Popular New Orleans Festivals

Top 10 Largest and Most Popular Festivals in New Orleans

Living in New Orleans or just visiting for the weekend? It doesn't matter! This city will sweep you into its joyous embrace of festivities, no matter who you are or where you're from. From the legendary Jazz Fest, with soul-penetrating melodies, to the cozy Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo, where locals and visitors splash in the bayou waters to the gentle chirping of birds.

Since this is New Orleans, each festival features a bit of the world-famous music, food, and culture. We've prepared for you a top-10 list of the city's best festivals you can visit throughout the year.

French Quarter Fest

This four-day festival of music and food started in 1984 for locals but now attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. You'll hear musicians from around the world playing everything from jazz and blues to rock-n-roll. It hosts the world's largest jazz brunch in Woldenberg Riverfront Park and Jackson Square. Over 60 top restaurants have opened tastings for visitors.

You'll also find tours of private gardens, the world's largest praline, and an annual crawfish eating contest.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is the main event for over 400,000 locals and visitors. This 10-day cultural celebration is where thousands of musicians, chefs, and artisans come together to bring the best of many cultural traditions.

Guests can enjoy local music, blues, R&B, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms, along with many other genres. Musicians like Stevie Wonder, Aerosmith, Elvis Costello, and Pearl Jam are just a few of the famous acts that have performed over the years. And when all that dancing makes you hungry, don't worry — there are plenty of vendors offering delicious southern dishes, as well as craftsmen selling their handcrafted goods and wares.

Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo

This free three-day music and arts festival is perfect for families and large groups. The festival takes place on the historic banks of Bayou St. John and is heavily attended by locals.

You can also admire works by local artists and try food from numerous local food vendors. Look out for the Boucherie pork sandwich and the strawberry cocktail with condensed milk. There are three stages for live bands and tents for children. Since it's right by the bayou, you can rent kayaks.

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is the most famous festival in New Orleans, rooted in European traditions from the 17th century. It's a wild celebration with crowds in bright costumes, beads, and masks. Gathering on the streets for numerous carnival parades, festival-goers throw beads at each other to celebrate this "Fat Tuesday" festivity. Making their way through the city's main streets, the parades conclude at Canal Street.

The festival occurs after Christian Epiphany and lasts until Ash Wednesday, typically from late February to March. Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to New Orleans each year to partake in Mardi Gras.

Seafood Festival

Having grown significantly in recent years, the New Orleans City Park Festivals venue provides a spacious setting with numerous food stalls. Starting on the second of September, the festival offers three days of live music, a wide selection of craft beers, gifts and souvenirs, as well as food and signature cocktails.

Be sure to check out Drago’s Seafood restaurant for their original charbroiled oysters. Acme Oyster House serves up signature fried shrimp and oysters, and a fan favorite, the BBQ shrimp. Entrance fees go towards fundraising.

Essence Music Festival

This festival was first held in 1995 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Essence magazine. Initially planned as a one-time event, it has now become an annual four-day music festival stronger than ever.

The festival takes place in early July and features some of the best African American men and women in music today. Artists who have performed include Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, and Queen Latifah. The annual festival consists of two parts. During the day, activities take place in the convention center with a marketplace, seminars, and speakers focused on African American culture. In the evening, the fun continues in the Louisiana Superdome, where concerts are held.

Dirty Linen Night

This festival originated in 2001 and was an interesting way to get people out on Royal Street to see the artworks displayed there. Now it's an annual summer festival held in July.

You'll find everything from sculptures to bead weaving and painting, and you can even have your body painted by one of the local artists. And it wouldn't be a party without music and delicious food, which you'll find in abundance as you stroll through the galleries.

Luna Fete

Luna Fete is one of the most unique art festivals you'll ever attend. This four-day arts festival takes place in early December and transforms downtown buildings into digital canvases. You'll see fantastic digital art.

Every hour, there's a light show with digital sculptures and projections. You'll also find a huge bazaar where you can buy works by local artisans.

Satchmo Summer Fest

The Satchmo Summer Festival is dedicated to New Orleans native Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong. Louis had a huge influence on the city's music and culture, and he is still dearly loved by its residents today. The three-day event takes place in the French Quarter, starting at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

During the event, you'll enjoy music from jazz and blues musicians and big brass bands. You'll also find some of the city's best dishes, including oysters, crab cakes, and barbecue. Armstrong was born on August 4th, so the event is held on the first weekend of August.

Voodoo Music Experience

Voodoo has had a significant impact on the culture and history of New Orleans, so it's no surprise that it spawned the Voodoo Music and Art Experience festival. This three-day festival started over 20 years ago and is held on the last weekend of October.

The music and arts festival takes place at the festival grounds in City Park. Come and enjoy performances by top rock and alternative music bands from across the state. This list is just a small sample of the more than 130 festivals held in New Orleans. When visiting the city, you can find a fun festival to suit your taste every weekend. Most of them are free, and there will always be live music and delicious food.