Twelfth Night in New Orleans: How the City Kicks Off Carnival Season on January 6

Visitors often think of Mardi Gras as a single day, but in New Orleans it is the last day of a much longer season. Carnival begins on January 6, the feast of the Epiphany, known in New Orleans as Twelfth Night because it falls twelve days after Christmas. From that evening until Mardi Gras Day, the city is in Carnival season: king cakes appear in bakeries and offices, krewes hold their balls, and the parade calendar slowly builds toward the final weekends.

Twelfth Night itself has become a celebration of its own. A handful of krewes mark the date with small, distinctive events that feel nothing like the giant parades of February, and for many locals it is one of the best nights of the year. This guide covers what happens, when and where, and how to plan transportation on January 6.

Why January 6 Matters

The Epiphany commemorates the visit of the Magi in Christian tradition, and in New Orleans it has long marked the start of Carnival. In 2027, January 6 falls on a Wednesday, and Mardi Gras Day falls on Tuesday, February 9, so the season runs about five weeks. The length of Carnival season changes every year because Mardi Gras is tied to the date of Easter.

For a full overview of how the season unfolds and when the major parades roll, our guide to Mardi Gras dates and the parade schedule is a good starting point.

What Happens on Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night is not a single event. Several groups mark the evening in their own ways, and their schedules and routes are set each year by the organizers.

• A walking parade in the French Quarter. In recent years, a krewe honoring Joan of Arc, whose birthday is traditionally celebrated on January 6, has held a walking parade through the Quarter, with costumed marchers, medieval themes and music.
• A streetcar ride. One of the city's oldest traditions has costumed revelers riding a St. Charles Avenue streetcar on Twelfth Night to announce the start of Carnival.
• King cake. January 6 is traditionally the first day of king cake season. Bakeries across the city begin selling them, and offices and families start the custom of whoever finds the baby buying the next cake.
• Balls and private events. Some krewes hold their first balls or private gatherings around Twelfth Night, marking the start of the formal side of the season.

Because these are smaller events than the February parades, crowds are more manageable, but the French Quarter still gets busy, and some streets close while marchers pass. Check the organizers' announcements for this year's times and routes before you plan the evening.

Getting Around on Twelfth Night

January 6 is a weekday in 2027, so the evening combines normal rush-hour traffic with Twelfth Night crowds in the French Quarter and along St. Charles Avenue. Parking in the Quarter is limited at any time, and when streets close for a walking parade, getting a car close to where you want to be becomes harder. Our French Quarter transportation guide explains how the neighborhood works for vehicles.

A chauffeured drop-off avoids the parking search. Your chauffeur drops you on the nearest street open to vehicles, usually just outside the closed blocks, and picks you up at a time and place you agree. With an hourly booking, the vehicle and chauffeur stay with your group for the evening, which helps if you want to see the walking parade in the Quarter and then catch the streetcar celebration on St. Charles.

Planning the Evening

• Check this year's schedule for each event you want to see, and plan the order around their start times.
• Arrive early for the walking parade if you want to see it from the curb.
• Agree on a pickup point a block or two away from the parade route, where traffic is moving.
• Make a dinner reservation in advance; restaurants in the Quarter can be busy on Twelfth Night.
• Pick up a king cake during the day if you plan to share one, since popular bakeries can sell out.
• Charge your phone and save your chauffeur's number, since service can be slow in a crowded block.

January Weather

New Orleans in early January is usually mild compared with most of the country, but evenings can be cool, damp and occasionally cold, especially if a front has just passed through. Bring a light jacket or layers for standing outdoors during a walking parade, and an umbrella if rain is in the forecast. Wet weather can delay or change outdoor events, so check the organizers' announcements on the day.

Bringing Children

Twelfth Night events are family-friendly and less overwhelming than the big February parades, which makes them a good introduction to Carnival for children. Pick a spot along the route where children can see without being pressed against a crowd, keep them close when marchers pass, and agree on what to do if anyone gets separated. Families with young children can request infant, convertible and booster seats when booking their ride.

Visiting From Out of Town

Twelfth Night is a good time to visit if you want to experience Carnival without the crowds and hotel prices of Mardi Gras weekend. Hotels are generally easier to book than in February, and the evening has a local, neighborhood feel. If you're flying in, we can meet you at MSY and bring you to your hotel. Airport pickups include 45 minutes of complimentary waiting time on domestic arrivals and 60 minutes on international arrivals, timed from touchdown, and we track flights in case of delays.

If you're planning to come back for the big parades in February, book early. Our guide on how far ahead to book Mardi Gras transportation explains why.

King Cake Runs and the Season Ahead

For many New Orleanians, Carnival season is measured in king cakes. Offices order them for meetings, families pick them up for weekend gatherings, and visitors carry them home on flights. If you're picking up king cakes for a party or an office, a car can make a multi-bakery run across the city much easier than finding parking at each stop. If you're flying home with one, our guide to flying home from MSY with king cake covers how to pack it.

Choosing a Vehicle

For a couple, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class seats up to three and is easy to maneuver around the Quarter. Families and small groups fit in a Chevrolet Suburban, which seats five, or a Lincoln Navigator, which seats six. For larger groups, such as friends celebrating the start of the season or an office outing, a Mercedes Sprinter carries up to thirteen passengers.

Booking Your Ride

Twelfth Night is busier every year, so book in advance. Sedan and SUV reservations can be cancelled free of charge up to 3 hours before pickup, and Sprinter, limousine and special-event bookings up to 12 hours before. Your quote is all-inclusive, covering tolls, taxes and gratuity.

Call (877) 609-1919 any time or book online. Tell us which events you'd like to see and where you're starting from, and we'll plan the evening around the street closures.