With over 130 New Orleans festivals all year long, that’s about one each three days!
I completely love festivals. The truth is, I skipped my senior promenade to go to my first music competition. Oh yeah, and I met my spouse at one as properly!
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 great social gathering, I’d say New Orleans is without doubt one of the greatest locations in the US for festivals.
10 Finest 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 Competition 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 competition for you within the Huge Simple.
With so many glorious New Orleans occasions to select from, there’s more likely to be one thing cool happening within the metropolis whenever you go to — even when it’s only for a weekend.
On this information, we’ll check out a few of the greatest New Orleans festivals that can assist you plan the proper 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 folks to the town annually.
The identify Mardi Gras is French for “Fats Tuesday”, which is the widespread identify for the ultimate day earlier than the beginning of Lent.
On today, many individuals eat wealthy and fatty meals earlier than the fasting of Lent begins. Mardi Gras in New Orleans lasts for much longer than at some point, 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 also referred to as Twelfth Evening. A couple of month laster, the largest and wildest parade of all takes place, Endymion. Seeing this parade was simply my favourite a part of Mardi Gras.
The social gathering lasts for a month, so you might have 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 approach 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 principally means a ton of parades, attention-grabbing costumes, colourful beads, and King Truffles.
There’s numerous consuming, consuming, dancing, and simply common merriment. Make certain you put on the official colours of Mardi Gras – purple (justice), inexperienced (religion), and gold (energy).
Be sure to plan forward and e-book lodging properly prematurely, as that is the preferred time to go to the Huge Simple.
In the event you don’t need to take care of the crowds, think about touring to New Orleans just a few weeks earlier than Mardi Gras. There’s nonetheless a lot happening, nevertheless it’s far much less chaotic and also you’ll get a greater deal on lodging.
You’ll be able to verify the precise dates for future Mardi Gras right here.
2. French Quarter Competition
The French Quarter Competition began again in 1984 as a approach to attract locals again to the realm after the development of the World’s Honest completed up.
It’s a celebration of New Orleans meals, music, and tradition that lasts for 4 days each April. In the event you’re on the lookout for a great New Orleans music competition, this can be a strong selection.
Better of all, the French Quarter Competition is completely free!
It’s really the largest free music competition 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 nice native music, you may 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 info, make sure you verify their web site.
3. New Orleans Wine and Meals Expertise
The Wine and Meals Expertise is certainly the most effective 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 bought loads of choices.
Throughout the competition, wineries and eating places staff as much as supply particular menus with wine pairings. I realized extra about wine (and had extra enjoyable consuming it) in at some point than in my whole life earlier than it!
There are additionally grand tastings and seminars all through the competition the place you may be taught extra concerning the implausible meals and wine on supply. The spotlight of the competition is the Royal Road Stroll, a parade led by the Krewe of Cork.
Among the best components about supporting this competition is that it’s for an amazing 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 thus far, so that you’re consuming and consuming for a great 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 might plan your whole journey right here round what you need to eat and drink, and there could be completely nothing incorrect with that!
If you wish to participate within the New Orleans Wine and Meals Expertise, head on over to their web site to be taught extra.
4. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Competition
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Competition (or Jazz Fest for brief) not too long ago celebrated its fiftieth anniversary and is a vital a part of the native tradition. In a metropolis generally known as the birthplace of jazz, it ought to come as no shock that there’s a serious jazz competition within the Huge Simple!
This well-known New Orleans music competition goes down on the Honest Grounds Race Course. Right here you may catch over 100 artists throughout a number of phases enjoying each fashion of music related to Louisiana, which is principally every little thing!
Along with jazz, you may get right 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 the most effective 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 received’t get overpriced corn canine and cotton sweet right here. As an alternative, you may munch on native classics like boiled crawfish or crimson beans & rice.
There are additionally loads of cubicles across the competition promoting native crafts.
Whereas the music on the competition solely goes till 7:00 PM, the social gathering doesn’t cease then. Among the best components about experiencing Jazz Fest is trying out a few of the superb late-night reveals that go on throughout the town.
The toughest half about going to this enjoyable New Orleans music competition is getting any sleep! I will need to have slept for a full week afterwards.
Jazz Fest is definitely so massive now that it takes place over two weekends. If you wish to expertise the most effective 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 massive. For extra info on Jazz Fest, take a look at 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 actually have essentially the most attention-grabbing names.
When you can zip across the Huge Simple in a pleasant air-conditioned cab lately, this was not the case again within the day.
Since summers are so sizzling and muggy in New Orleans, folks most well-liked to put on white linen when going out. Retailers within the metropolis’s Warehouse District determined to have slightly flashback social gathering 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 Road to peruse the artwork galleries. After all, there’s additionally stay music and loads of meals & drink to maintain the social gathering going. White wine is the drink of selection at this fancy soirée!
New Orleans festivals are all about having a great time. That’s why the social gathering extends to the following weekend with Soiled Linen Evening.
You’re inspired to put on the identical outfit that you just did the earlier weekend now that it’s good and soiled. This social gathering takes place within the French Quarter on Royal Road. Soiled Martinis are the drink of selection, and a few outlets 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 Competition
The Essence Competition was initially deliberate as a one-off occasion again in 1995.
Generally known as the “social gathering with a goal,” it has now been working for greater than 25 years and is now one of many largest occasions celebrating African-American tradition in the whole United States.
Essence is principally two festivals rolled into one. Throughout 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 concert events individually or go for a weekend cross. That is one New Orleans music competition you received’t need to miss.
In earlier years, former First Woman Michelle Obama headlined the festivities in a particular keynote dialog. The musical lineup was stacked as properly, with Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliot, NAS, Pharrell Williams, and extra.
Test their web site for the newest info on this 12 months’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 subsequent 12 months, it become 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 far more. There are even area journeys out to native distilleries, which will be numerous enjoyable.
For this competition, you may simply buy tickets to the occasions individually.
In the event you purchase tickets as much as a price of $150, you may get free entry to all of the tasting rooms. Right here you’ll discover nice occasions like “Craft Your Personal Excellent Bloody Mary” and “Hecho in Mexico: All Issues Agave.”
Whether or not you’re part of the business or simply keen on mixology, that is positively one of many coolest New Orleans occasions. Yow will discover all the data you want over on their web site.
8. Crescent Metropolis Blues & BBQ Competition
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 competition heats issues proper again up in downtown New Orleans.
This New Orleans music competition began after Hurricane Katrina as a option to deliver vacationers again to the town and create jobs for locals. It’s been an enormous hit ever since and might be having its 14th version this 12 months.
The competition takes place in Lafayette Sq. Park within the metropolis’s Central Enterprise District. There are two totally different phases arrange the place you may 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 may count on loads of mouth-watering Louisiana barbecue right here. Take your choose between brisket, lamb chops, and naturally all kinds of sausages. They’ve vegetarian and vegan choices obtainable as properly.
Admission is free, however there are VIP packages obtainable in case you’re . You’ll be able to learn extra concerning the competition 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 competition embraces the town’s historical past with voodoo.
Voodoo has been an essential 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 competition.
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 competition with a powerful lineup. Previous headliners embody Weapons N’ Roses, Publish 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 1000’s of costumed folks and also you’ve bought a recipe for an superior Halloween weekend.
Sadly, Voodoo wasn’t held in 2022, and the 2023 version hasn’t been introduced but. However preserve checking their web site, as a result of this well-liked New Orleans competition 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 competition of sunshine, artwork, and expertise does to the historic buildings of the Huge Simple.
This competition 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 thought is to shine a lightweight on the town and present how artwork can rework communities.
What you’ll see in case you 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 newest in video mapping expertise. It really is an awe-inspiring sight and one I’d like to expertise once more on my subsequent journey to the town.
LUNA Fete takes place over just a few 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 stay leisure. It’s the proper option to get within the vacation spirit and enjoyable for the entire household. Click on right here to be taught extra.
Curious About Extra Nice Festivals Across the World?
One in every of my favourite issues about visiting new locations is experiencing native tradition. In the event you’re keen on extra than simply New Orleans festivals, take a look at 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 largest New Orleans competition.
Not solely is Mardi Gras the largest New Orleans competition, nevertheless it’s additionally essentially the most well-known. For music followers, nonetheless, Jazz Fest would possibly come to thoughts first.
New Orleans at the moment hosts over 130 festivals a 12 months. That averages out to multiple each three days!
New Orleans has essentially the most festivals in summer season, though two of the largest, 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 season warmth.
Prepared for New Orleans Festivals?
As you may see, the motion actually doesn’t cease in terms of New Orleans occasions. Only a few days after ringing within the New 12 months with big events everywhere in the metropolis, the Mardi Gras parades begin and final for a number of weeks.
There’s barely sufficient time to scrub up all of the beads off of Bourbon Road earlier than the town turns its focus in the direction of its legendary spring festivals.
Along with the French Quarter Competition 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 12 months.
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 lined with wine, beer, and cocktail festivals.
With so many festivals happening, New Orleans simply would possibly take the (king) cake for essentially the most enjoyable metropolis within the USA. When one social gathering ends, one other is simply starting within the Huge Simple. That’s why the town’s motto is “Laissez Le Bons Temps Roulez” – Let the Good Occasions Roll!
Have you ever traveled to New Orleans for one among these festivals, or do you might have one other nice advice? Go away a remark under and tell us.
Be aware: Some pictures on this article are courtesy of Shutterstock.com.
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