Think New Orleans is dead after New Year’s? Think again! January in the Crescent City is like a “warm-up” to Mardi Gras. So, if you’re planning a trip here, you picked a great time. Below are just a few of the things you can do this month!
1. Twelfth Night
When: January 6th
Twelfth Night also marks the start of King Cake season, one of the most delicious times of year in New Orleans! The city’s best bakeries serve these delicious cakes in all different shapes, styles, and sizes. It’s a beloved Mardi Gras tradition, and we suggest you try as many as you can – eating king cake before or after Carnival is sacrilege here in New Orleans, which is why the whole city eats its fill from January 6th through Mardi Gras Day!
2. Joan of Arc Parade
When: January 6th
Where: Starts at Jax Brewery
Why Go: Joan of Arc Parade started in 2008 as a walking parade honoring the unofficial patron saint, The Maid of Orleans. Inspired by France in the 1400s, this parade celebrates the liberation of Orleans from its British invaders. This parade also coincides with Joan of Arc’s birthday and Twelfth Night. Expect to see folks dressed up in Medieval garb and armor.
3. Comic Con New Orleans
When: January 6th – 8th
Where: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Why Go: If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, Spider-Man, The Mandalorian, or Anson Mount from Start Trek Discovery & Hell On Wheels, then this one convention you’ll want some swag from. Tickets start at $27, and kids five and under are free.
4. Saints VS Panthers
When: January 8th
Where: Caesars Superdome
Why Go: Plain and simple, seeing a game in the Superdome is awesome. Experience the intensity for yourself by snagging tickets to a game the whole country will be watching.
5. Miss Universe Pagent
When: January 14th
Where: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Why Go: For the first time ever, New Orleans will be hosting the Miss Universe Pagent, making it an almost guaranteed good time. At this event, you’ll not only get to see the most beautiful women from every country around the globe, but you’ll also get to hear how these brilliant women plan to use this platform to help others. Support your favorite country or the one you were born in by getting tickets.
6. Jesus Christ Superstar
When: January 15th
Where: Saenger Theater
Why Go: First performed in 1971, Jesus Christ Superstar was one of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most memorable musicals. Not to mention, it’s at the gorgeous Saenger Theater, an experience in and of itself.
7. New Orleans Cigar Box Music Festival
When: January 18th – 21st
Where: New Orleans Jazz Museum
Why Go: The cigar box guitar was the first guitar for Jimi Hendrix, Roy Clark, and Carl Perkins. Today, musicians all over the world are drawn to its unique sound. This January, you can experience food, music, and culture at the 2023 New Orleans Cigar Box Music Festival. At this 4-day festival, you’ll hear music from legends like little Freddy King, Cigar Box Serenaders, Ben “Gitty” Baker, Max Valentino, and more!
8. Temptations & The 4 Tops
When: January 20th – 21st
Where: Saenger Theater
Why Go: These two Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Legends will be here, and you have to get tickets. So, call your friends, book your tickets and your room, and listen to classics like My Girl, Just My Imagination, I Can’t Get Next To You, and Can’t Help Myself in one of the most iconic venues in the Gulf South.
Enjoy January in New Orleans at Hotel Monteleone
