Bunny business: The New Orleans Easter Parade
If you think you’re done with parades for the year, think again. Just because Mardi Gras has packed away its beads and bad decisions, doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty more opportunities to clamor for plastic. The city has a wealth of events coming up in the hopefully-gorgeous Spring weather, so here’s a line-up of events for the coming few weeks:
March 3rd @ Noon
St Patrick’s Day Practice March
Almost two weeks before the actual date, the folk in green stretch their clover-clad legs and work out their parade-day drinking strategies. This is basically a bar crawl from Jackson Square around the French Quarter, but you’re welcome to show your support.
March 11th @ 1pm
Irish Channel St. Patrick's Parade
This is the main event, and even though potatoes have been banned as lethal weapons, there will still be cabbages and assorted vegetables being hurled around. The Charlie Sheen of national holidays involves copious amounts of greenery and Jamesons, and the always-charming random kissing of whoever stays still long enough. The Catholic church is even suspending its Lenten meat fasting rules for the day. It’s almost as if they make these things up on the fly. Catch the start at Magazine and Jackson, before it heads lake-bound on Jackson, left on St. Charles, left on Louisiana, and left on Magazine, having made a full circle. This is still a week before the actual day, it should be pointed out.
March 17th @ 7pm
Downtown Irish Club Parade
What’s this? A St Patrick’s Day parade ON ST PATRICK’S DAY?! Controversial, but we’ll allow it. This is a smaller but equally jolly affair, starting on Burgundy and Piety, via Royal, Decatur, Canal and Bourbon Streets.
March 19th @ Various locations and times
St. Joseph’s Day night Mardi Gras Indian marches
A rare chance to see the incredibly elaborate costumes of the Black Indian Maskers, with their huge colorful suits of beads, feathers and rhinestones. Routes and appearances are unpredictable, they just kind of emerge from their respective neighborhoods, which adds to the satisfaction of seeing them if you’re lucky enough.
March 19th @ Noon
Uptown Super Sunday Mardi Gras Indian march
This is a more regulated way to see these amazing suits. The various tribes gather at A.L. Davis Park at the corner of Washington Avenue. Processions start an hour or so later, and there are plentiful food and drink vendors, music and by far your best chance of getting some memorable photos.
March 25th @ 6pm
Italian-American Marching Club's St. Joseph's Day Parade
The myth is that St Joseph saved Sicily from a drought in medieval times, and this has been celebrated for the last 51 years here in New Orleans by the local Italian-American community. Look for decorated St Joseph’s altars around town, and the float and foot parade through the French Quarter, starting at Canal and Chartres.
TBA
Downtown Super Sunday Mardi Gras Indian march
Another gathering of the tribes that takes place around St Joseph’s Day (last year on April 10th, but check local media for updates). This time the Indians gather in Bayou St John, just follow the tambourine rattles in the early afternoon and you should find them.
April 9th @ 9.45am
The Historic French Quarter Easter Parade
This parade has been taking place since 1956. Participants ride in convertibles and on horse-drawn carriages in the more refined parade of the day. Ity starts at Antoine’s Restaurant on St Louis and gets to the cathedral for Easter Mass.
April 9th @ 1pm
Chris Owens Easter parade
This is the more outrageous (and fun) version of the above, and is dedicated to the legendary late show woman Chris Owens. Expect the most vivid pastels and the widest-brimmed bonnets as the revelers try to outdo each other with their costumes. Bunny ears, baskets, painted eggs and a whole lot of camp define the parade. It will likely roll from the Omni Hotel on St Louis, taking in Royal, Canal and Bourbon Streets.
April 9th @ 5.30pm
Official Gay Easter Parade
A foot parade that doubles as a fashion show and a fundraiser for AIDS charities such as Food for Friends. Blaring music, saucy dance troupes and bawdy costumes abound. It rolls from St Ann and Rampart, in and around the Quarter via Royal and Esplanade. A fittingly decadent end to a day of parades.
March 3rd @ Noon
St Patrick’s Day Practice March
Almost two weeks before the actual date, the folk in green stretch their clover-clad legs and work out their parade-day drinking strategies. This is basically a bar crawl from Jackson Square around the French Quarter, but you’re welcome to show your support.
March 11th @ 1pm
Irish Channel St. Patrick's Parade
This is the main event, and even though potatoes have been banned as lethal weapons, there will still be cabbages and assorted vegetables being hurled around. The Charlie Sheen of national holidays involves copious amounts of greenery and Jamesons, and the always-charming random kissing of whoever stays still long enough. The Catholic church is even suspending its Lenten meat fasting rules for the day. It’s almost as if they make these things up on the fly. Catch the start at Magazine and Jackson, before it heads lake-bound on Jackson, left on St. Charles, left on Louisiana, and left on Magazine, having made a full circle. This is still a week before the actual day, it should be pointed out.
March 17th @ 7pm
Downtown Irish Club Parade
What’s this? A St Patrick’s Day parade ON ST PATRICK’S DAY?! Controversial, but we’ll allow it. This is a smaller but equally jolly affair, starting on Burgundy and Piety, via Royal, Decatur, Canal and Bourbon Streets.
March 19th @ Various locations and times
St. Joseph’s Day night Mardi Gras Indian marches
A rare chance to see the incredibly elaborate costumes of the Black Indian Maskers, with their huge colorful suits of beads, feathers and rhinestones. Routes and appearances are unpredictable, they just kind of emerge from their respective neighborhoods, which adds to the satisfaction of seeing them if you’re lucky enough.
March 19th @ Noon
Uptown Super Sunday Mardi Gras Indian march
This is a more regulated way to see these amazing suits. The various tribes gather at A.L. Davis Park at the corner of Washington Avenue. Processions start an hour or so later, and there are plentiful food and drink vendors, music and by far your best chance of getting some memorable photos.
March 25th @ 6pm
Italian-American Marching Club's St. Joseph's Day Parade
The myth is that St Joseph saved Sicily from a drought in medieval times, and this has been celebrated for the last 51 years here in New Orleans by the local Italian-American community. Look for decorated St Joseph’s altars around town, and the float and foot parade through the French Quarter, starting at Canal and Chartres.
TBA
Downtown Super Sunday Mardi Gras Indian march
Another gathering of the tribes that takes place around St Joseph’s Day (last year on April 10th, but check local media for updates). This time the Indians gather in Bayou St John, just follow the tambourine rattles in the early afternoon and you should find them.
April 9th @ 9.45am
The Historic French Quarter Easter Parade
This parade has been taking place since 1956. Participants ride in convertibles and on horse-drawn carriages in the more refined parade of the day. Ity starts at Antoine’s Restaurant on St Louis and gets to the cathedral for Easter Mass.
April 9th @ 1pm
Chris Owens Easter parade
This is the more outrageous (and fun) version of the above, and is dedicated to the legendary late show woman Chris Owens. Expect the most vivid pastels and the widest-brimmed bonnets as the revelers try to outdo each other with their costumes. Bunny ears, baskets, painted eggs and a whole lot of camp define the parade. It will likely roll from the Omni Hotel on St Louis, taking in Royal, Canal and Bourbon Streets.
April 9th @ 5.30pm
Official Gay Easter Parade
A foot parade that doubles as a fashion show and a fundraiser for AIDS charities such as Food for Friends. Blaring music, saucy dance troupes and bawdy costumes abound. It rolls from St Ann and Rampart, in and around the Quarter via Royal and Esplanade. A fittingly decadent end to a day of parades.