Endymion 2027: Parade Date, Start Time, Route and the Extravaganza
Endymion is the biggest night of Carnival, and it is the one parade that does not follow the Uptown script. It has its own route, its own neighbourhood, its own block party, and it ends inside the Superdome. If it is on your list, plan the whole Saturday around it.
The krewe has confirmed the date: Saturday 6 February 2027, rolling at 4pm[1]. That is the Saturday before Fat Tuesday (9 February 2027), the slot locals call Endymion Saturday or Samedi Gras.
| Endymion 2027 | |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday 6 February 2027 |
| Start | 4pm, Orleans Avenue at City Park Avenue, Mid-City |
| Finish | Caesars Superdome, downtown |
| Route | Mid-City route, separate from the Uptown St. Charles parades |
| After the parade | The Endymion Extravaganza inside the Superdome (ticketed, 21+) |
| Next evening | Bacchus on St. Charles Avenue (Sunday 7 February, expected) |
The route, start to finish
Endymion starts in Mid-City and works its way downtown[3]:
- Orleans Avenue, from City Park Avenue, heading toward the river.
- Right onto North Carrollton Avenue, down to Canal Street.
- Left onto Canal Street, the long run through Mid-City toward downtown.
- Right onto St. Charles Avenue to Harmony Circle (the former Lee Circle), and around it.
- Left onto Howard Avenue, right onto Loyola Avenue, then onto Girod Street.
- Into the Caesars Superdome, where the floats roll through the Extravaganza.
That last step is unique. No other parade drives into a stadium full of 20,000-plus people in formal wear[2].
When the floats reach you
The 4pm start is when the first float leaves Orleans Avenue, not when it reaches you. Endymion is long, so the further down the route you stand, the later your parade begins. The krewe's own schedule has the floats arriving in the Superdome at around 8pm[2], which tells you the scale: the front of the parade needs roughly four hours to cover the route, and the last floats follow long after.
Rule of thumb: on Orleans Avenue you see Endymion in late-afternoon light. On Canal Street and downtown, it is a night parade.
Where to watch
There is no bad stretch of Endymion, only different evenings. Pick the one that fits your group.
| Stretch | What it's like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Orleans Avenue (start) | Samedi Gras block party with live music before the parade; fresh riders with full bags of throws; daylight at the start | Catching throws and a full-day party |
| North Carrollton Avenue and Mid-City Canal | Neighbourhood crowds with grills and ladders; a Mid-City home crowd | The local feel; families who arrive early |
| Canal Street downtown | Where the Mid-City and Uptown corridors meet; packed solid and loud | Night atmosphere if you don't mind crowds |
| St. Charles near Harmony Circle and the Superdome end | Late arrival of floats; easy reach from downtown hotels | Staying in the CBD and walking over |
Samedi Gras, the krewe's pre-parade block party on Orleans Avenue, is the reason many locals spend the whole day in Mid-City. The krewe describes it as possibly the world's largest block party and puts the turnout at more than 40,000 people[1].
If you are staying Uptown or in the French Quarter, remember that Endymion does not come to you. Mid-City is a long walk or a crowded transit ride away on parade day. Our guide to where to stay covers the trade-offs, and getting around during Mardi Gras covers the rest.
Claiming a spot: what the city allows
Endymion is famous for people setting up long before it rolls. The krewe says it is still amazed that people camp out several days ahead, and that the crowds run 25 to 35 deep on both sides[5]. The City of New Orleans' rules for every parade route are stricter than that habit suggests[4]:
- Four hours. Personal items may not go on the public right-of-way earlier than four hours before a parade starts. Ladders, chairs and coolers placed earlier can be removed by the City.
- Ladders. No taller than six feet, at least six feet back from the curb, free-standing, never fastened together, and never left out overnight.
- No enclosures. Tents, canopies, tarps, ropes, spray paint and other barriers that fence off public space are prohibited.
- No generators or open flames along the route, at any time.
- Also banned: drones, confetti guns, Mylar balloons, unattended coolers, pets other than service animals, and upholstered furniture.
Endymion by the numbers
The figures below are the krewe's own and vary a little from year to year[1]:
- 3,000-plus riders, which makes Endymion one of the largest parades of Carnival.
- 37 floats, many of them tandem units of up to nine sections, adding up to more than 80 chassis.
- Over 15 million throws a year, under the krewe's motto "Throw Until It Hurts".
Arthur Hardy's guide gives slightly different counts, 39 floats and 3,250 riders[3], a reminder that the line-up changes each season. The 2026 parade, the krewe's 60th anniversary, rode under the theme "Endymion's American Song Book"[6].
The Endymion Extravaganza
The Extravaganza is the party at the end of the route: a formal, all-night ball inside the Caesars Superdome where the floats parade in among the tables. What the krewe's Extravaganza page currently says[2]:
- Doors open at 6:30pm, the floats arrive at around 8pm, and the party runs into the early hours with live bands and a headline act.
- Dress code is strictly formal: a tuxedo with a bow tie or formal tie, or a floor-length evening gown.
- Age: 21 and over only.
- Tickets are sold through the krewe by phone or email, as listed on its Extravaganza page. The prices posted there, $275 for Plaza seats with setups and $315 for Loge seats with food and drink, were for the 2026 event. Expect 2027 prices to be confirmed closer to the date.
- New for 2027: rolling ice chests were allowed one last time in 2026 (up to 64 quarts) and will not be allowed in 2027.
Past headliners include Steven Tyler, Rod Stewart, Kelly Clarkson and Maroon 5[1]. The 2026 stage went to Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton[2]. The 2027 act has not been announced.
Plan the weekend around it
Endymion Saturday is one part of the busiest stretch of Carnival. Bacchus rolls Uptown the following evening, then Proteus and Orpheus on Lundi Gras, then Zulu and Rex on Fat Tuesday. Our parade planner helps you build days around the parades you care about, and the parade routes guide explains how the Uptown route compares.
Pick your parades and get a day-by-day plan.
Build your Endymion weekend →Endymion 2027 FAQ
When is Endymion 2027?
Saturday 6 February 2027, the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. The krewe has confirmed the date.
What time does Endymion start?
4pm, at Orleans Avenue and City Park Avenue in Mid-City. Floats reach downtown and the Superdome several hours later, around 8pm at the Superdome according to the krewe.
Where does the Endymion parade start and end?
It starts on Orleans Avenue in Mid-City, runs down North Carrollton Avenue and Canal Street, loops around Harmony Circle on St. Charles Avenue, and ends inside the Caesars Superdome.
Is Endymion on the same route as the other big parades?
No. Endymion is the only major parade on the Mid-City route. The other super krewes, such as Bacchus, roll on the Uptown St. Charles Avenue route.
Who is performing at the Endymion Extravaganza 2027?
Not announced yet. The 2026 Extravaganza featured Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton. We will update this page when the krewe names the 2027 headliner.
Can I bring an ice chest to the Extravaganza?
Not a rolling one. The krewe allowed rolling ice chests up to 64 quarts in 2026 only and says they will not be allowed in 2027. Check the krewe's Extravaganza page for the full list of approved items before you go.
How early can I claim a spot on the parade route?
City rules say personal items may not be placed on public ground earlier than four hours before a parade starts. For Endymion's 4pm start, that means noon. Tents, ropes and tarps are not allowed at any time.
Cover photo: the Endymion float at night, by Travis Wise, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Inline photo by Bart Everson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
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