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 pageant. Oh yeah, and I met my spouse at one as properly!
I’ve been to New Orleans 4 instances now and have had a good time at their festivals. Of all of the cities I’ve traveled to for an excellent get together, I’d say New Orleans is without doubt one of the finest 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 Massive Straightforward. One other nickname that deserves to be on the listing 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 pageant for you within the Massive Straightforward.
With so many glorious New Orleans occasions to select from, there’s more likely to be one thing cool occurring within the metropolis if you go to — even when it’s only for a weekend.
On this information, we’ll check out among the finest New Orleans festivals that will help you plan the proper journey.
1. Mardi Gras: New Orleans Carnival Celebration
Mardi Gras is the granddaddy of all of them. That is undoubtedly probably the most well-known of all of the New Orleans festivals, bringing in over 10 million folks to the town every year.
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 someday, 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 called Twelfth Evening. A few 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 get together lasts for a month, so you’ve plenty of choices for together with Mardi Gras in your listing of issues to do in New Orleans.
Mardi Gras got here to the area means 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 a whole lot of consuming, ingesting, dancing, and simply basic merriment. Make sure you put on the official colours of Mardi Gras – purple (justice), inexperienced (religion), and gold (energy).
Be sure you plan forward and guide lodging properly upfront, as that is the preferred time to go to the Massive Straightforward.
In case you don’t wish to cope with the crowds, think about 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 verify the precise dates for future Mardi Gras right here.
2. French Quarter Competition
The French Quarter Competition began again in 1984 as a means 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 case you’re in search of an excellent New Orleans music pageant, it is a strong alternative.
Better of all, the French Quarter Competition is completely free!
It’s really the biggest 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 combined. 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, you’ll want to verify their web site.
3. New Orleans Wine and Meals Expertise
The Wine and Meals Expertise is unquestionably 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 acquired loads of choices.
In the course of the pageant, wineries and eating places staff as much as supply particular menus with wine pairings. I realized extra about wine (and had extra enjoyable ingesting it) in someday 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 concerning 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 finest elements about supporting this pageant is that it’s for an ideal 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 up to now, so that you’re consuming and ingesting for an excellent trigger right here!
There’s little doubt that the Massive Straightforward is without doubt one of the finest cities within the US for consuming and ingesting. You may plan your total journey right here round what you wish to eat and drink, and there can be completely nothing flawed 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 Competition
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Competition (or Jazz Fest for brief) not too long ago celebrated its fiftieth anniversary and is a crucial 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 pageant within the Massive Straightforward!
This well-known New Orleans music pageant goes down on the Honest Grounds Race Course. Right here you’ll be able to 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 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,” which means you received’t get overpriced corn canines 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 finest elements about experiencing Jazz Fest is testing among the superb late-night exhibits that go on throughout the 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 info 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 undoubtedly stand out. On the very least, they definitely have probably the most attention-grabbing names.
When you can zip across the Massive Straightforward 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 a bit flashback get together and began White Linen Evening in 1994.
The thought for this occasion is easy. 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 dwell 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 an excellent time. That’s why the get together extends to the subsequent 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.
Going down over back-to-back weekends in the summertime, these are art-centered block events which are 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 “get together with a objective,” it has now been operating for greater than 25 years and is now one of many largest occasions celebrating African-American tradition in the complete United States.
Essence is principally two festivals rolled into one. In the course of the day, there are panels and workshops within the Ernest Morial Conference Heart. 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 received’t wish 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 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 far more. There are even subject journeys out to native distilleries, which might be a whole lot of enjoyable.
For this pageant, you’ll be able to simply buy tickets to the occasions individually.
In case 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 desirous about mixology, that is undoubtedly one of many coolest New Orleans occasions. You will discover all the information 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 finest 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 strategy to carry vacationers again to the town and create jobs for locals. It’s been an enormous hit ever since and will likely be having its 14th version this 12 months.
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 out there as properly.
Admission is free, however there are VIP packages out there when you’re . You possibly can learn extra concerning 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 part of the ritual” and “worship the music,” this New Orleans music pageant embraces the town’s historical past with voodoo.
Voodoo has been an necessary 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 a large 3-day pageant with a powerful lineup. Previous headliners embrace Weapons N’ Roses, Put up 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 photograph ops. Add in 1000’s of costumed folks and also you’ve acquired a recipe for an superior Halloween weekend.
Sadly, Voodoo wasn’t held in 2022, and the 2023 version hasn’t been introduced but. However hold checking their web site, as a result of this widespread New Orleans pageant is sure to return.
10. LUNA Fete
LUNA Fete, which stands for Mild Up NOLA Arts, is without doubt one of the most original New Orleans festivals. That’s exactly what this superb pageant of sunshine, artwork, and expertise does to the historic buildings of the Massive Straightforward.
This pageant began in 2014 with a single set up at Gallier Corridor that includes a shocking projection of sunshine and video. Created by the Arts Council of New Orleans, the concept is to shine a light-weight on the town and present how artwork can rework communities.
What you’ll see when you expertise LUNA Fete is a lot greater than photos being projected onto a constructing. It’s a really interactive show of movement graphics and sound utilizing the newest 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 the 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 dwell leisure. It’s the proper strategy 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 in all my favourite issues about visiting new locations is experiencing native tradition. In case you’re desirous 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 largest New Orleans pageant.
Not solely is Mardi Gras the largest New Orleans pageant, however it’s additionally probably the most well-known. For music followers, nonetheless, Jazz Fest may come to thoughts first.
New Orleans at present hosts over 130 festivals a 12 months. That averages out to multiple each three days!
New Orleans has probably the most festivals in summer time, 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 instances 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 terms of New Orleans occasions. Just some days after ringing within the New Yr 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 wash up all of the beads off of Bourbon Avenue 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 Massive Straightforward proceed on by 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 clean all that down with, and New Orleans has you coated with wine, beer, and cocktail festivals.
With so many festivals occurring, New Orleans simply may take the (king) cake for probably the most enjoyable metropolis within the USA. When one get together ends, one other is simply starting within the Massive Straightforward. 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 considered one of these festivals, or do you’ve one other nice suggestion? Depart a remark under and tell us.
Be aware: Some photos on this article are courtesy of Shutterstock.com.
Like This Article? Pin It!
