MonicaRichards

Hi! My family will be in New Orleans for Easter sunday this year and wanted to go to a parade and also church (Roman Catholic). I see there is a Historic French Quarter Easter parade that goes to the St. Louis Cathedral for Easter mass. Would that be what we should do? Or should we attend mass closer to where we are staying (Garden District) and then go to the Chris Owens parade later? Kids are 12 and 15 so past the age for Easter Egg hunts. Thanks for any advice you can give!

letsgeaux

Go to 10:00 mass at St. Louis Cathedral. Get there early because it will be packed. The ladies from one of the parades attend the mass and the parade starts outside the church. There is another parade that passes on Bourbon St. a few blocks away. Then you can go to brunch at one of the nice restaurants such as Antoine's, Arnaud's or Galatoire's. That is a popular way to spend Easter Sunday so make reservations early, except for Galatoire's which does not take reservations.

letsgeaux

CORRECTION: Mass at St. Louis Cathedral is at 11:00 a.m.

MonicaRichards

Thanks, that's the one I had my eye on. The listing says the parade starts before the mass and heads to mass but if I watch the parade first I guess I'm standing during the service? So you say mass first, then watch the parade as it reassembles afterwards?

letsgeaux

There are at least a couple of parades. There is one that features a group of well dressed ladies in Easter bonnets riding horse drawn carriages around the French Quarter. They may start before mass but I have seen the festivities continuing after mass. There is a larger parade with floats led by Chris Owens that winds through the streets of the Quarter. It will pass down Bourbon Street after mass. Now, these are very small parades by New Orleans standards. They would not even register on the radar at Mardi Gras. Don't expect Endymion to pass. But mass, the parades then brunch is a nice way to spend Easter Sunday in New Orleans.

MonicaRichards

Thanks. Smaller parades suit us just fine. Mardis Gras light. My husband has little tolerance for crowds.

BobR62

Does anyone know how crowded the 9:00am mass is at St. Louis Cathedral? I know the 11:00 will be very crowded, but just curious how early I'd have to get to the 9:00am mass to get seats (there will be five of us). Thanks for any fact based knowledge!