brothers, it’s not terribly surprising that the co-ed Tucks parade brought bawdy bathroom humor to the world’s biggest par-tay. Expect an enormous commode float, a brothel float, a trampling of political correctness, a blizzard of tossed toilet paper rolls, and glittered plungers.
For more classy information visit the Krewe of Tucks website.
Krewe of Endymion
Saturday, Feb. 18, 4:15 p.m., From Mid-City to the Superdome
Arguably New Orleans’ most spectacular parade, the enormous all-male, 3,200-rider Endymion procession follows a unique path through Mid-City from City Park to the CBD. Expect lavishly lit, segmented floats, celebrity riders, marching bands, and a hailstorm of beads during the marathon procession.
For more information, visit the Endymion website.
Krewe of Okeanos
Sunday, Feb. 19, 11 a.m., St. Charles Avenue route
The 71-year-old krewe, named for the Greek god of oceans, once rolled on St. Claude Avenue before joining lineup on St. Charles Avenue. Look for collectible crawfish trays.
For more information visit the Krewe of Okeanos website.
Krewe of Mid-City
Sunday, Feb. 19, 11:45 a.m., St. Charles Avenue route
As the name suggests, the parade once rolled in the Mid-City neighborhood. But in 2002 it moved onto the Uptown route. Since it first rolled in 1933 the sparkling parade has been uniquely decorated with colored aluminum foil. Also note the stylish sculptures by designer Ricardo Pustanio that surmount each float.
For more information visit the Krewe of Mid-City website.
Krewe of Thoth
Sunday, Feb. 19, noon, St. Charles Avenue route, from Napoleon Ave. to Canal Street Note: The Thoth parade's route was drastically changed in 2022 The 2023 route is currently unknown.
Named for the ibis-headed Egyptian god of wisdom, the all-male Thoth parade was designed 66 years ago to bring Carnival to kids confined to hospitals in the Uptown neighborhood and others unable to travel to the usual parade routes. The procession usually begins farther Uptown than most parades, at State and Tchoupitoulas streets near Children's Hospital, before following the usual St. Charles Avenue route.
For more information visit the Thoth website.
The Krewe of Bacchus
Sunday, Feb 19, 5:15 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
Uptown's most spectacular procession, the all-male Bacchus parade rivals Endymion’s in pure extravagance and bead-throwing excess.
The Bacchus parade annually features a celebrity grand marshal. Theglittering line of monarchs has included legendary entertainers Danny Kaye, Bob Hope and Jackie Gleason; musicians Glen Campbell, Pete Fountain and Harry Connick Jr.; Hollywood icons, Charleton Heston, Nicolas Cage and Anthony Mackie; television stars Henry Winkler, William Shatner, and James Gandolfini; and athletes Hulk Hogan and Drew Brees.
Expect specialty floats including the Kong family of monstrous gorillas, the Bacchasaurus dinosaur, the segmented Bacchagator alligator, and the Bacchawhoppa whale.
For more information visit the Bacchus website.
Red Beans, Dead Beans, and the Krewe of Feijao
Monday, Feb 20, 2 p.m. Marching from the Marigny and Mid-City to the Treme
Founded in 2009, the multi-part marching group is known for its homemade red bean mosaic costumes that celebrate one of the Crescent City's signature dishes, red beans and rice, which is traditionally eaten on Monday. The Red Beans parade was one of several do-it-yourself Carnival processions that popped up in downtown New Orleans during the period of recovery after Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent flood.
The spin-off Dead Beans parade has a Mexican Day of the Dead vibe, while the Krewe of Feijao incorporates elements of both Cajun and Brazilian culture.
For more information and various parade routes, visit the krewe website.
Krewe of Proteus
Monday, Feb. 20, 5:15 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
Founded in 1881, the organization is named for the Greek god of rivers and seas. The krewe favors small, exquisitely detailed 19th-century float design. The identity of the King of Proteus, who rides a seashell float, is a secret.
Krewe of Orpheus
Monday, Feb. 20, 6 p.m., St. Charles Avenue route
Founded by singer, actor, and television personality Harry Connick Jr. in 1993, the co-ed parade celebrates all things musical. The list of annual celebrity monarchs includes Quentin Terantino, Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder, Joan Rivers, James Brown and Bryan Cranston. Look for the glittering Leviathan, Trojan Horse and Smokey Mary floats, and call for oversized signature doubloons.
For more information, visit the Orpheus website.
Should we call them Mardi Gras Indians, or should we be calling them something else?
If it weren’t for the coronavirus, Mardi Gras Indian fans would be getting ready for the annual Super Sunday Mardi Gras Indian marches that us…
Mardi Gras Indians
Tuesday, Feb. 21, various locations
Not parades, per se, small “tribes” or “gangs” of Mardi Gras Indians emerge on Fat Tuesday morning and set out in the city’s neighborhoods in search of other Indians. The age-old costuming tradition symbolizes the interconnection of black and Native American cultures in New Orleans.
As the tribes travel, the maskers and their entourages sing traditional call-and-response chants that have inspired New Orleans' musical styles from rhythm and blues to funk to bounce.
When two Indian groups intersect, they compete to determine which has the prettiest “suits.” The flamboyant feathered suits, decorated with incredibly intricate bead work mosaics, are a unique New Orleans art form at the pinnacle of Mardi Gras costuming.
It’s difficult to predict exactly where the wandering Mardi Gras Indians, also called Black Masking Indians, will appear, though North Claiborne Avenue near St. Bernard Avenue is a good bet.
Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 8 a.m., Central City to Treme
Founded in 1909, Zulu has long been a touchstone of African-American culture in New Orleans. Crowds vie for a chance to catch hand-decorated Zulu coconuts, one of Carnival’s most coveted throws. The glittering coconuts were the inspiration for other hand-decorated throws – shoes, purses, fedoras, sunglasses, etc. – that are common among other parading organizations.
Zulu float riders parade wearing black and white facial makeup, a long-held custom that occasionally ignites controversy. The parade's most renowned grand marshal remains Louis Armstrong, who reigned in 1949.
For a detailed historical overview, visit the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club website.
Rex
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 10:30 a.m., St. Charles Avenue route.
Each year the all-male organization selects a king, known as Rex, King of Carnival, who symbolically calls business and school to a halt across the city on Fat Tuesday in order to celebrate the holiday.
The krewe, which first paraded in 1872, is credited with introducing universal Carnival customs such as the purple, green and gold color scheme, the doubloon, and the surprisingly surrealistic song “If Ever I Cease to Love.”
The parade features a float surmounted by a giant white bull surrounded by chefs, which symbolizes the opportunity to dine on meat one last time before the start of Lent.
Rex is celebrated its 150th year in 2022.
For more information, visit the Rex website.
Elks-Orleans and Crescent City truck parades
Tuesday, Feb. 21, following Rex, St. Charles Avenue route
For decades the truck parades have been an unsung part of the Fat Tuesday tradition. After Rex passes by, a seemingly endless train of decorated semi-trailer trucks rumble along the Uptown route, with thousands of riders tossing beads and baubles. The parades, which can include over 100 trailers ridden by families and small organizations, can go on for hours, bidding farewell to Mardi Gras.
For more information visit the Krewe of Elks-Orleans parade website, and the Truck Parade of Crescent City website.
The Societe de Sainte Anne
Tuesday, Feb. 21, morning, Bywater to French Quarter
For many, the Zulu and Rex parades are the climax of Carnival. But some celebrants find their ways farther downriver in the Bywater and Marigny neighborhoods where hundreds of do-it-yourself costumers gather at select intersections like flocks of surrealistic peacocks preparing to migrate en masse into the French Quarter.
The most spectacular of the many marching clubs is the Societe de Sainte Anne. The half-century-old costuming club was named for a mysterious 19th-century tomb that members discovered in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 and is meant to be a throwback to the informal, 19th-century foot processions that preceded organized float parades.
To behold the spectacle, stake out a place on Royal Street at Franklin Avenue or Kerlerec Street and follow the crowd into the Vieux Carre. To distinguish St. Anne from other marching groups, look for glinting standards made from hula hoops strung with fluttering ribbons.
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