Just in time to wreck any New Year's resolutions about dieting, sweets, or weight loss, it's King's Day! It is now permissible to eat king cake and not catch a lot of sideways glances.
Not only will you likely run into king cake's a plenty, the day will be celebrated with a couple of events tonight: there is the annual Joan of Arc parade in the French Quarter at 6 p.m.
"It's just a beautiful artistic endeavor," says Mardi Gras Guide publisher Arthur Hardy. Hardy says the Krewe of Jeanne d'Arc has become increasingly popular over the years.
"The crowds are enormous for this thing and deservedly so," he said, "and it's long enough to make it worth your while."
Also tonight, the Phunny Phorty Phellows party it up at the Willow Street streetcar barn, before taking their annual 12to night ride down St. Charles Ave., followed by the Funky Uptown Krewe. Hardy says most people show up for the party at the Willow St. streetcar barn, since watching the actual procession is just watching a streetcar pass by.
There are more carnival kickoff events this weekend on the Northshore. The Mande Milkshakers march in Mandeville at 2 p.m. on the Lakefront, and at 4 p.m. in Covington, the Fools of Misrule parade in Covington.
