So, it’s January. While the rest of the country is taking a breather from the holiday season, packing away the decorations and preparing to hibernate, New Orleans keeps going. The temps are cooler yet pleasant, Mardi Gras decor is popping up on lawns and porches, King Cakes are being snatched off the bakery shelves, and our collective stamina doesn’t get (or want) a break.
If you are lucky to be visiting in January, read on to get the highlights on what to do in New Orleans during that magical month, from ringing in the New Year to kicking off Mardi Gras with style.
Ring in the New Year with the Fleur de Lis Drop and a party on Jackson Square
Every year, Dick Clark Rockin’ New Year’s Eve production hosts its official Central Time Zone party in New Orleans near the historic JAX Brewery starting at 9 p.m. The show is coordinated with parties in New York and Los Angeles, and features a musical lineup and special guests. The fleur-de-lis drop at JAX Brewery is live-cast.
Jackson Square, a historic and iconic meeting space of the city of New Orleans, is teeming with revelers at this time. If you don’t mind crowds, it’s free, and it’s fun, with live music and a festive atmosphere. The end-of-the-year countdown, which culminates in the fleur-de-lis drop, is followed by the fireworks over the Mississippi. (Check out this guide for more things to do on New Year’s Eve in New Orleans.)
Watch the Twelfth Night parades on January 6
Twelfth Night, or the Epiphany, always falls on January 6, regardless of the year (it falls on a Wednesday in 2027). It’s the official first day of the carnival season that kicks off with four annual parades. It’s also the first day you can eat King Cake lest you be judged by the traditionalists out there (though many stores start carrying the carnival treat before then).
Phunny Phorty Phellows ride the streetcar from Uptown to Canal Street and back, starting at 7 p.m. They are followed by the Funky Uptown Krewe, which follows the same route.
The beloved walking Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc parade rolls at 8 p.m. from JAX Brewery in the French Quarter, and the Société Des Champs Elysée parade takes place starting at 7:30 p.m. on N. Rampart Street and Esplanade, going to the CBD. Every year, it follows the N. Rampart/St. Claude streetcar route.
For more info on what each parade is like and the 2027 dates and times, check out our guide to kicking off the Mardi Gras season.
Take in the Teaser Festival
The relatively new Teaser Festival brings more than 100 performances to New Orleans over four days, celebrating all things burlesque. The festival showcases internationally acclaimed burlesque performers alongside hometown favorites. In 2027, it’s happening from Thursday, January 7, to Sunday, January 10, across different venues.
A festival highlight, Queen of the Striptease, takes place at the Civic Theatre on Friday, January 8, 2027, at 6:30 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Accompanied by a live jazz band, some of the world’s finest classic burlesque performers will take the stage for a showcase that culminates in the crowning of the “Queen of the Striptease.”
Weekend passes are $132-$600. Individual event tickets are also available.
Attend the Commemoration of the Battle of New Orleans on January 8
The annual Commemoration of the Battle of New Orleans is celebrated on January 8 every year (Friday in 2027) by the Monument at Chalmette Battlefield (8606 West St. Bernard Highway, Chalmette). This annual wreath-laying ceremony honors the troops of the Battle of New Orleans, plus there are kid-friendly crafts and cooking demos. Park staff and volunteers are dressed in period clothing to represent American and British soldiers and civilians, and there are military drills and period weapons firing. Admission is free.
Catch a hand-decorated mosaic tile at the Krewe Mosaïque parade
Founded in 2023, this French Quarter parade features unique troupes such as the Krewe of Conus, Krewe de Mayahuel, The Magical Krewe of Exotique, The Legendary Order of the Casket Girls, The Weather Girls, and more.
The parade rolls on Saturday, January 9, 2027, starting at 6 p.m. at Rampart and St. Ann streets and ending at Chartres and St. Phillip streets. The krewe’s signature throw is hand-decorated mosaic tiles.
Attention, all Parrot Heads!
Pardi-Gras kicked off in 1997 and has been attracting Jimmy Buffett fans, known as “Parrot Heads,” plus other revelers who love a good “trop-rock” party ever since. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, “The Ultimate French Quarter Party” packs a few happy hours, a pub crawl, and lots of live music performances at several venues on Bourbon Street.
There is a second line on Friday, starting on the corner of Bourbon and Orleans streets and preceded by the Bourbon Street pub crawl. There’s also a street party on the 700 block of Bourbon Street on Saturday. Pardi-Gras is open to anyone, as long as you don’t mind hanging with the Hawaiian shirt-wearing, Margarita-sipping crowd.
The 2027 theme is “Growing Older But Not Up.” The fest is held on Thursday, January 14 – Sunday, January 17, 2027. Registration is now open; $150 per person.
Watch the Allstate Sugar Bowl’s Parade on January 14
Since 1935, the Sugar Bowl has been played in New Orleans, and while that event has since become the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the daytime parade the day before, associated with the game, continues in more or less the same vein. In 2027, the game will be held on Friday, January 15, at Caesars Superdome, with the Fan Jam tailgate party happening at Champions Square at the Superdome. The annual Sugar Bowl Parade rolls through the French Quarter on Thursday, January 14, 2027.
The extravaganza is done Mardi Gras-style, so expect big floats, marching bands, plenty of throws, and a general overload of glitz and pageantry.
The parade typically begins at 2:30 p.m. at the “bottom” of the Quarter, where it meets Faubourg Marigny, at the intersection of Elysian Fields Avenue and Decatur Street. Then it proceeds into the French Quarter and rolls past some of that neighborhood’s most iconic landmarks, including the French Market and Jackson Square.
Eventually, the parade passes the WDSU stage at the Allstate Fan Fest on Decatur Street inside the JAX Brewery parking lot, where all performers do a two-minute show. The parade ends at Canal Street.
Celebrate “The Year of the Golden Wookiee” on January 16
On Saturday, January 16, 2027, the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus will have its annual roll through the Marigny and the French Quarter. The krewe celebrates its 16th year this year, with the theme “The Year of the Golden Wookiee.” It starts in the Marigny at 7 p.m.
Join the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration
On this day, the city of New Orleans throws a block party and a parade on the historic Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard and hosts a celebration program at Al Davis Park. In 2027, MLK Jr. Day falls on Monday, January 18.
Cheer on the Saints and Pelicans
It’s both the Saints and the Pelicans seasons in full swing. So if you are a fan, you will have a ton of fun on game days, whether you are watching them live or at one of the city’s many sports bars. Either way, the place will be brimming with camaraderie, cheer, stylin’ outfits in team colors, and probably shenanigans.
Sample King Cake
Widely considered the official dessert of Mardi Gras, this is an absolute must-try if you’re in town after January 6. While some bakeries, like the Bywater Bakery and the Manny Randazzo King Cakes in Metairie, make some of the best, many local supermarkets and grocery stores carry different brands of King Cakes, with a staggering variety of fillings (or lack thereof for the purists among us), so finding this delicious seasonal treat won’t be difficult.
Eat and drink, of course!
Stay warm and cozy while you eat and drink your way through the city, near The Brakeman in particular. In the French Quarter alone, you can find some excellent spots for gumbo and classic café brûlot, and, of course, Café Du Monde, and several Café Beignet locations are within walking distance, where you can warm up with the beignets and a cup of café au lait.
Also close, in the downtown area of the Central Business District (CBD), awaits the wonderful Roosevelt Hotel. Many hotel lobbies decorate for the holidays, but The Roosevelt is a surefire annual winner with its opulent stunner of a lobby. While there, stay cozy with a beverage of your choice at the glamorous Fountain Lounge or the famous Sazerac Bar, both easily located in the hotel’s lobby.
Phew, that should keep your dance card filled on your January visit. And be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels to book your stay close to all the action, or make a reservation at The Breakman on our website.