By midmorning Friday, hundreds of costumed revelers were packed shoulder to shoulder in the French Quarter as the krewes of Hermes and Iris raised a ceremonial “Toast to the Messenger Gods” at the corner of Royal and St. Louis. The street-corner ritual kicked off Hermes Friday and set the tone for the final stretch of Carnival in New Orleans, according to NOLA.com.
Hermes And Iris Start The Weekend With A Toast
Kings, queens and krewe members leaned into the moment, posing for the crowd and showering onlookers with throws. A photo gallery by Hannah Levitan for NOLA.com captures the corner of Royal and St. Louis early Friday, packed with locals and visitors who turned out to watch the ceremonial toast.
Full Hermes Friday Lineup
According to the Mystic Krewe of Hermes’ official schedule, the toast is set for 10:45 a.m. outside the Omni Royal Orleans at Royal and St. Louis. The krewe’s site also lists a 2 p.m. walking parade through the French Quarter and an illuminated evening parade on St. Charles Avenue at 5:30 p.m. Together, those events make up what Hermes promotes as a full day of processions and parties ahead of the Uptown night rolls.
Iris Keeps Old-Line Traditions
The Krewe of Iris, founded in 1917, remains one of Carnival’s oldest all-female organizations and still leans into its long-standing pageant customs, including full-length masks, white gloves and signature hand-decorated throws. Parade guides point to Iris’ daytime parade as a staple of Uptown Saturdays, known for family-friendly floats and traditional tableaux. For more on Iris’ history and parade details, see MardiGrasNewOrleans.com.
Plan Your Day: Closures, Crowds And Safety
Anyone heading into the Quarter should be ready for street closures and transit detours tied to parade activity, with local reports mapping out route and service changes on the Carnival calendar. road closures and detours have been outlined, and the city’s parade schedules are mirrored in local outlets such as WWL/Audacy, so plan extra time and follow posted detours.
For a closer look at Friday morning’s ceremony, NOLA.com’s gallery collects early images from Royal and St. Louis, while the krewes’ own pages carry parade maps and timing updates as the weekend rolls on. NOLA.com provided extensive photos from the corner of Royal and St. Louis.
