NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The Phunny Phorty Phellows took their annual Twelfth Night streetcar ride to announce the start of carnival season on Monday, Jan. 6. King of Carnival dedicates 2025 Rex parade to Bourbon Street attack victims The fun began around 7 p.m. as members of the satirical krewe gathered at the Willow Street car barn to board the streetcar. The ride down St. Charles Avenue is the first sign of carnival merriment; however, Phunny Phorty Phellows captain Peggy Laborde tells WGNO that it wasn't always that way. New Orleans receives additional federal help ahead of Super Bowl, Mardi Gras 2025 "We are known as the heralds of Carnival. The heralds of Mardi Gras. Okay. The original PPP was known of as the 'dessert of carnival' because they were the last thing you would see at the end of Mardi Gras we're the first thing. Our mission is to announce to one and all and spread it beyond New Orleans. Because that's the goal, too, to let everybody know its carnival time come to New Orleans," said Laborde. The krewe first took to the streets in 1878 before stopping in 1898 and reviving in 1981. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Louisiana remembers Tiger Bech Phunny Phorty Phellows take Twelfth Night streetcar ride in New Orleans Saints expect changes, but Rizzi would like to stay and has some key players' support Mexican officer reportedly shoots US citizen dead in Juarez Leaders lament Biden's refusal to declare emergency for polluted Tijuana River Valley