Today officially kicks off the Carnival season. that means it's king cake season, too.
Today marks Twelfth Night and the end of the Christmas season, but it also marks the beginning of Mardi Gras for New Orleanians.
A number of events will kick off the Carnival season.
The King Cake Hub on Canal Street has 50 varieties of cakes from 12 bakeries across the metro area for sale today.
Of course bakeries across the city are stocked with king cakes ready to be sold off the shelves.
The Phunny Phorty Phellows (or PPP) herald the arrival of Carnival by participating in a “Carnival Countdown.” Afterwards, they load up on a streetcar for a merry ride up and down the entire St. Charles Streetcar line beginning at 7 p.m. Crowds gather along the tracks to cheer, wave and catch the first beads of Mardi Gras.
The Funky Uptown Krewe follows the Phunny Phorty Phellows on a streetcar at the Willow Streetcar Bar on S. Carrollton. From there, the krewe rides the streetcar down S. Carrollton to St. Charles Avenue.
Also today the Krewe of Joan of Arc will also march through the streets of the French Quarter. Celebrating her birthday and 100 years since she became an official saint. That parade also kicks off at 7 p.m.
The partially collapsed Hard Rock Hotel site has some areas of downtown closed off, which means some Carnival krewes will have to make adjustments.
Monday, the Société Des Champs Elysée will not be rolling down Rampart in a streetcar, as the line remains out of service due to the collapse. The krewe will instead walk their route which will kick off at 7:30 p.m.