What to Do on the Fourth of July Weekend in the French Quarter and Nearby

Photo by Jeffrey Hamilton on Unsplash

The upcoming Independence Day weekend is shaping up to be spectacular, filled with special events, fireworks, and — this being New Orleans — great food and music. If you’re planning to spend yours in the French Quarter, here are some things we suggest you and your friends and family do.

Kick off the festivities with the Go 4th on the River celebration: a free Dueling Barges fireworks show over the Mississippi River at the Riverfront. Pick up a muffuletta from Central Grocery on Decatur Street, or an “All That Jazz” po-boy from Verti Marte on Royal (we also heartily recommend the Cuban sandwich), and set up a picnic by the river at the Woldenberg Park while you wait for the fireworks.

There’s plenty of grass and benches, as well as street performances along the Moonwalk, which is a walkway named for former New Orleans mayor Maurice “Moon” Landrieu. Watch the boats go by and take in the public art that liberally dots the space.

Another option is to book a steamboat cruise on the Mississippi River and watch the show from the deck while you party. Creole Queen’s Fourth of July Celebration Cruise boards starting at 7 p.m. and includes an open bar, a buffet, and lots of music (DJ, piano, and jazz band in three different rooms). The buffet’s menu is posted on the company website. Billed as “American favorites,” it includes BBQ chicken, pulled pork, corn on the cob, and apple pie.

Don’t want to commit to a cruise? Take a ferry across the river to Algiers Point for $2. A great view of the fireworks is guaranteed — en route and from the other bank (and here’s the schedule).

While you are at the Riverfront, you can’t miss the French Market across the street. The best way to experience it is to walk through its open-air mall, starting with the food stands and ending at Esplanade Avenue.

As the oldest continually operating public market in the country since 1791, the French Market has the structure of a traditional European market. It covers roughly five blocks, from Cafe Du Monde on Decatur Street across from Jackson Square to the daily flea market at the end of Esplanade Avenue.

The flea market has local artists and vendors from all over the world. You’ll find souvenirs, handmade art and jewelry, t-shirts, music, and more. Sample local food and cocktails from the food stands or the nearby restaurants sprawling in every direction, or pick up pralines and a beignet mix to take home from any of the surrounding retail shops.

In the mood for more shopping and maybe a movie? The Riverwalk Outlets is an indoor outlet mall hosting more than 75 retailers and restaurants, including Coach and Ralph Lauren. It is a short walk/streetcar ride along the riverfront from the French Market.

The Shops at Canal Place is a short walk away from the Riverwalk, featuring dozens of upscale retailers like Louis Vuitton and Brooks Brothers, plus a small food court and a movie theater. The sleek Prytania Theatres at Canal Place is located inside the mall if you want to catch a movie.

For yet more shopping, check out the shops along N. Peters Street, including H&M and Sephora.

Need a respite from the heat, but don’t feel like hanging out in the mall? The sprawling Caesars New Orleans casino is within walking distance from the riverfront as well, on Canal Street. The complex features everything a large casino could offer. Foodwise, you can get a taste of amazing food at Emeril’s Kitchen, Nina’s Creole Cottage, Nobu, and The Steakhouse New Orleans.

If you don’t mind venturing a bit further away from the French Quarter toward the Convention Center, the Mardi Gras World museum will give you a taste of Mardi Gras with a grand tour of all things Carnival and a free slice of King Cake.

The ESSENCE Festival of Culture is also held that weekend at the Superdome, wrapping up on Sunday, July 5, 2026. The music lineup is always stellar, and the areas in and around the Superdome will host temporary arts-and-crafts markets.

Happy eating, shopping and sightseeing, and have a wonderful time in New Orleans this Independence Day weekend!

Coming to New Orleans this summer?

We’d love for you to stay with us! Take advantage of our specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous cuisine and enjoy everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today!

Also, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. And, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!

What’s Happening in New Orleans in August?

Zulu SA&PC Grand Marshall at Satchmo Salute Parade. Photo by Cedric Ellsworth.

Don’t let the long, hot Louisiana summer get you down — there’s plenty to do in New Orleans in August. These happenings are a testament to our willingness to eat, drink, dance, mingle, strut, and even run — in the heat, humidity, and that inevitable afternoon rain.

From brass bands to block parties to a parade to running in a fancy dress for a good cause, August got it going, spilling into the first week of September.

COOLinary

Saturday, August 1 – Monday, August 31, 2026

There’s no better time to try out an award-winning restaurant during your visit or revisit an old favorite than in August and September. For the month of August, the COOLinary dining program offers discounted dining deals at participating restaurants located all over the city, and even stretching as far as Harvey and Kenner.

COOLinary was conceived as a citywide promotion to lure diners to local restaurants during the slower summer months. Over a decade in existence, this annual culinary tradition keeps growing. Dozens of participating local restaurants run the gamut from the iconic to the smaller, more casual ones.

Make a reservation today, and bon appétit!

Museum Month

Saturday, August 1 – Monday, August 31, 2026

During the month of August, be sure to take advantage of the Museum Month deal, when you can visit any of the participating museums for the price of membership in any one of them. The one-time admission fee to some local museums can run over $20, so this is a great opportunity to explore on a budget. The fees for the smaller museums are probably the best deal, ranging from $30 to $35 annually. You can buy a membership upon arrival.

Fidelity Bank White Linen Night

Saturday, August 1, 2026

Started in 1994 in an attempt to attract visitors to that revived area (now known as Arts District New Orleans), White Linen Night has been growing steadily, attracting more visitors and vendors every year. This popular, block-party style art event is held on the first Saturday in August in the Warehouse District, essentially serving as an open house for the galleries clustered on the 300-600 blocks of Julia Street.

That whole area is blocked off, hosting several stages for live music and dozens of food and drink stands. About 20 galleries on and around Julia St. are open to the public.

The block party is free (you can buy food and beverage tickets on-site). While there’s no dress code, as the event’s name suggests, consider wearing white.

Satchmo SummerFest

Saturday-Sunday, August 1-2, 2026

Satchmo SummerFest remains one of the August highlights and just the respite you’ll need from the summer trifecta of heat, humidity, and afternoon downpours. This popular annual festival, traditionally held over the two days of the first weekend of August at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at The Mint (located at the beginning of Esplanade Avenue on Decatur Street in the French Quarter), is easy to navigate and get to.

The lineup is always stellar, with the best of the brass bands and the who-is-who of the Louisiana and New Orleans music scenes, and the mixture of indoor-outdoor activities to keep you cool and dancing.

And, don’t forget about the food! As in previous years, dozens of the best local restaurants will be vending everything from crepes to meat pies to tacos and fried chicken. Festival staples like beer and snoballs also keep returning, in addition to the cocktail stands selling margaritas, spiked lemonade, and mimosas.

Wear plenty of sunscreen!

Red Dress Run

Saturday, August 8, 2026

Traditionally held on the second Saturday of August, the Red Dress Run isn’t exclusive to New Orleans, but the local participants take it up a notch by costuming on top of wearing their best and/or most outlandish red dress, regardless of gender.

This is an annual fundraiser run for local charities organized by hashing groups (adults-only, non-competitive social running clubs) all over the world. They call themselves “drinking clubs with a running problem,” and the local group, New Orleans Hash House Harriers (NOH3), is no exception.

The run starts and ends at Crescent Park at 2300 N. Peters St., though the whole two-mile route is kept secret until the day of the event. The beer starts flowing at the pre-party with live music at 9:30 a.m., and you can usually spot some of the sweaty Red Dress runners spilling into the night later that day. If you decide to run, online registration is available, a red dress is a must, and you must be 21 to participate.

Dirty Linen Night

Saturday, August 8, 2026

The Dirty Linen Night, as you may have guessed, takes after another annual art event, the White Linen Night. It follows the White Linen Night exactly one week after, on the second Saturday in August.

Although the Dirty Linen Night riffs off the White Linen Night, it’s not meant to compete with the Warehouse District event but was conceived to promote the many galleries and shops of Royal Street. It is similar in format, though looser in structure and spanning more territory.

The multi-block party takes over the 300-1100 blocks of Royal Street and some cross streets and adjoining areas in the French Quarter, including Jackson Square and Dutch Alley. Dozens of galleries participate each year, plus a number of shops and restaurants. The food and drinks served, like dirty rice and dirty martinis, cheekily run with the theme. This outdoor event is free.

Southern Decadence

Friday, September 4 – Monday, September 7, 2026

This massive Labor Day extravaganza started in the 1970s and is now considered one of the biggest draws to the city after Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, ESSENCE Festival of Culture, and the French Quarter Festival. The popular festival celebrates the LGBTQ+ culture and attracts participants from all over the world.

Southern Decadence usually kicks off (and closes) with a midnight dance party at its hub, Bourbon Pub/Parade. A free show/block party on Saturday is held at the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets.

The annual Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Parade on Sunday also ends there. The theme is different every year. You can buy passes, including VIP, online to access the events that charge an entrance fee and may sell out.

Coming to New Orleans this summer?

We’d love for you to stay with us! Take advantage of our specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous cuisine and enjoy everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today!

Also, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. And, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!

Kick Off Your Summer With the ESSENCE Festival in New Orleans

Photo by Danny Howe on Unsplash

Looking for something fun to do in New Orleans coming up this July? Look no further. The ESSENCE Festival of Culture will be taking place in New Orleans over the Independence Day weekend (July 3-5, 2026).

This unique New Orleans festival hosts multiple famous musical guests, renowned speakers, unforgettable food, fashion, beauty, culture, and much more. Music lovers from all over simply can’t go wrong with all the incredible names in this year’s lineup.

Over three days, the event will be held mostly at the two New Orleans venues: Caesars Superdome for the evening performances and the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for the daytime activities.

Soak in the Music at the ESSENCE Festival in New Orleans

Music fans from all over simply can’t go wrong with all the incredible names in every year’s lineup. The 2026 theme is “Ladies First,” celebrating iconic female artists. Teyana Taylor and The Aunties are chief curators.

Notable performers include Cardi B and Latto, who are set to take the Superdome stage for their first-ever ESSENCE Festival of Culture appearances. Returning to the spotlight are recent ESSENCE cover stars and Grammy-winning singers Brandy and Monica. Grammy Award winner and R&B standout Kehlani is also part of the lineup. And Patti LaBelle, a true icon with more than 60 years in music, returns to her roots.

Other ESSENCE events

The traditional Sunday Gospel Celebration at the Convention Center features the greatest gospel hits, and ESSENCE After Dark, a series of late-night jam sessions, comedy shows, underground performances, live podcast recordings, and more, is also not to be missed.

In addition, a variety of exciting conferences, exhibitions, roundtables, and other experiences are scheduled this year, plus beauty, fashion, and food events, a marketplace, a family day, an economic forum, keynote speakers, and more. The BeautyCon and Wellness House experiences feature celebrity beauty influencers and wellness experts.

How to Get Your Tickets

You can get your tickets a la carte (for the evening concerts at the Superdome and for the ESSENCE After Dark) or in the bundled day and VIP packages, online. The headliners sell out fast, so don’t wait till the last minute! All the events held at the Convention Center during the day are free and open to all (registration is required).

What to Pack

Bring comfortable shoes, an umbrella or rain jacket (as summer in New Orleans can bring unpredictable weather and frequent afternoon showers), and a lot of patience.

The Convention Center in particular is massive, so there will be a lot of walking, and lines could be long. Both the Superdome and the Convention Center have AC, of course, but staying Instagram-ready in the hot and humid New Orleans summer could be tricky.

So dress light, but also be prepared for the much chillier temps inside. It might be a good idea to bring a portable mobile device charger with you so you won’t have to look for an available power outlet in a crowded venue.

Where to Eat

Check out the ESSENCE Food & Wine experience while you’re attending the festival for dozens of vendors and special food demos to get recipe inspiration, find a new dish you like, or revisit an old favorite. There’s also a food court with vendors from all over the South offering a wide range of classic New Orleans food, world cuisine, vegan and vegetarian fare, desserts, and beyond.

Where to Shop

Look for the festival marketplace near the food court, with dozens of vendors selling artwork, crafts, music, clothing, jewelry, etc. You can easily get your souvenir shopping done there, too, from the local vendors. The festival also has its own store inside the Convention Center, with festival merch, books, magazines, and so on.

There are also plenty of shopping options in the area. You could spend a whole day browsing the three levels of The Shops at Canal Place. It has a soaring atrium and food options ranging from casual to upscale. Canal Place houses a slew of upscale national chains, but also local boutiques. 

The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, located by the Mississippi River, is a sprawling discount outlet mall with all the popular labels like Gap, Under Armour, and Guess.

Further down, venturing into the French Quarter, check out H&M and Sephora, plus all the lovely, unique boutiques that pepper Chartres St.

What’s Going on in New Orleans That Week?

There’s Independence Day, of course. New Orleans celebrates July 4th like anywhere else in America, but also with a flavor all her own. There will be fireworks over the Mississippi River and plenty of music and partying. Head to the Riverfront for the display, or see if you can score a French Quarter balcony as a viewing (and party) spot. Many Bourbon Street bars with balconies allow access for a cover fee or if you’re just buying drinks.

 What Else You Need to Know

  • The ESSENCE Festival of Culture requires all guests 18 and over to register for entry into ESSENCE Festival’s conferences and expos.
  • Since the Convention Center events are for all ages, if you want to buy a drink at the food court, prepare to be carded.
  • You can re-enter the Convention Center multiple times, but not the Superdome.
  • No outside food or drink will be allowed at the Convention Center and the Superdome; all bags will be searched.
  • Take note of the Superdome’s clear-bag policy: “Any bag, purse, or briefcase that is larger than 12” x 6” x 12” will not be allowed into the Superdome. All bags that enter must be clear, with the exception of medical bags, which may be subject to inspection, and small clutch bags. The maximum size for a clutch bag is 4.5”x 6.5”.
  • Look for the festival sponsor booths (like Coca-Cola) to score some samples and giveaways and to enter contests. Sponsor booths also host celebrity meet-and-greets, so this might be your chance to meet your favorite star when they’re not performing.

Stay Close to the ESSENCE Festival

If you are attending ESSENCE, book your stay at a beautiful New Orleans hotel close to the sounds of the city, the French Market Inn! This historic hotel is located in the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter, close to a multitude of popular New Orleans bars, restaurants and landmarks, including the Superdome and the Convention Center.

This quaint hotel also gives you old New Orleans charm, without sacrificing any of the modern-day amenities that you want when staying at a hotel. When you stay at the French Market Inn, you can walk through meandering gardens and a beautiful stone-paved courtyard that allows you to enjoy a little oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

New Orleans Summer Festivals, the Perfect Time to Party With Friends

White Linen Night in the Warehouse District

People come from all over to experience New Orleans’s eccentric culture, flavorful food, and unique customs and traditions. Get your firsthand New Orleans experience at one of the many interesting festivals happening this summer!

Officially, summer 2026 is defined as June 21 – September 22, 2026, but we included some events that fall outside these dates, just because we think you should know about them!

June

Kick off the summer fest season with the French Market Creole Tomato Festival, which honors the arrival of the beloved Creole tomato. Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026, the free festival will again feature live music stages, cooking demos, kids’ activities, farm stands, food vendors, and more. The 2026 dates are Saturday-Sunday, June 6-7, 2026.

We continue with the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE), held on Wednesday through Sunday, June 10-13, 2026. In its 34th year in 2026, NOWFE is a smorgasbord of food and wine tastings, tours, master classes, and much more. Each year, hundreds of wineries and restaurants participate, offering menus featuring local flavors and innovative new creations inspired by diverse cuisines.

Top chefs from around the city create unique culinary experiences, so much so that the event regularly makes a few national “best of” festival lists. The organization behind this popular event is a nonprofit that donates 100% of its proceeds to beneficiaries ranging from food banks to culinary schools. You can see all the events and get tickets online.

Launched in 2011, New Orleans Pride (Friday-Sunday, June 12-14, 2026) is a celebration taking place in the French Quarter to celebrate and honor LGBTQ+ communities and their allies in New Orleans and surrounding areas. It is the only official Pride Festival in New Orleans, the largest in Louisiana, and one of the fastest-growing Pride celebrations in the nation.

Special events include the Pride Gala, the PrideFest block party at the Phoenix bar, and the annual parade. The parade is held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, starting at 5 p.m. in the Marigny and rolling through the French Quarter.

This festival is preceded by another annual event, the New Orleans Black Pride, held Thursday through Sunday, June 4-7, this year. Expect pool and dance parties, a community fest at the Armstrong Park, and more (check out the website for an event schedule).

Restaurant Week New Orleans, held on Monday through Sunday, June 8-14, 2026, features multi-course, special menus and dining deals in numerous participating restaurants, from upscale Creole eateries to neighborhood bistros. Keep up with this year’s list of participating restaurants and their menus, and don’t miss a chance to try a new spot or revisit your favorite.

The last of June festivals, the New Orleans Juneteenth Festival, is happening on Friday, June 19, 2026. Come to Congo Square in Armstrong Park to commemorate this remarkable date with this free festival, held from noon to 7 p.m.

July

The annual Independence Day weekend is shaping up to be spectacular as usual, filled with special events, fireworks, and — this being New Orleans — great food and music. Kick off the festivities with the Go 4th on the River celebration, a free Dueling Barges fireworks show over the Mississippi River at the Riverfront.

Gear up for the best in R&B, hip-hop, jazz, and blues with the ESSENCE Festival of Culture (Thursday-Sunday, July 3-5, 2026), held at the Caesars Superdome and the Convention Center. Beyond the concerts held each night of the fest at the Superdome, the free daytime activities at the Convention Center include motivational seminars, beauty and style presentations, celebrity interviews, cooking demos, and much more.

Going into July, Running of the Bulls brings Encierro to New Orleans on Friday-Sunday, July 10-12, 2026, except that the bulls are the Big Easy Rollergirls. San Fermin in Nueva Orleans pays annual homage to the world-famous Encierro of Pamplona, Spain, running through the streets of New Orleans starting at Gallier Hall on Saturday, July 11, starting at 6:30 a.m. The annual opening and closing parties happening that weekend are also great fun (check out the schedule on the event’s website).

If cocktails are your thing, you may want to check out Tales of the Cocktail (Sunday-Friday, July 19-24, 2026), a six-day festival packed with tastings, seminars, and special events that are all centered around exchanging ideas and techniques in the cocktail world. This lively festival is perfect for passionate mixologists, professionals, and enthusiasts alike. The festival’s signature annual blowout is the “best of” Spirited Awards, followed by the always-popular after-party.

August

The fun doesn’t stop there. The White Linen Night (Saturday, August 1, 2026) is a free multi-block party and an open house for galleries on the 300-600 blocks of Julia Street in the Warehouse District, with several stages for live music and dozens of food and drink stands. Participants are invited to wear white (hence the name). About 20 galleries on and around Julia St. will be open to the public.

Another festival of note is Satchmo SummerFest (Saturday and Sunday, August 1-2, 2026), which started as a tribute to Louis Armstrong over a decade ago, on his 100th birthday. The two-day festival is held at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint at the foot of Esplanade Avenue, and will have music all weekend on its outdoor, tented stages. Other events will include a Sunday morning Jazz Mass at the historic St. Augustine Church in Tremé, seminars and film screenings, kids’ activities, and a second-line parade.

White Linen’s “cousin,” the Dirty Linen Night (Saturday, August 8, 2026), is similar in format, though looser in structure and spanning more territory. It actually wasn’t created to compete with the Warehouse District event, but to promote the many galleries and shops on Royal Street. The multi-block party takes over the 300-1100 blocks of Royal Street and some cross streets and adjoining areas in the French Quarter, including Jackson Square and Dutch Alley.

You and your friends may also have to buy a silly (or glamorous) red dress for this next New Orleans summer festival. The Red Dress Run (Saturday, August 8, 2026) also doubles as a fundraiser, donating to a number of local charities. Both women and men are required to wear red dresses while partaking in a pub crawl-like run. The run traditionally starts at Crescent Park, though the route will not be publicized until the day of the run.

The always fabulous Southern Decadence festival (Thursday-Monday, September 3-7, 2026) is traditionally held on Labor Day weekend. This massive five-day festival celebrates LGBTQ+ culture and attracts participants from all over the world. Just like every year, most activities will be centered in and around the French Quarter, with lots of block parties and dance parties at bars and clubs on Bourbon Street, plus two parades.

Although we’re not sure if this event falls under the festival category, there is no better time to try out an award-winning restaurant or revisit an old favorite than August, thanks to the annual COOLinary program. COOLinary was conceived as a promotion to lure diners to local restaurants in the slower summer months, during which restaurants all over the city offer discounted dining deals.

The deals follow the same format every year: a prix fixe three-course dinner and brunch menus, and two- to three-course lunch menus that don’t exceed a certain price. Over a hundred restaurants typically participate.

Coming to New Orleans This Summer?

We’d love for you to stay with us! Take advantage of our specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous cuisine and enjoy everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today!

Also, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. And, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!

Happy summer!

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2026

It’s almost that time of year again — time to sip the iced tea, snack on crawfish Monica, and sway to the music of local and international musicians under the hot New Orleans sun. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, or Jazz Fest, is one of the most celebrated festivals in New Orleans and takes place every year during the last weekend of April and the first weekend in May. Jazz Fest has been around since 1970 and gets bigger and better every year.

During these two weekends, locals and out-of-towners get together to enjoy the culture of New Orleans with the various food, crafts, and performances that Jazz Fest has to offer. Contrary to the name, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is more than just jazz music.

Various musical genres like hip-hop, zydeco, blues, tribal, and electronic music can all be heard live from Jazz Fest’s multiple stages. This year the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will take place at its usual spot on the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots (1751 Gentilly Blvd.) starting on Thursday, April 23, and ending on Sunday, May 3, 2026.

Some of the top headliners for the festival include The Eagles, Stevie Nicks (her only 2026 show), Rod Stewart (on his farewell tour), and David Byrne. Among the local favorites, you can expect Irma Thomas, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Jon Batiste, Big Freedia, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and many more.

Other popular acts include Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, Widespread Panic, and hundreds more. The music schedule is broken down by day in cubes with times for all the acts, which you can view here.

Of course, one of the best parts of Jazz Fest is the food. Some staples for food include mango freezes, ya-ka-mein, snoballs, poboys, and much more. Here’s the list of 2026 food vendors.

What to Know About the 2026 Jazz Fest

  • Jazz Fest will remain cashless. Ticket, food, beverage, craft, and merchandise booths no longer accept cash payments. If you come to the event with only cash, the Festival will offer two cash exchange booths near key vending locations so you can get a prepaid card for your cash.
  • This year, Jazz Fest features over 5,000 musicians across 15 stages.
  • The festival will be one of the largest in its 55-year history. Eight is the most number of days for the event, and this year there will be the most food vendors and food items ever. And there will also be over 250 arts and craft vendors.
  • “Locals Thursday” will be April 23 this year, with discounted tickets for Louisiana residents.
  • This year, Jazz Fest will celebrate Jamaica’s musical and cultural diversity at the Cultural Exchange Pavilion. During the festival, dozens of bands and a wide variety of artisans from throughout Jamaica will present their sounds and traditions.
  • The Jazz & Heritage Gala kicks off Jazz Fest with the celebration of Louisiana music and cuisine on Wednesday, April 22, at Generations Hall (310 Andrew Higgins Blvd.).
  • Check out the event’s FAQ section for more details.

Are You Attending Jazz Fest?

We’d love for you to stay with us! Take advantage of our specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous cuisine and enjoy everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today!

Also, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. And, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!

Get the Most Out of the French Quarter Fest

Big Chief Juan Pardo and the Golden Comanches. Photo by Justen Williams.

For four days (Thursday-Sunday, April 16-19, 2026), a big chunk of the French Quarter — also known as the Vieux Carré, French for the “old square” (or “old quarter”) — will be transformed into a series of festival stages, each showcasing a different brand of music either rooted in, or heavily influenced by, the sounds of Louisiana.

Getting around the Quarter when there’s not an enormous music festival can be daunting. Getting around when there’s a band on, seemingly, every corner, is kind of intimidating. Here’s our guide to getting the best out of the French Quarter Fest, plus what’s new in 2026.

Woldenberg Riverfront Park

Most of the FQ Fest’s main stages are concentrated along the waterfront of the Mississippi River in the French Quarter. The 2019 festival also added a new stage, the Pan-American Life Insurance Group Stage, on the Riverfront Moonwalk, right across from Jackson Square. This year, there’s one more site expansion (more on that below).

On the Riverfront, you’ll see the steps that lead down to the water, marking the spot where, every Mardi Gras, the Society of St. Anne and the Society of St. Cecilia enter the waters to bid farewell to something from the previous year and pay tribute to the departed loved ones.

Need a tropical drink to beat the heat? While we’re not a city immediately known for tiki drinks, one of the finest tiki bars in the South is located just nearby: Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29.

The French Market & The Mint

The other side of Jackson Square is also a nexus of music stages and, importantly, food! Dozens of this city’s best vendors will be at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, located in the Old U.S. Mint building at the corner of Decatur Street and Esplanade Avenue. The Mint is undergoing renovations this year, but will remain a major hub of the festival.

The French Market nearby is absolutely worth exploring, with its arts and crafts vendors, food stalls, and an incredible vibe. If you’re in need of a bite to eat and want to try a classic Cajun diner, you can’t go wrong with Coop’s Place. If you want some liquid refreshments, Molly’s at the Market is one of our favorite neighborhood bars in the city.

Royal Street

Usually, Royal Street is an unbroken string of serious antique shops and art galleries. During French Quarter Fest, expect that scene to get livened up by several smaller music stages.

Decatur Street

Notable for the Bienville Statue, Decatur Street is where you’ll find Cajun and Zydeco music playing all weekend long. This is some of our favorite dance music anywhere.

Jackson Square

The “town square” of New Orleans, as it were, Jackson Square is a geographic lynchpin for the entirety of the French Quarter, so expect it to be filled with food vendor booths for the duration of the fest, and as vibrant as ever. It will also be the location of many of the French Quarter Festival’s special events, including the opening-day ceremony and parade.

Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street has a reputation as a hard-partying locus of bachelor parties and wild weekend trippers, but during French Quarter Fest, it showcases no less than four smaller musical stages, including the lovely Jazz Playhouse at the Royal Sonesta. The festival will also kick off with a parade on the 100 block of Bourbon St.

What Is New in 2026?

This year, the festival organizers are providing more space by expanding to the new site at the Woldenberg Riverfront Park near Governor Nicholls Street wharf, allowing more space for food and music along the Mississippi River.

According to the organizers, there are some stage location changes. The Pan-American Life Insurance Group Stage will return at Governor Nicholls Park at the foot of Esplanade, and will feature four full days of programming.

Due to construction at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, the Louisiana Fish Fry Stage will temporarily move to the riverfront in front of the Audubon Aquarium. The stage will feature an expanded mix of DJs and brass bands, with the schedule also extended to four days.

The House of Blues Voodoo Garden Stage will feature an expanded music lineup with four full days of stage programming and a Thursday night FQF After Dark show.

Although the New Orleans Jazz Museum is undergoing reconstruction, it will remain a major site for programming Friday through Sunday, including performances at the Loyola University Esplanade in the Shade Stage and the Songwriter Stage.

There’s also a 5K race this year, taking place on Saturday, April 18. Registration is now open, with details available at https://runsignup.com/fqf5k.

Music Lineup

The who-is-who of the local music scene is returning or joining this year, over 300 acts total. Expect beyond excellence when it comes to the French Quarter Fest music lineup. That includes Irma Thomas, the Soul Queen of New Orleans, Hasizzle with TBC Brass Band, Cyril Neville, and Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, along with a highly anticipated debut from Dawn Richard. Grammy-winning native PJ Morton is the headliner, marking his first appearance since 2014. Check out the full music schedule on the fest’s website.

Food Vendors

As in the previous year, expect a mouthwatering melting pot of traditional New Orleans dishes such as fried shrimp or catfish, stuffed crabs, locally brewed beers, meat pies, crawfish macaroni and cheese, and hot sausage po-boys. Beyond that, there will be plenty of global flavors.

The organizers promise “over 275 culinary experiences.” (Here’s the vendor info.)

A new vendor this year is Chicken’s Kitchen. Our favorite vendors that are returning include Vaucresson Sausage, Ms. Linda the Yakamein Lady, Thai Nola, Southern’s, Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House, Loretta’s Authentic Pralines, and many more.

The Mike’s Amazing Culinary Stage also returns with live cooking demonstrations and storytelling that celebrate New Orleans’ rich food traditions. Mike’s Amazing team will be sharing recipes and pairing ideas.

There’s also a new beverage from a major festival sponsor, Abita. The company will debut Upbeat Vodka Cocktails.

Special Events

Every year, the festival features special events. Here are the 2026 highlights.

The French Quarter Festival Kickoff Parade and Opening Day Ceremony

The annual parade is held this year on Thursday, April 16, at 10 a.m. The parade departs from the 200 block of Bourbon Street down to St. Ann Street, where it turns and makes its way to Jackson Square for the Annual Opening Day Ceremony.

Dance Classes

The French Market Traditional Jazz Stage and the Chevron Cajun-Zydeco Showcase will feature dancing and classes in traditional Jazz, 1920s Charleston, swing, Cajun jitterbug, and zydeco. Classes are taught by professional dancers and are free and open to the public. Check out the lesson schedule on the festival’s website.

French Quarter Fest After Dark

The festival offers nighttime programming at various local venues from 9 p.m. to midnight to keep the good times rolling after the last festival stage closes at 8 p.m.

… And more

On top of all this, the festival features installations, exhibits, immersive experiences, kids’ events, the 2026 French Quarter Fest Official Poster signing, interviews, and more.

Getting Around

Getting around the Fest should be fairly easy if you’re walking or biking. Parking will be limited, so arrive early and try these lots: French Market, 500 Decatur Street, 300 North Peters Street, 211 Conti Street, The Garage at Canal Place, plus street parking within walking distance.

We do suggest that instead of driving, you use RTA buses, streetcars, rideshare services, bikes, cabs, or the ferry to get to the festival. In addition to increased traffic, some streets will be closed for the duration of the festival, beginning at approximately noon until 8:30 p.m.

A Few Facts About French Quarter Fest

Here are a few facts about the fest:

  • The Fest celebrates local music and represents every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to R&B, New Orleans funk, brass bands, folk, gospel, Latin, Zydeco, classical, cabaret, and international. It’s a medley, and a great way to sample the local music scene.
  • It debuted in 1984 as a way to bring residents back to the Quarter following the World’s Fair and extensive sidewalk repairs in the French Quarter.
  • The Fest employs more than 1,800 local musicians, with over 60 local restaurants participating as culinary vendors.
  • The food and beverage vendors are set up in several locations throughout the French Quarter: Jackson Square, the Jazz Museum at the Mint, JAX Brewery, and Woldenberg Riverfront Park.
  • You can buy the official 2026 poster at one of the four merch booths at the festival, as well as online.
  • To streamline your music experience and navigation, you can download the app on the fest’s website (either for IOS or Android).
  • The live-music hours every day of the festival are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • No coolers and ice chests, please. Help keep the festival free by purchasing food and beverages at the festival.
  • And yes, the fest is free unless you opt to buy a pass for a VIP experience.

So, what’s the history of the French Quarter?

Glad you asked!

They don’t call this neighborhood the “old square” for nothing. The French Quarter was the original city of New Orleans, founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. Rampart Street is named as such because it once marked the actual city walls (or ramparts) of New Orleans. The city centered on the Place d’Armes, now known as Jackson Square, was originally built as a military parade ground where criminals were hanged in public.

The name “French Quarter” is a bit of a misnomer; New Orleans was under Spanish rule from 1762 to 1802, and it was during this period that two huge fires (in 1788 and 1794) seared away much of the original architectural façade of the Quarter.

Thus, the buildings you see today retain more of a Spanish than French sensibility, as evidenced by wraparound balconies (which create a shady, breezy median space between the street and private residences — a useful architectural trick in hot, pre-AC New Orleans) and lush courtyards painted in bright colors, which form a reflective patina that wards off the sun.

The best example of actual French colonial architecture in the Quarter is the Old Ursuline Convent, which is also the oldest building in the Mississippi River Valley (built in 1752). With that said, the streets of the French Quarter are largely named in honor of French nobility — Burgundy, Chartres, and, yes, Bourbon.

If the French Quarter marks the original layout of New Orleans, then the original inhabitants were the Creoles, people of French, Spanish, and eventually mixed French and Spanish descent. That phenomenon is eloquently realized when one considers the names of two of the main buildings on Jackson Square: the (Spanish-origin) Cabildo and (French-origin) Presbytère. It is also worth noting that St. Louis Cathedral, which dominates Jackson Square, is the oldest continuously operating cathedral in the USA, and a fine example of French Colonial architecture in its own right.

Although the Creoles called the French Quarter home for many decades, they began moving out as the area became more depressed and ramshackle, especially in the early 20th century. That was when city officials shut down the vice in the red-light district of Storyville.

In response, the purveyors of sin crossed Rampart Street into the Quarter, and the Creoles moved out, to be gradually replaced by Italian immigrants. Later, also came the bohemians, attracted by the area’s undeniable architectural charms, as well as the members of the LGBTQ+ community seeking tolerance.

In 1965, the Vieux Carré Historic District was established, allowing for the preservation of the Quarter’s historic character. The 1984 World’s Fair turned the Quarter into a bustling tourism destination, which is around the same time that many residents began leaving the neighborhood.

The Quarter tends to weather hurricanes and storms pretty well. Power lines are built underground, and the neighborhood itself was built on “high ground” (well, a few feet of elevation, but that’s enough) — which keeps it immune from flooding.

Today, while the Quarter is largely an area for tourists, thousands of residents still call it home.

Coming to the French Quarter Fest this spring?

Take advantage of the French Market Inn specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous French Quarter cuisine and enjoying everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today!

Spring Festivals in New Orleans

New Orleans Food and Wine Experience. Photo by Tyler Kaufman.

Every new season in New Orleans brings something special, and every spring we’re looking forward to festival fun. With the city’s festival season in full bloom, there’s something going on pretty much every week/end during spring’s official reign. Here is a rundown of the annual events happening in New Orleans between March and June.

March

Unwind with a cold beverage on any given Wednesday at the Square, a free concert music series held in the spring in Lafayette Park (located one block off of Poydras Street, between St. Charles Avenue and Camp Street) every Wednesday evening, in the heart of the Central Business District. From March through May, these outdoor concerts feature a variety of jazz, rock, swamp pop, brass, Latin rhythms, and more. Bring a chair or a blanket, or dance by the stage, and dogs (on a leash) and kids are welcome.

The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University features both fiction and non-fiction and readings, panel discussions, symposia, and keynote speeches. It also provides an opportunity for outlets, authors, and readers to interact with each other. Sunday, March 15, 2026, is Family Day, so bring your kids to the Tulane campus for some fun. The festival is free and open to the public.

No March in New Orleans is complete without mentioning the festivities surrounding St. Patrick’s Day. It sometimes comes as a surprise to first-time visitors to New Orleans that this city has a deep Irish heritage, which traces back to its history as a Catholic port of call that was one of the main entry points for the USA. There’s an entire neighborhood in this town called the Irish Channel, plus a plethora of fantastic pubs.

The weekend closest to St. Patrick’s Day (or the actual day of, if it falls on the weekend) turns emerald green thanks to two parades and numerous block parties across the city. The massive Irish Channel Parade Uptown has float riders passing cabbages to the screaming crowds, and the Downtown Irish Club Parade rolls from the Bywater to the French Quarter, making several pit stops on its way to Bourbon Street.

The annual gathering of the Mardi Gras Indian tribes, called Super Sunday, is perhaps the most open means of accessing this unique element of New Orleans backstreet culture. If you are lucky, you might see the Indians out and about on St. Joseph’s Day, and the tribes will be out in larger numbers on Super Sunday, which, weather permitting, typically falls on the third Sunday of March.

You can catch the gathering and the procession either at the A.L. Davis Park, at the corner of Washington and LaSalle streets, or in Bayou St. John in Mid-City, at the intersection of Orleans and Moss streets, on the bayou’s banks and the Orleans Street bridge.

Per its organizers, the New Orleans French Film Festival “is one of the longest-running international language festivals in the U.S., celebrating contemporary and classic Francophone cinema.” In its 29th year in 2026, the festival runs various events, including the Prytania Theatre Uptown and other venues across the city. For this year’s lineup, schedule, and ticket info, please check the festival’s website.

The Danny Barker Banjo + Guitar Festival pays homage to New Orleanian musician, writer, instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, and lyricist Danny Barker. The 10-day festival features a mixture of programming, including live music performances, panel discussions and workshops, special events and outings, second lines, and more. It will be held at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

Then, on the last weekend of March, the five-day Tennessee Williams Literary Festival celebrates this city’s love affair with the written word, as well as writers’ love affair with New Orleans. The festival pays homage to the brilliant Tennessee Williams with conferences, a book fair, walking tours, and the “Stella” and “Stanley” contest, which involves folks screaming out the iconic scene from A Streetcar Named Desire to appreciative crowds on Jackson Square.

Held in conjunction with this fest, the city also hosts the Saints & Sinners Literary Festival, which celebrates LGBTQ+ authors.

Finally, there’s the Congo Square Rhythms Festival. The musical heritage of New Orleans follows a line that can be traced all the way back to Africa, where the black diaspora begins. The music of that continent evolved here and in the Caribbean, influenced by Europe and indigenous music, into the forms and traditions that are the core of today’s New Orleans sound.

This vital legacy is celebrated in Armstrong Park, on the grounds of Congo Square, where local slaves were once permitted to practice the musical traditions of Africa and the Caribbean. The festival kickoff concert is typically held on Friday.

Presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the festival features Mardi Gras Indians, African dance, brass bands, soul-funk, as well as indigenous music of Honduras, and highlife from West Africa. The large art market and a Soul Food Court complete the experience.

Don’t miss one of the fest’s highlights, the Mardi Gras Indian “battle” — when the tribes gather in the center of the square, plus the festival’s largest to date assemblage of New Orleans-based African dance troupes (they typically perform on Sunday). At the time of this writing, the lineup hasn’t been released.

April

Come Easter, the heavily Catholic city celebrates the end of Lent with three parades. The Historic French Quarter Easter Parade winds its way on Easter Sunday, before Easter Mass services begin, from Antoine’s Restaurant to St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square via classic convertible cars and mule-drawn carriages.

When the parade arrives at the cathedral at 11 a.m., Easter Mass begins. Following services, folks prim and pose in Jackson Square, showing off their best Easter duds, before heading back to Antoine’s to break their Lent fasts like nobody’s business.

This procession is followed by the French Quarter Easter Parade, paying homage to the Crescent City’s own grande-dame diva of singing, dancing, and general fabulousness, the late Chris Owens, along with a small army of attendants, rolling from Canal to Bourbon Street. The final parade of the day, also in the French Quarter, is the Gay Easter Parade, a long-standing tradition of the New Orleans LGBTQ+ community.

April also opens with Hogs for the Cause at the UNO Lakefront Arena, an annual celebration of whole hog roasts and local music (with some national acts in the lineup as well). The event brings awareness to pediatric brain cancer.

Next up are the two heavy hitters on the city’s event calendar, the French Quarter Fest and Jazz Fest. The French Quarter Fest is the largest free musical event in the New Orleans calendar, and according to organizers, the largest free music festival in the USA. The setting is, as you may have guessed from the name, the French Quarter itself. The festival goes off in mid-April, which tends to come with gorgeous weather, and the lineup of musicians and food vendors is always fantastic.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, commonly known as Jazz Fest, is the preeminent music festival of a city that is pretty well known for its music festivals. Held on the New Orleans Fair Grounds race course in Mid-City, the event takes place on the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May, occupying the local weather sweet spot that links spring to summer. A dozen music stages and tents encompass genres and acts ranging from gospel to Cajun to rock and pop.

A major part of the appeal is the food tents, which feature a regular rotating sampling of some of the city’s finest cuisine. Even more than Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest has a crop of devoted repeat attendees; a sizable number of visitors rent out homes on an annual basis for the Fest, which has become something of a pilgrimage for a certain set of music aficionados. On the weekdays that link Jazz Fest’s official dates, random gigs constantly pop off around town.

One of the surest signs of spring in New Orleans is the presence of crawfish on menus and at boils across the city, and one of the surest signs that crawfish are back in season is Crawfest. Held on Saturday, April 18, this year, this party, sponsored by Tulane University, features some 20,000 pounds of crawfish, thousands of pounds of vegetables, two main stages, a bunch of bands, and a heavy student presence.

With that said, all are welcome — it costs $20 to get in, and kids 12 and under enter for free. (The fest is also free to Tulane students, with a wristband.) Crawfest kicks off on Tulane’s campus in Uptown, New Orleans.

May

The spring roster of festivities continues into May with the popular Greek Fest in Lakeview, complete with a toga contest and Greek staples like souvlaki and spanakopita.

June

Despite the soaring temps, the month of June is still going strong with festivals, including New Orleans Pride (there’s a parade, of course) and the French Market Creole Tomato Festival.

Traditionally held on the second weekend of June, the French Market Creole Tomato Festival welcomes the arrival of Creole tomatoes that Louisiana loves to incorporate into many local recipes. The French Market location and the food offerings make this a popular festival among locals and visitors alike.

The festival features live music, kids’ activities, a parade, and a second line. There are cooking demos in addition to an extensive menu of Creole tomatoes incorporated into gelato, crepes, crawfish pies — you name it.

The festival usually features a Bloody Mary market in Dutch Alley and a tomato-eating contest. There will be local restaurants and bars offering the Marys, the Marias, and other variations of the signature cocktail, competing for “Best of the Fest” awards in such categories as Most Creative Bloody Mary and Best Bloody Mary Garnish.

The annual New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE) provides local and visiting epicureans and hobbyists with an extended weekend of libations and culinary indulgence in a style that is uniquely New Orleans. NOWFE is designed to encourage participation in the full gamut of food and wine-centered experiences. The event offerings include package rates, activities, and dinners with something at nearly every price point, with attire ranging from costumed to cocktail, depending on the event and venue.

There you have it! Happy spring!

Visiting New Orleans this spring? Take advantage of the French Market Inn specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee. Reserve your room today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Things to Do in New Orleans in March

With March upon us, expect a good slate of early spring activities in the Crescent City. Also, the weather is warmer — hopefully just pleasantly warmer — the kind of spring sunshine that equals t-shirts and jeans, if not shorts.

Mainly, we consider this time of year an awesome window when the Carnival wraps up (or, depending on the year, is over) and the festival season is yet to begin. This is that rare time when the city settles for a very slight breather between its biggest parties and festivals, although it still means there’s a ton of stuff to do. Here are the highlights.

New Orleans Entrepreneur Week

Monday-Saturday, March 9-14, 2026

The New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) kicks off six days of speeches, speaker sessions, and networking events on Monday, March 9, 2026. According to the event organizers, one of the main events is the NOEW 2026 Summit at Loyola (Thursday-Friday, March 12–13), which “packs in two days of immersive workshops, hands-on sessions, and real founder stories designed to help you start, scale — and connect.”

NOEW is now in its 15th year and has attracted thousands of attendees over the years. For this year’s keynote speakers and more info, check out the event’s website.

Wednesday at the Square

Wednesdays, March 11 through May 6, 2026

Unwind with a cold beverage on any given Wednesday at the Square, a free concert music series held in the spring in Lafayette Park (located one block off of Poydras Street, between St. Charles Avenue and Camp Street in the heart of the Central Business District) every Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m.

From March through May, these outdoor concerts feature a variety of jazz, rock, swamp pop, brass, Latin rhythms, and more. Bring a chair or a blanket, or head to the front of the stage to partake in some dancing.

You can bring your dog (must be leashed at all times), and there are vendor booths surrounding the park where you can buy food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (no outside food or beverages, please).

The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane

Thursday-Sunday, March 12-15, 2026

The New Orleans Book Festival features both fiction and non-fiction and readings, panel discussions, symposia, and keynote speeches. It also provides an opportunity for outlets, authors, and readers to interact with each other. Sunday is Family Day, so bring your kids to the Tulane campus for some fun.

Last year’s notable authors and speakers on the impressive roster included Andy Borowitz, Richard Campanella, Maureen Dowd, and many more — so expect A-list greatness this year as well.

St. Patrick’s Day

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

It sometimes comes as a surprise to first-time visitors to New Orleans that this city has a deep Irish heritage, which traces back to its history as a Catholic port of call that was one of the main entry points for the USA. There’s an entire neighborhood in this town called the Irish Channel, plus a plethora of fantastic pubs that eschew cheesy emerald-green Irish stereotypes for rough-hewn hospitality (Finn McCool’s and Erin Rose come to mind, plus a selection of our favorite Irish pubs in the French Quarter).

As such, there are plenty of Irish in this town, and thus, the weekend closest to St. Patrick’s Day is an important one for the city of New Orleans. Numerous parades kick off, including the massive Irish Channel parade (on Saturday, March 14, 2026), where float riders pass cabbages to the screaming crowds.

The Downtown Irish Club Parade rolls on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, from the Bywater to the French Quarter, making several pit stops on its way to Bourbon Street.

How much you enjoy all of the above is linked to your tolerance for public drinking and green beer. St. Patrick’s Day in New Orleans is not quite as kid-friendly as the Carnival — you’ll still see families, but these parades are more aimed at adults.

Super Sunday

Sunday, March 15, 2026

The annual gathering of the Mardi Gras Indian tribes is perhaps the most open means of accessing this unique element of New Orleans backstreet culture. The tribes will be out in large numbers on Super Sunday, which usually falls on the third Sunday of March.

While the Mardi Gras Indians have their set routes and parade areas, no one event packs the tribes into one public space like Super Sunday. In this case, said public spaces are A.L. Davis Park, at the corner of Washington and LaSalle streets; and Bayou St. John in Mid-City, at the intersection of Orleans and Moss streets, on the bayou’s banks and the Orleans Street bridge. The Indian procession usually leaves the gathering spot around 1 p.m.

We can’t stress this enough: Be respectful if you go. Take pictures at a distance, and don’t get in the way of marching Indians or their friends, family, and attached bands. Super Sunday has been overrun with spectators in the past years, so please do your part to enjoy this amazing cultural event responsibly.

Some background: The Mardi Gras Indians are the most vibrant, visible, and conversely mysterious expressions of African-American New Orleans culture. To distill them into an extremely simplistic sentence: Mardi Gras Indians are African-American New Orleanians who dress up (or, in local lingo, ”mask”) as stylized Native Americans.

They take to the streets in fantastic costumes made of beads, feathers, and sequins that cost thousands of dollars, weigh hundreds of pounds, and require hundreds of days of painstaking labor; no element of costume creation is automated.

On Mardi Gras Day, Super Sunday, St. Joseph’s Day, and a select few other special occasions, the “chiefs” and their tribes parade through the city, chanting, shouting, and challenging each other to determine who is “the prettiest.”

There’s a ton more background on this fascinating subject at the Backstreet Cultural Museum in the historic Tremé neighborhood.

New Orleans French Film Festival

Thursday-Tuesday, March 19-24, 2026

Per its organizers, the New Orleans French Film Festival “is one of the longest-running international language festivals in the U.S., celebrating contemporary and classic Francophone cinema.” In its 29th year in 2026, the festival runs various events, including the Prytania Theatre Uptown and other venues across the city. For this year’s lineup, schedule, and ticket info, please check the festival’s website.

Danny Barker Banjo & Guitar Festival

Wednesday-Sunday, March 19-23, 2025

The Danny Barker Banjo & Guitar Festival pays homage to New Orleanian musician, writer, instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, and lyricist Danny Barker. The five-day festival features a mixture of programming, including live music performances, panel discussions and workshops, special events and outings, second lines, and more. It will be held at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

Tennessee Williams Literary Festival

Friday-Sunday, March 20-29, 2026

Writers have always been drawn to New Orleans. Few cities in America (or the world, really) can match this town for its atmosphere, sense of place, or penchant for fun and pathos (all good elements of a writing life).

The Tennessee Williams Literary Festival celebrates this city’s love affair with the written word, as well as writers’ love affair with New Orleans. Notable authors will be in attendance, hosting seminars, workshops, and lectures.

Plus, this being the Tennessee Williams Festival, there is, of course, a “Stella” shouting contest, which involves folks screaming out the iconic scene from A Streetcar Named Desire to appreciative crowds on Jackson Square. The program will also include a scholar conference, walking tours, masterclasses, theater, and more.

Note that on Friday-Sunday, March 27-29, 2026, the city will also host the Saints & Sinners Literary Festival, an alternative literary event that celebrates LGBTQ+ authors. The three-day festival will include panel discussions and a fair amount of networking opportunities between authors, editors, and publishers.

Congo Square Rhythms Festival

Saturday-Sunday, March 28-29, 2026

The musical heritage of New Orleans follows a line that can be traced all the way back to Africa, where the black diaspora begins. The music of that continent evolved here and in the Caribbean, influenced by Europe and indigenous music, into the forms and traditions that are the core of today’s New Orleans sound.

This vital legacy is celebrated in Armstrong Park, on the grounds of Congo Square, where local slaves were once permitted to practice the musical traditions of Africa and the Caribbean. Congo Square Rhythms Festival is a celebration of global and local music, and offers both amazing food and a fantastic lineup of music.

Presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the festival features Mardi Gras Indians, African dance, brass bands, soul-funk, as well as indigenous music. The large art market and a Soul Food Court complete the experience.

Don’t miss one of the fest’s highlights, the Mardi Gras Indian “battle” — when the tribes gather in the center of the square, plus the festival’s largest to date assemblage of New Orleans-based African dance troupes (they typically perform on Sunday).

Are you visiting New Orleans this spring?

Take advantage of the French Market Inn specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous French Quarter cuisine and enjoying everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today!

And when you do, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans.

For easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!

Happy Spring!

Where to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in New Orleans

Photo by Johnny Cohen on Unsplash

Mardi Gras may be but a bead-sodden memory of a few days past, but are we stopping with the parades? Of course not. We never stop parading! (At least, sometimes it feels that way.)

As St. Patrick’s Day (Tuesday, March 17, 2026) presents us with a slew of activities over the weekend, here are some of the best. And remember, there’s also going to be an always-impressive act — the annual gathering of the Mardi Gras Indian tribes on Super Sunday on March 15, 2026, by A.L. Davis Park (Washington and LaSalle streets).

The Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Parade

This is THE New Orleans Paddy’s Day parade (sadly, it was cancelled in 2025 due to inclement weather). On Saturday, March 14, 2026, the parade will start at 1 p.m. on the corner of Napoleon Ave. and Tchoupitoulas St. Float riders typically toss all things green, including the edible kind (like cabbage), and try to bestow kisses upon the spectators.

Block parties

On the same Saturday, there is a big annual party kicking off at the border of the Lower Garden District and the Irish Channel. The blowout goes off at Parasol’s at Third and Constance streets (10 a.m. – 8 p.m.). Expect much green beer, green tutus, and green jello shots — you get the idea.

The annual Irish Channel block party is typically held on Friday of the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, starting at 1 p.m. This block party is located at Annunciation Square on the 1500 block of Chippewa. There will be Irish music, food, drinks, and dancers.

Downtown Irish Club Annual Grand Marshall Party Bus

The club typically meets in a bar downtown (the 2026 date and route TBA) and heads out on a party bus for a “mobile bar crawl.” There are about five scheduled pub stops before the bus returns the revelers to the gathering spot.

You don’t have to be a club member to ride, though you are asked to wear “traditional Irish colors, your parade tuxedo, or kilt for this ride.” The cost to march includes free Guinness at each stop and on the bus. You can reserve your seat on the club’s website.

Downtown Irish Club St. Patrick’s Day Parade

If you prefer staying downriver on Paddy’s Day, the Downtown Irish Club Parade rolls from Piety and Burgundy in the Bywater into the French Quarter at 6:30 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Finn McCool’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party

Or head to Mid-City for Finn McCool’s always awesome St. Patrick’s Day block party. The fun starts at 10 a.m. and lasts into the night, with the Wee Parade, live music, and crawfish. There’s also Irish karaoke till about 1 a.m., which will either be terrible or grand and likely a bit of both. Trust us, it’s just as debauched as the other celebrations around town.

Germans Go Irish

Deutsches Haus (1700 Moss St.) in the Bayou St. John area of Mid-City is throwing a party (2026 date TBA) to celebrate Ireland’s Patron Saint as they do in the small villages in the Old Country: with a Céilí (a gathering).

Expect traditional Irish food like cabbage, soda bread, and Guinness beef stew served over colcannon (Irish mashed potatoes), plus Celtic musicians, Irish dancers, bagpipers, and other family-friendly activities. The event is free except for the concert, which typically starts at 5:30 p.m. (You can get tickets online on the venue’s website or at the door).

Italian-American St. Joseph’s Parade in the French Quarter

Yet another option, the St. Joseph’s Society celebrates St. Joseph with a parade through the French Quarter on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The parade kicks off at 5 p.m. at the intersection of Convention Center Blvd. and Girod Street. It includes 16 floats, nine marching bands, and a whole lot of guys dressed in tuxedos.

Finally, there are parades in Metairie, Gretna, and St. Bernard Parish (the Irish Italian Islenos Parade). For a full list, please visit the New Orleans St. Patrick’s Day website.

If you’re visiting New Orleans this spring, take advantage of the French Market Inn specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous French Quarter cuisine and enjoying everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today!

 

 

 

New Year’s Eve in New Orleans: What to Do and Where to Stay

It should come as no surprise that New Orleans does New Year’s Eve quite well. Both the city and the holiday are closely tied to the celebration, public revelry, and good fellowship.

However, many visitors may not expect how possible it is to have an intimate, (relatively) quiet New Year’s Eve in New Orleans. Of course, there are big celebrations within the French Quarter, but even in that storied neighborhood, a night out on December 31 can be both as raucous and as chill as you please.

Note that in New Orleans, the evening of the 31 is not a guaranteed chiller. While there have been New Year’s Eves in New Orleans characterized by heavy coats and cold winds off the Mississippi, there is a chance the weather will be temperate, and even a little muggy. The point is: Bring cold-weather clothes, but don’t be surprised if you won’t need them.

Here are some of our picks for what to do on New Year’s Eve in New Orleans.

Dick Clark Rockin’ New Year’s Eve 

Every year, Dick Clark Rockin’ New Year’s Eve production hosts its official Central Time Zone party in New Orleans near the historic JAX Brewery starting at 9 p.m. The show is coordinated with parties in New York and Los Angeles, and features a musical lineup and special guests. The fleur-de-lis drop at midnight is live-cast (more on that below).

Jackson Square

This is the big, obvious New Year’s activity in New Orleans — our version of the Times Square ball drop (although the actual ball drop is a fleur-de-lis drop, and that event has a party all of its own, see above). Jackson Square is a historic and iconic meeting space of the city of New Orleans, and is always a linchpin for local events.

Admission to the square is free, although you’ll want to show up early in the evening if you don’t want to be crowded to the edge of the square (depending on your crowd tolerance, the latter scenario may not be such a bad thing).

Within Jackson Square, there is live music and general milling about. The end-of-the-year countdown culminates in the fleur-de-lis drop, followed by fireworks over the Mississippi River.

For the Kids

If you’re traveling with young children and have made the reasonable conclusion that popping bottles of Moët at midnight and a child’s sleep cycle don’t mix well — but also don’t want your kids to completely miss New Year’s Eve fun — consider some of the family-friendly annual events in the Crescent City.

From the Christmas Eve bonfires on the levee to the fireworks over the Mississippi River, there’s a slew of family-friendly activities this holiday season. One standout is the annual New Year’s Eve Kids’ Countdown to Noon at the Louisiana Children’s Museum, which lasts from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

That party typically includes noisemakers, paper bag hats, and music, all set against the backdrop of the Louisiana Children’s Museum’s considerable range of kid-friendly displays and exhibits, appropriate for children aged from 1 to 12.

Balcony Bashes

If you’re looking for a more traditional night of French Quarter-style partying, be on the lookout for balcony bashes at area bars — located all up and down the (in)famous Bourbon Street nightlife strip.

A balcony bash is pretty much that — you’ll pay a cover and be allowed to plant yourself on a wrought-iron balcony overlooking the street below. Some bashes feature all-inclusive tickets that get you extras like an open bar and food. Either way, much bead tossing subsequently ensues.

With that said, a different take on the balcony bash is a French Quarter New Year’s Eve house party. Seeing as such houses usually have balconies that afford at least a decent view of the river, this is a good chance to see the fireworks while avoiding crowds. Of course, getting yourself into a house party is all based on your charm and who you know.

Allstate Sugar Bowl Parade

Need something to do during the day? Since 1935, the Sugar Bowl has been played in New Orleans, and while that event has since become the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the New Year’s Eve Parade associated with the game continues in more or less the same vein. The extravaganza is done Mardi Gras-style, so expect big floats, marching bands, plenty of throws (trinkets tossed to spectators), and a general overload of glitz and pageantry.

The parade begins at the “bottom” of the Quarter, where it meets Faubourg Marigny, at the intersection of Elysian Fields Avenue and Decatur Street, at 2 p.m. The parade proceeds into the French Quarter and rolls past some of that neighborhood’s most iconic landmarks, including the French Market and Jackson Square.

At approximately 3 p.m., the parade passes the WDSU stage at the Allstate Fan Fest on Decatur Street inside the JAX Brewery parking lot, where all performers do a two-minute show. The parade ends at Canal Street.

Riverboat Cruises

Want the best view of the fireworks? Local riverboats like Paddlewheeler Creole Queen and Steamboat Natchez offer an opportunity to ring in the new year with river cruises that include champagne toasts, live music, a dinner buffet, and party favors.

LGBTQ+ Parties

The French Quarter includes some of the oldest gay bars in the country, and a slew of venues in the lower portions of Bourbon Street, starting at around the 800 block, will be throwing New Year’s Eve parties. Expect DJs, dancers (of the go-go variety), and drag cabaret.

If that kind of thumping nightlife experience isn’t your thing, consider an evening at one of the city’s more laid-back bars, like Mag’s 940 (940 Elysian Fields Avenue) or The Friendly Bar (2301 Chartres Street), both friendly spots that will certainly be celebrating, but perhaps minus the laser show and speakers.

Crescent Park

Crescent Park is a public green space that has become a favorite spot for watching events take place on the river. Positioned as it is along the Mississippi, the park offers fantastic views of the water, which means you’ve got a clear vantage point of the annual fireworks show.

Usually, the park closes after dark, but on New Year’s Eve, it will stay open to the public till 1 a.m. There are three entrances to the space in Bywater and Faubourg Marigny, and both of those neighborhoods are thick with venues to celebrate in after the last fireworks pop off.

Where to Sleep

We’ve given you plenty of options on how to spend New Year’s Eve in New Orleans, but let’s face it: Once the confetti has been thrown, the champagne uncorked and the noisemakers put away, you need a place to sleep (and possibly sleep in, depending on how much fun you’ve had). With that said, you want to pick the right hotel — one that has a mix of easy accessibility and cozy amenities.

If you’re celebrating near Jackson Square, consider a room at the Place d’Armes Hotel. Want to be near the action on Bourbon Street? Try Hotel St. Marie. Or position yourself near the river at the historic French Market Inn.

Across the street from the French Quarter, in the historic Treme neighborhood, you’ll find The Brakeman Hotel. It’s a boutique hotel located in Basin St. Station, the original Norfolk Southern Railway station (circa 1904), the last remaining train station in the city. Finally, the Prince Conti Hotel will allow you to be close to both the French Quarter, Canal Street, and downtown action, as well as several streetcar lines.

Enjoy the holidays, and happy New Year!