Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve announces the 2023 Battle of New Orleans Commemoration at Chalmette Battlefield

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Date: December 30, 2022
Contact: William Cheek, 504.382.4954

CHALMETTE, LA: Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is pleased to announce the commemoration of the 208th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. The event will occur Friday January 6, through Sunday, January 8, 2023, at Chalmette Battlefield (8606 W. Saint Bernard Highway, Chalmette, LA). This year’s event will feature a wreath-laying ceremony and speakers on Sunday, January 8. On Friday, January 6, and Saturday, January 7, come join us for living history demonstrations, musket and cannon-firing demonstrations, fife and drum lessons, and a kid’s camp on Saturday, January 7. The Chalmette High School Recognizing our Roots program will have a historical camp set-up with cooking and craft demonstrations. For more information, including an event schedule and videos about the battle, visit our 2023 Battle of New Orleans Commemoration webpage.

The daily hours for this year’s event are:

• Friday, January 6: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Living history demonstrations. Free.
• Saturday, January 7: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Living history demonstrations. Free.
• Sunday, January 8: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30pm. Wreath laying ceremony. Free.

Public parking: public parking is located at St. Bernard Parish Government Center, 8201 West Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, on Friday and Saturday. Restrooms and tourism information will be available. Free shuttles will run continuously between the parking area and Chalmette Battlefield; please allow 20 minutes for the trip. First shuttle leaves the parking area each day at 9:15 a.m.; last shuttle leaves the parking area each day at 2:30 p.m. The last shuttle leaves the battlefield each day at 3:30 p.m. Note: only shuttles and buses authorized by St. Bernard Parish and the NPS may drop off and pick up passengers at Chalmette Battlefield on Friday and Saturday.

Sunday: limited parking is available for the general public at the two parking areas closest to the entrance gates on Battlefield Road. Parking at the Visitor Center will be reserved for speakers and special guests for the wreath laying ceremony.

Media parking Friday and Saturday: media may enter via Battlefield Road and park in the lot closest to the park entrance.

Other Battle of New Orleans events hosted by St. Bernard Parish and Park Partners:

• Friday, January 6:
  • Nunez Community College Battle of New Orleans Lecture Series, Nunez Community College, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday, January 7:
  • Battle of New Orleans live reenactments at the Woodlands, 8101 Patricia Street, Chalmette, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Battle of New Orleans Symposium, St. Bernard Parish Government Center, 8201 West Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  • Wreath Laying Ceremony by the Daughters of the British Empire, De La Ronde Ruins, 135 West St. Bernard Highway, Chalmette, 4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, January 8:
  • Jackson Day Race, beginning at the Aycock Barn/Welcome Center, 8:00 a.m.
  • Raising of the Flag and Wreath Laying Ceremony by the Louisiana Society of the United States Daughters of 1812, Jackson Square, New Orleans, 10:00 a.m.
  • Battle of New Orleans Mass of Thanksgiving, National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, 2701 State Street, New Orleans, 4:00 p.m.

Tourism information for St. Bernard Parish is available on the St. Bernard Parish Tourist Commision webpage or 504.278.4242.
Media contact: Katie Tommaseo/St. Bernard Parish 504.278.4242 or ktommaseo@sbpg.net.

This event recognizes not only the people of the battle 208 years ago, but supporters of the troops before, during, and after. Our partners, who have worked over the centuries to preserve this history, include the National Society United States Daughters of 1812, the General Society of the War of 1812, the Order of Saint Ursula, National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, and Saint Bernard Parish Government. We also commemorate the land that the battle was fought on, its significance to Native American tribes before, all those who fought during the battle, including free and enslaved African Americans, and the communities that lived here after, including Fazendeville.

We are looking forward to seeing you in January!