Twelfth Night marks the beginning of Carnival season, Mardi Gras, in New Orleans. Here are the best events to attend from parades to masquerade balls.

Less than two weeks after Christmas, New Orleans begins the reveling anew with its celebration of Twelfth Night. Jan. 6th marks the Feast of the Epiphany, when the Three Wise Men visited the Christ child. In New Orleans it also means the launch of Carnival season. And New Orleans observes it with the Joan of Arc parade that marches through the Quarter. This is followed by the Twelfth Night Masquerade Ball and the ride of the Phunny Phorty Phellows, a group of gentlemen who board the St. Charles streetcar with great fanfare Uptown to herald the arrival of Carnival.