Mardi Gras, America's favorite festival for fun and debauchery, is back and starts on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. This citywide celebration is felt the strongest on Bourbon Street, where bars are packed, live jazz music fills the air, and beads are tossed to revelers. Mardi Gras is an indulgent celebration, with colorful parades and costumes, and it lasts for a week leading up to Fat Tuesday, the main event of Mardi Gras. The French Quarter is known for hosting many parties and events throughout the week, making it the epicenter of the celebration
Get ready to laugh all night at The Fabulously Funny Comedy Festival. Held at the UNO Lakefront arena, the show will feature acts from hilaious performers such as Mike Epps, Gary Owen, Sommore, Lavell Crawford, and Kountry Wayne. It will be a hysterical and unforgettable night that you wouldn't want to miss! Get your tickets here!
Join thousands of music and art enthusiasts at the BUKU Music and Art Project at Blaine Kern's Mardi Gas World. The BUKU Music and Art Festival features local as well as international art, live music, dance performances, art installations, performance art, and most of all, famous New Orleans food. BUKU music festival focuses on indie-rock music and hip-hop music while still offering around 50 unique music acts.
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Laugh with some of New Orleans’ funniest comedians at Local Uproar, a free showcase. In addition to local talents, out of town guest comics and nationally touring acts also tend to take the stage. Local Uproar is in association with New Orleans Ice Cream, which means in addition to the free show, there’s free ice-cream!
The Rock n Roll marathon is a part of a series of marathons hosted across the country. With New Orleans being a flat city with little to no uphill challenges, the race hosted here tends to be a more comfortable course than most and attracts hundreds of runners from all over the country. Starting from downtown and ending in City Park, music and thousands of runners fill the city; popular local bands are often stationed along the course to offer soundtracks of encouragement. Lace-up your running shoes (there’s a 5k, 10k, and half marathon), or party and cheer on the sidelines.
If you’re in New Orleans for St Patrick’s Day, you’re lucky! The city seems to throw a parade or celebration for almost everything and there’s a HUGE one for St. Patty’s Day! Throw on your best green and head down to the Irish Channel to join thousands of parade participants! Watch over 30 floats (the same decadent ones that roll during Mardi Gras), roll down Magazine street and catch throws like flowers, beads, cabbage, and more! Catching the parade is free and open to the public!
This free concert series features some well-known artists coming from all over the United States. Participants will get to witness a big performance stage, bands with indigenous music style, i.e., rock, jazz, swamp pop, etc. Also, the delicious bites and beverages at food stalls complement the sound of New Orleans. Note that outside food is prohibited.
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Tennessee Williams once said, “America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland." The famous American playwright loved New Orleans, and this festival is orchestrated to honor him. The fest brings more than 130 authors, actors, and musicians in for a five-day event. Make sure not to miss the infamous “Stella” shouting contest held in the French Quarter! Ticket prices for different events vary. Tickets are on sale now!
The Tremé Creole Gumbo and Congo Square Rhythms Festivals bring cultural authenticity and fun with African Dance, Mardi Gras Indians, art vendors and displays, and fantastic food & drinks. Taking place in Louis Armstrong Park, this event also features live music of several types, including Latin jazz, jazz, brass bands, West African highlife, soul, and funk. This event is free and open to the public.
The Freret Street Festival has live music, performances, crafts, food, and so much more. This annual Freret Street Place will take place on the blocks between Soniat Street and Napoleon Avenue. Multiple stages with different performances are positioned along the streets including brass bands, swamp pop, sounds rock, and New Orleans’ special sounds. You can also head to the market for shopping and eating. This festival is free and open to all ages!
Hogs for the Cause is the biggest BBQ and music festival in the county! Head down to the Lakefront Arena to enjoy two full days of music, local beer, and of course, food. The fest will feature three stages with 20+ bands and over 90 teams competing to serve some of the best pork dishes! General admission and VIP tickets are available for sale. Proceeds benefit both local and national children’s hospitals to provide relief for families with children who have brain cancer.
It doesn’t get more “New Orleans” than brass bands and gumbo! Celebrate the NOLA heritage at the Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival. There will be live brass band performances and some of the best gumbo dishes you will ever find in the world. There will also be local artists selling their crafts. This event is free and open to the public.
