With over 130 New Orleans festivals all year long, that’s about one each three days!
I completely love festivals. Actually, I skipped my senior promenade to go to my first music pageant. Oh yeah, and I met my spouse at one as nicely!
I’ve been to New Orleans 4 occasions now and have had a good time at their festivals. Of all of the cities I’ve traveled to for a very good get together, I’d say New Orleans is without doubt one of the greatest locations in the US for festivals.
10 Greatest New Orleans Festivals
New Orleans is a metropolis with many names, together with the Crescent Metropolis, NOLA, and the Huge Simple. One other nickname that deserves to be on the record is Pageant Capital of the World.
Whereas New Orleans is most well-known for its raucous Mardi Gras celebration, there are tons of different superior festivals to expertise right here. Whether or not you’re into music, meals, literature, artwork, or booze, there’s a pageant for you within the Huge Simple.
With so many glorious New Orleans occasions to select from, there’s prone to be one thing cool occurring within the metropolis whenever you go to — even when it’s only for a weekend.
On this information, we’ll check out among the greatest New Orleans festivals that can assist you plan the right journey.
1. Mardi Gras: New Orleans Carnival Celebration
Mardi Gras is the granddaddy of all of them. That is positively essentially the most well-known of all of the New Orleans festivals, bringing in over 10 million individuals to town annually.
The identify Mardi Gras is French for “Fats Tuesday”, which is the frequent identify for the ultimate day earlier than the beginning of Lent.
On at the present time, many individuals eat wealthy and fatty meals earlier than the fasting of Lent begins. Mardi Gras in New Orleans lasts for a lot longer than sooner or later, although.
As soon as the 12 days of Christmas are completed, the Mardi Gras celebrations start.
The primary parades kick off on January sixth, which is often known as Twelfth Evening. A few month laster, the most important and wildest parade of all takes place, Endymion. Seeing this parade was simply my favourite a part of Mardi Gras.
The get together lasts for a month, so you’ve got plenty of choices for together with Mardi Gras in your record of issues to do in New Orleans.
Mardi Gras got here to the area method again in 1699 when a French Canadian explorer landed about 60 miles downriver from New Orleans and named it “Ponte du Mardi Gras” (Fats Tuesday Level) when he realized it was the day of the vacation.
The parades began within the 1830s, and Mardi Gras has been an integral a part of the tradition right here ever since.
Mardi Gras season in New Orleans mainly means a ton of parades, attention-grabbing costumes, colourful beads, and King Muffins.
There’s plenty of consuming, consuming, dancing, and simply common merriment. Ensure you put on the official colours of Mardi Gras – purple (justice), inexperienced (religion), and gold (energy).
Ensure you plan forward and ebook lodging nicely upfront, as that is the preferred time to go to the Huge Simple.
For those who don’t wish to take care of the crowds, contemplate touring to New Orleans a number of weeks earlier than Mardi Gras. There’s nonetheless a lot occurring, however it’s far much less chaotic and also you’ll get a greater deal on lodging.
You possibly can test the precise dates for future Mardi Gras right here.
2. French Quarter Pageant
The French Quarter Pageant began again in 1984 as a method to attract locals again to the realm after the development of the World’s Truthful completed up.
It’s a celebration of New Orleans meals, music, and tradition that lasts for 4 days each April. For those who’re searching for a very good New Orleans music pageant, this can be a stable alternative.
Better of all, the French Quarter Pageant is completely free!
It’s truly the largest free music pageant within the nation, with an estimated 1,700 Louisiana musicians enjoying throughout 23 totally different phases. You’ll hear many alternative genres of music right here, from funk to jazz to zydeco.
Along with all the good native music, you’ll be able to count on loads of scrumptious delicacies being cooked, and typical New Orleans cocktails being blended. There are over 60 cubicles arrange across the French Quarter serving up classics like po’ boys and Hurricanes.
The occasion is highlighted by the world’s largest jazz brunch, which takes place in Jackson Sq. and the Riverfront Park. For extra data, be sure you test their web site.
3. New Orleans Wine and Meals Expertise
The Wine and Meals Expertise is certainly among the best New Orleans festivals. Foodies and winos will love this 5-day celebration of the finer issues in life. With over 250 wineries and 100 eating places collaborating, you’ve obtained loads of choices.
In the course of the pageant, wineries and eating places workforce as much as supply particular menus with wine pairings. I realized extra about wine (and had extra enjoyable consuming it) in sooner or later than in my total life earlier than it!
There are additionally grand tastings and seminars all through the pageant the place you’ll be able to study extra in regards to the implausible meals and wine on supply. The spotlight of the pageant is the Royal Avenue Stroll, a parade led by the Krewe of Cork.
Among the best components about supporting this pageant is that it’s for an important trigger.
The NOWFE donates all of its proceeds minus prices to learn the humanities, careers in wine and hospitality, and charitable organizations. They’ve contributed over $1 million to this point, so that you’re consuming and consuming for a very good trigger right here!
There’s little question that the Huge Simple is without doubt one of the greatest cities within the US for consuming and consuming. You may plan your total journey right here round what you wish to eat and drink, and there could be completely nothing mistaken with that!
If you wish to participate within the New Orleans Wine and Meals Expertise, head on over to their web site to study extra.
4. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Pageant
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Pageant (or Jazz Fest for brief) lately celebrated its fiftieth anniversary and is a crucial a part of the native tradition. In a metropolis often known as the birthplace of jazz, it ought to come as no shock that there’s a significant jazz pageant within the Huge Simple!
This well-known New Orleans music pageant goes down on the Truthful Grounds Race Course. Right here you’ll be able to catch over 100 artists throughout a number of phases enjoying each model of music related to Louisiana, which is mainly all the pieces!
Along with jazz, you may get all the way down to blues, gospel, rap, nation, bluegrass, and a lot extra. All this selection is why Jazz Fest is my private favourite occasion in New Orleans.
Jazz Fest wouldn’t be among the best New Orleans festivals with out loads of native meals to get pleasure from. Jazz Fest has a coverage of “no carnival meals,” that means you gained’t get overpriced corn canine and cotton sweet right here. As an alternative, you’ll be able to munch on native classics like boiled crawfish or crimson beans & rice.
There are additionally loads of cubicles across the pageant promoting native crafts.
Whereas the music on the pageant solely goes till 7:00 PM, the get together doesn’t cease then. Among the best components about experiencing Jazz Fest is testing among the superb late-night exhibits that go on throughout town.
The toughest half about going to this enjoyable New Orleans music pageant is getting any sleep! I will need to have slept for a full week afterwards.
Jazz Fest is definitely so large now that it takes place over two weekends. If you wish to expertise among the best New Orleans festivals, plan to be within the metropolis for the final weekend of April or first of Might, or each if you wish to go large. For extra data on Jazz Fest, try their web site.
5. White Linen Evening/Soiled Linen Evening
White Linen Evening and Soiled Linen Evening are two distinctive New Orleans festivals that positively stand out. On the very least, they definitely have essentially the most attention-grabbing names.
Whilst you can zip across the Huge Simple in a pleasant air-conditioned cab today, this was not the case again within the day.
Since summers are so scorching and muggy in New Orleans, individuals most popular to put on white linen when going out. Retailers within the metropolis’s Warehouse District determined to have just a little flashback get together and began White Linen Evening in 1994.
The concept for this occasion is straightforward. You simply placed on some contemporary, white linen and are available out to Julia Avenue to peruse the artwork galleries. After all, there’s additionally reside music and loads of meals & drink to maintain the get together going. White wine is the drink of alternative at this fancy soirée!
New Orleans festivals are all about having a very good time. That’s why the get together extends to the following weekend with Soiled Linen Evening.
You’re inspired to put on the identical outfit that you simply did the earlier weekend now that it’s good and soiled. This get together takes place within the French Quarter on Royal Avenue. Soiled Martinis are the drink of alternative, and a few retailers even give away Soiled Rice.
Happening over back-to-back weekends in the summertime, these are art-centered block events which might be free to attend. White Linen Evening takes place on the primary Saturday in August, whereas Soiled Linen Evening occurs the next weekend.
6. Essence Pageant
The Essence Pageant was initially deliberate as a one-off occasion again in 1995.
Referred to as the “get together with a objective,” it has now been working for greater than 25 years and is now one of many greatest occasions celebrating African-American tradition in the whole United States.
Essence is mainly two festivals rolled into one. In the course of the day, there are panels and workshops within the Ernest Morial Conference Middle. These are open to the general public and are completely free, however registration is required.
The motion strikes to the Superdome within the evenings for a powerful lineup of hip-hop, funk, soul, R&B, and gospel music.
You should purchase tickets for live shows individually or go for a weekend move. That is one New Orleans music pageant you gained’t wish to miss.
In earlier years, former First Girl Michelle Obama headlined the festivities in a particular keynote dialog. The musical lineup was stacked as nicely, with Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliot, NAS, Pharrell Williams, and extra.
Verify their web site for the most recent data on this yr’s occasions.
7. Tales of the Cocktail
Tales of the Cocktail dates again to 2002 when it began out as a strolling tour of native bars. The following yr, it changed into a small gathering of cocktail aficionados and professionals, and it has grown yearly since.
Over the course of 5 days, the cocktail neighborhood descends upon New Orleans for seminars, workshops, competitions, tastings, and rather more. There are even area journeys out to native distilleries, which may be plenty of enjoyable.
For this pageant, you’ll be able to simply buy tickets to the occasions individually.
For those who purchase tickets as much as a worth of $150, you may get free entry to all of the tasting rooms. Right here you’ll discover nice occasions like “Craft Your Personal Good Bloody Mary” and “Hecho in Mexico: All Issues Agave.”
Whether or not you’re part of the business or simply fascinated about mixology, that is positively one of many coolest New Orleans occasions. Yow will discover all the information you want over on their web site.
8. Crescent Metropolis Blues & BBQ Pageant
In a metropolis well-known for its music and meals, Crescent Metropolis Blues & BBQ is without doubt one of the greatest New Orleans festivals to take a look at. Simply because the climate begins to chill down a bit, this pageant heats issues proper again up in downtown New Orleans.
This New Orleans music pageant began after Hurricane Katrina as a approach to carry vacationers again to town and create jobs for locals. It’s been an enormous hit ever since and can be having its 14th version this yr.
The pageant takes place in Lafayette Sq. Park within the metropolis’s Central Enterprise District. There are two totally different phases arrange the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from some superb blues music and one other smaller stage the place artists inform tales and host Q&A occasions.
So far as the meals goes, you’ll be able to count on loads of mouth-watering Louisiana barbecue right here. Take your decide between brisket, lamb chops, and naturally all kinds of sausages. They’ve vegetarian and vegan choices obtainable as nicely.
Admission is free, however there are VIP packages obtainable if you happen to’re . You possibly can learn extra in regards to the pageant on their web site.
9. Voodoo Music & Arts Expertise
The Voodoo Music & Arts Expertise takes over Metropolis Park each October on the weekend round Halloween. With catchphrases like “be a part of the ritual” and “worship the music,” this New Orleans music pageant embraces town’s historical past with voodoo.
Voodoo has been an vital a part of the native tradition in New Orleans for hundreds of years. It got here right here with slaves from West Africa, who quickly merged their rituals and beliefs with Catholicism. Not solely is there a Voodoo Museum in New Orleans, however there’s even a pageant.
The primary version of Voodoo occurred again in 1999 as a single-day occasion. It has grown significantly since then and is now an enormous 3-day pageant with a powerful lineup. Previous headliners embody Weapons N’ Roses, Submit Malone, and Beck.
Along with all of the music, there are some fairly mind-blowing artwork installations right here. There’s even an interactive graveyard that makes for some spooky picture ops. Add in hundreds of costumed individuals and also you’ve obtained a recipe for an superior Halloween weekend.
Sadly, Voodoo wasn’t held in 2022, and the 2023 version hasn’t been introduced but. However maintain checking their web site, as a result of this common New Orleans pageant is sure to return.
10. LUNA Fete
LUNA Fete, which stands for Gentle Up NOLA Arts, is without doubt one of the most unusual New Orleans festivals. That’s exactly what this superb pageant of sunshine, artwork, and expertise does to the historic buildings of the Huge Simple.
This pageant began in 2014 with a single set up at Gallier Corridor that includes a surprising projection of sunshine and video. Created by the Arts Council of New Orleans, the concept is to shine a light-weight on town and present how artwork can remodel communities.
What you’ll see if you happen to expertise LUNA Fete is a lot greater than pictures being projected onto a constructing. It’s a really interactive show of movement graphics and sound utilizing the most recent in video mapping expertise. It actually is an awe-inspiring sight and one I’d like to expertise once more on my subsequent journey to town.
LUNA Fete takes place over a number of nights in early December to kick off the vacation season in New Orleans. There are nightly projections together with another attention-grabbing artwork installations.
There’s additionally a big market right here with loads of artwork and meals distributors in addition to reside leisure. It’s the right approach to get within the vacation spirit and enjoyable for the entire household. Click on right here to study extra.
Curious About Extra Nice Festivals Across the World?
One among my favourite issues about visiting new locations is experiencing native tradition. For those who’re fascinated about extra than simply New Orleans festivals, try these different articles:
FAQs About New Orleans Festivals
Have a query about festivals in New Orleans? Check out these FAQs.
No shock right here: Mardi Gras is the most important New Orleans pageant.
Not solely is Mardi Gras the most important New Orleans pageant, however it’s additionally essentially the most well-known. For music followers, nevertheless, Jazz Fest would possibly come to thoughts first.
New Orleans at the moment hosts over 130 festivals a yr. That averages out to multiple each three days!
New Orleans has essentially the most festivals in summer time, though two of the most important, Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest, are within the late winter and spring.
In my view, April is the perfect month due to Jazz Fest. New Orleans festivals apart, October, January, and March are good occasions to keep away from the crowds and summer time warmth.
Prepared for New Orleans Festivals?
As you’ll be able to see, the motion actually doesn’t cease in relation to New Orleans occasions. Only a few days after ringing within the New 12 months with enormous events everywhere in the metropolis, the Mardi Gras parades begin and final for a number of weeks.
There’s barely sufficient time to wash up all of the beads off of Bourbon Avenue earlier than town turns its focus in direction of its legendary spring festivals.
Along with the French Quarter Pageant and Jazz Fest, there are additionally tons of New Orleans festivals within the spring only for crawfish!
The tasty meals festivals of the Huge Simple proceed on by way of the remainder of the yr.
There are festivals right here devoted to fried rooster, po’ boys, gumbo, beignets, and even one only for tomatoes. You’ll want one thing to scrub all that down with, and New Orleans has you coated with wine, beer, and cocktail festivals.
With so many festivals occurring, New Orleans simply would possibly take the (king) cake for essentially the most enjoyable metropolis within the USA. When one get together ends, one other is simply starting within the Huge Simple. That’s why town’s motto is “Laissez Le Bons Temps Roulez” – Let the Good Instances Roll!
Have you ever traveled to New Orleans for one among these festivals, or do you’ve got one other nice suggestion? Depart a remark beneath and tell us.
Word: Some pictures on this article are courtesy of Shutterstock.com.
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