New Orleans is a city where music, art, and culture come together. Festivals in New Orleans are beautiful and will immerse you in heart-pacing vibes.
You can enjoy them with your whole family or have some friends around. There are different festivals celebrated in New Orleans from time to time. Every single one is unique in its way.
Festivals in New Orleans show you art at individual and cultural levels, giving off unique vibes. Along with art, music festivals and food events are things you should look forward to. The different kinds of mouth-watering dishes are served here, just waiting for you to be explored.
1. Amazing Festivals in New Orleans
Many festivals are celebrated in New Orleans almost daily, but some steal the show; these are fun, energetic, and completely worth experiencing.
1.1 Mardi Gras: Festivals in New Orleans
There are many festivals in New Orleans, but the best is the Mardi Gras festival. This happened on a grand scale and has legally been around New Orleans since 1875,
It is an energetic and beautiful festival with lots of music and fabulous parades. This will leave your heart astounded by the creativity and energy.
Mardi Gras can be experienced just before Ash Wednesday(Fat Tuesday). This is one of those festivals where you can see it coming weeks before the actual date. There will be parades with people wearing fantastic, vibrant and colourful costumes.
The most impressive part of every festival is the passion. These carnivals and parades occur all year, but during January and February, they are booming, so make sure to visit New Orleans Festivals around this time.
A large crowd gathers here from all around the world. Make your bookings in advance to attend and enjoy this festival.
1.2 New Orleans Wine and Food Experience
Festivals in New Orleans never fail to amaze. Check out this great event: the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience.
There are different types of wines to taste and many food options, making this a perfect festival, especially for wine lovers and foodies.
You can enjoy a new type of wine from breakfast to dinner. Each new flavour is accompanied by a new delicacy that makes this experience even better.
Go out with your friends, drink wine, and enjoy various food events. There is nothing more excellent than fine wine and dining.
1.3 French Quarter Festival
This free and fantastic music festival makes you crave the food and culture of New Orleans festivals.
This is one of those festivals in New Orleans that is not only amazing but also free, an added bonus for budget travellers.
French Quarter festival lasts about four days, and you can expect every music genre, from pop to jazz. It is undoubtedly going to make your fluttering heart all excited.
Stages can be spotted on every food corner all around. Food and music quality is at its finest.
The French Quarter festival is celebrated every April. Even though it is celebrated for four days, you might find the time insufficient.
If you ever visit this fantastic place, do not miss this festival in New Orleans.
1.4 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
With so many music festivals, you mustn’t forget jazz, which started here in New Orleans. This festival not only focuses on jazz.
You can enjoy other genres like cajun, bluegrass, and many more. This makes the springtime even more exciting with music festivals, especially this jazz fest.
This festival is unique. Hearing those fantastic music pieces and rhythms around you will improve your day. You will find traditional jazz along with contemporary ones here.
Multiple clubs are affiliated when the Jazz and Heritage Festival is on the line, which makes it even more exciting.
New Orleans packs a punch with its music festivals, and this New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, hosted by local bars, will make your visit worth it.
1.5 Essence Festival
New Orleans is a fantastic place with festivals that celebrate African-American culture. The organization that hosts this unique festival goes by the name Essence, and so does the name Essence Festival.
Essence Festival, also known as “The Party with a Purpose,” happens once a year and is an annual music festival. Many different types of performances happen during this event other than just music.
You will have some comedy, wellness events, and even fashion events with workshops.
Make sure to check the official website for anything regarding the complete details of which artists might be appearing or workshops you might want to attend.
Essence, a magazine for African-American women, is responsible for this fantastic festival.
Many big names, like Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, and Lady Michelle Obama, appear at the Essence festival.
Expect no less from this place; the vibe you get from it will surely make you come here next year.
1.6 Tales of the Cocktail
Yes, a cocktail festival in New Orleans will stir your day with taste and dizziness. Tickets can cost up to 150$ and give you access to all the drinks.
This event is a week long, and you can expect various cocktails to be present.
It is a paradise for anyone who likes alcohol and wants to taste and experience the different techniques bartenders use to mix fantastic drinks.
This is a mixture of a convention and a party because there are meetings and seminars which you can attend if you want to.
Many bartenders and mixologists attend this unique and tasty Tales of Cocktails. You will find many professional bartenders attending this event.
1.7 LUNA Fete
At LUNA Fete, you can expect art in various forms, even graphics. The Luna Fete festival is one such festival that focuses on the local arts and historic buildings.
The main focus of this festival is to connect the beautiful works of the various artists to the historic architecture present in New Orleans using light with art and technology.
The lights shine bright on the buildings, showing your artwork with a slight touch of technology. The whole place is filled with art, vendors, and food stalls that you are waiting to explore.
This is one of the few festivals in New Orleans which is a little different than the contemporary festivals but equally good and maybe even better with those lights and sounds waiting to be heard.
Do make sure to check out this beautiful festival called Luna Fete.
1.8 White Linen Night
You can find White Linen Night in the Warehouse District of New Orleans, which features art and artists from New Orleans.
Get your outfit made of white linen and wear it while strolling around and experiencing different art pieces and great music.
The galleries that are present here have expanded and have wholly rejuvenated the atmosphere.
The art market and everything around here is lively, like all of the significant events, and yes, it is truly a fantastic feeling to be a part of something this fun and exciting.
The exciting part about this festival is that you can spill or make your white linen clothes dirty and then wear them to Dirty Linen Night.
Dirty Linen Night is just after the French Quarter, and people wear their white linen, which gets dirty.
1.9 Voodoo Music & Arts Experience
This festival brings smiles to your faces with its unique style and excellent street food; this festival is another example.
Of course, Great food, four stages set up, rain and mud all around you with spooky costumes, and loud and live music.
The event happens in the City Park, and when it is the Halloween (October) weekend, you know this New Orleans festival is around the corner.
The atmosphere can be described as le and wild, with dancing and fabulous costumes. Multiple stages combine to serve that music at its best.
The food again is excellent, and you, with your rain boots and a great smile, are going to have a lot of fun once you attend this 3-day Voodoo Music festival
1.10 Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
You might want to check out the Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival in Lafayette Square Park before other festivals.
The festival offers excellent music, but it also provides hot, steamy BBQ between those music shows, which is delicious and something to look forward to.
There are many performances from notable people like Little Freddie King and Benoit, making it even more exciting.
Those ribs and briskets are waiting to be explored by you, and they are prepared by no one who is exceptional at making Barbecues suitable.
Barbeque your family for the Crescent City blues and some excellent BBQ festivals.
1.11 Satchmo Summerfest
Make sure you attend this fantastic festival celebrating music at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. The festival has jazz bands performing great music for you all weekend long.
Celebrating the culture of New Orleans, this festival goes smoothly with local food, music, and beer, which is also made locally.
Hosted by French Quarter, expect great art and good seminars. If you plan to attend this festival in New Orleans, check out their official website: https://satchmosummerfest.org.
1.12 Red Dress Run
The second Saturday of August marks the date for this New Orleans festival. It is a culture and charity-based event that raises revenue for this local club in the beautiful Crescent City.
This run organized for the charity is pretty fun; people go for a run with drinks in their hands and wear all red while doing so.
You can expect this event to be a unique experience like the many events in New Orleans but with you in only red dresses.
A red crowd follows the streets, enjoying and celebrating with drinks and some food.
The event’s location is unknown to registered people, but you can find some whispers in the crowd.
Please register for the event on their official website and join this Red Sea of Passion.
2. Where to Stay for the Best Accessibility
New Orleans festivals are great and one of a kind because they are so good, and the number of tourists who attend them is also relatively high.
Make sure to book your hotels and check reservations in advance before visiting any of the Festivals.
The best area to attend all the festivals here is the French Quarter; it will help you while you are following them here.
The accessibility and everything are straightforward for you to grasp, and because most of them are close to the area, you will probably meet a more engaging crowd.
Marigny and Bywater are good options if you cannot get a hotel in this area. There can also be cheaper options than the French Quarter.
3. Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Q.1 Can you get your food or maybe a drink when you attend festivals in New Orleans?
No, you cannot do so at most of the festivals. You can carry a water bottle or some light snacks. Some specific festivals, like the French Quarter, prohibit food and drink outside. Make sure to check the official website before you attend New Orleans festivals.
Q.2 Do I need tickets for every festival I attend?
No, many New Orleans festivals are free; you can jump in there to enjoy the music. Though the food experience will always cost you some money, the rest can be free, depending on the festival.
Q.3 Which is a better payment option, card or cash, during these festivals?
It is best to take both because some vendors have no card options. Make sure to carry enough cash to enjoy a variety of food.
Q.4 Is there any particular time of the year best for attending festivals in New Orleans?
No, the whole year is packed with some fantastic festivals. There are over 130 festivals present in New Orleans. You will always have some festivals being celebrated most of the time. If you are looking for a particular festival, check the website.
Q.5 Which is the best New Orleans festival?
There is no particular choice as every festival is unique and spectacular. If you are a jazz fan, then go to a jazz fest, or if you like wine or food, there is a festival for that too.
There are so many varieties of it that you cannot choose one, but some festivals are on a larger scale, so you may find them more entertaining, like Mardi Gras or French Quarter.
4. Conclusion
Immerse yourself in the New Orleans culture with local musicians and holiday spirit. With more than 130 festivals on the line, you can bet that festivals in New Orleans will be best for this holiday season.
For a city famous for festivals with foods and drinks all around you, check out these fantastic festivals. Local food is not going to disappoint you. This is undoubtedly going to be your one-stop for these holidays.
Check different varieties of festivals like art festivals and music festivals. Food will not disappoint you.
If you are into different genres of music, you will get a taste of everything. These celebrations will surely make your year the best.
New Orleans is the place to be if you are planning your vacation. Book your holidays to match with festival days.
However, the price of your stay may be more than the average days during the festive season. Notwithstanding, plan your trips to New Orleans to teach your children the diversity and culture of this city.
Last Updated on April 1, 2024 by Apeksha Soni