The finale stretch of Carnival parades leading up to Mardi Gras Day has finally arrived in New Orleans.
Femme Fatale, Iris, and Tucks lead NOLA.com’s favorite Mardi Gras float parade poll.
The krewes of Druids and Nyx kick it off Wednesday night on the Uptown route starting at 6:15 p.m.
The parades will all be livestreamed on the NOLA.com Parade Cam starting at 6:15 p.m. in the video player above.
There will be a delay between the broadcast's start and the floats reaching the cameras, which are located at The Times-Picayune office at 840 St. Charles Avenue. You can also watch on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
The Parade Cam broadcast will be hosted by entrepreneur and host Alex Pomes and artist Jeanne DelaHoussaye.
This year's Parade Cam sponsors are NewOrleans.com and the National World War II Museum.
Looking for another NOLA.com Parade Cam broadcast? Click here for the full schedule.
What to expect
A doubleheader opens the final week of the Carnival parade season Wednesday night in uptown New Orleans.
The Ancient Druids, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary parade, is made of members of other parading krewes who wished only to ride in a night parade and not deal with the traditional ball, queen and court routine.
Druids will have 275 male riders on 20 floats, many of which are originals from the latter century. The krewe's theme is not revealed until the day of the parade.
The Mystic Krewe of Nyx follows behind with 250 female riders on 16 floats. This krewe's theme also remains a secret until the start of the parade.
Genie Ogden will reign as Goddess Nyx XII. Nyx members toss signature throws of hand-decorated purses. A select group of them will ride in their signature pink purse float.
All-female music group Chapel Heart will ride in the 2024 parade as celebrity grand marshals.
Parade route
The parades will begin at Jefferson and Magazine streets before turning left on Napoleon Avenue and then right on St. Charles Avenue.
It ends after looping around Canal Boulevard and stopping on Tchoupitoulas Street.
About the Krewe of Ancient Druids
The Krewe of Ancient Druids has paraded Uptown on the week before Mardi Gras since 1999. Led by the Arch Druid, their version of a king, the s…
Before the Krewe of Ancient Druids, which began parading in 1999, there was another Krewe of Druids that was a big Mardi Gras player in the 1920s and '30s.
While the current Krewe of Ancient Druids is a different organization, it helps preserve memories of a once-beloved krewe that came and went during the “Long Weekend” between the World Wars.
Other parades happening today
- The Krewe of Nandi: 6 p.m., Westbank
- See the full updated list of New Orleans area parades happening from now to Fat Tuesday
From Friday, Feb. 2 through Mardi Gras, on Feb. 13, The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com will livestream every parade that rolls by our St. Charles Avenue newsroom.
Looking for the complete parade list with dates, times and all maps? We've got you covered.
