One of the more massive music festivals in New Orleans featuring a wide variety of music, primarily ranging in the alternative rock/rock, rap, and EDM realms. The festival is Halloween themed; therefore, costumes are encouraged and rightfully so, and it takes place during the last weekend of October (Friday-Sunday). Voodoo is located in City Park, and while it may get muddy due to rain, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Photos: Views from the festival, Travis Scott

Perhaps one of my favorite festivals of all time. I have been twice and was immensely impressed both times. The music is predominantly EDM and rap. Buku is located at Mardi Gras World (explained in the venues section), which offers a breathtaking experience. I feel that Mardi Gras World provides an extraordinary opportunity to see artists. This is because the venue takes advantage of industrial/warehouse structures built from large containers. Naturally, laser beams reflecting off of abandoned buildings to complement the aesthetic. The promoters make a seemingly dead power plant come to life. Buku is also the festival with the iconic float den where musicians play alongside Mardi Gras floats. All situated directly on the Mississippi River, Buku offers an unparalleled experience genuinely. The festival typically takes place from mid to late March on a Friday and Saturday.

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Photos: Buku scenic shots.

Another significant and pivotal festival in New Orleans. Jazz and Heritage Festival celebrated its 50th Anniversary this past year. The festival originated with very local talent and a very local budget. It has since collected sponsors like Acura to allow it to become the festival it is today. Jazz Fest is the type of celebration that gets the entire town involved. Not to mention, a massive influx of people come to the city during the time it takes place because it lasts around 10 days. Jazz Fest features a variety of artists. Traditionally, talent was limited to New Orleans Jazz, particularly brass, blues, and gospel, but it has grown to include huge bands in rock and country. This past year it was supposed to have the Rolling Stones, but due to some medical issues, they got Fleetwood Mac, and due to some more medical issues, they got Widespread Panic. Shit happens. This past year also featured Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews Band, and Katy Perry. Jazz Fest usually also welcomes jazz legends like Trombone Shorty, Big Freedia, and Herbie Hancock. Not to mention, Jazz Fest has some of the best food of any festival I have ever been to with local New Orleans favorites. I recommend the fried green tomatoes and crawfish monica. The festival usually takes place during the last weekend of April to the first weekend of May (finals at Tulane roll wave!).

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Photos: Jazz Fest entrance and people enjoying the music.

The French Quarter comes alive (as if it isn’t already) and celebrates its glory. Neighborhood bands play in every corner, art galleries are open and full of people, local vendors come to sell delicacies and more. I really recommend this festival because it is a low commitment and free. It lasts the entire weekend and usually occurs during the middle of April, just before Jazz Fest. 

I took a business in music class at Tulane that had a focus on entrepreneurship, and one of the opportunities we had was to help set up this first-year festival. NOLA Brass Fest focused on the specific brass aspect of New Orleans Jazz music. While I do not have a lot of info on the festival’s current status or time the second annual Brass Fest will be, my classmates and I had a great time organizing and marketing aspects of it.  

The festival to end all festivals. The cream of the crop. The big fish. Mardi Gras is a festival that puts all other festivals to shame. Not really, but it’s enormous. Traditionally speaking, Mardi Gras is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and is a carnival before Lent. Over the years, the celebration has gotten bigger and bigger and now extends to weeks before. Parades, or krewes, happen all over Louisiana. A krewe is essentially the group that rides in the floats during the parades. Krewes have very exclusive memberships and cost a fortune, especially the ones leading up to Mardi Gras Day. While Krewe du Vieux (parade of sex and satire) is the Saturday, two weeks before Mardi Gras and kicks off the season, if you genuinely want the Mardi Gras experience, you would be okay to go as early as the Thursday before Mardi Gras. The festival takes place all around the city, so the best way to track parades is through the WWL Mardi Gras Parade Tracker. Many of the major parades go through the Garden District on St. Charles Ave. towards the French Quarter. All the krewes during Mardi Gras Weekend are impressive, but try not to miss: Rex, Endymion, or Bacchus.

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Photos: Pizza Float and Endymion

Fried Chicken Festival (and champagne) is a terrific festival as the name suggests in the Central Business District. They offer plenty of different fried chicken vendors from restaurants all over the city. It usually takes place during mid-late September.

A festival centered around the beloved New Orleans sandwich. The event takes up all of Oak Street, which is lined with vendors from all over the city serving specially crafted Po’boys. Popular favorites include shrimp, oyster, alligator, etc. Interesting ones I’ve seen include oreo and sushi. The celebration usually takes place in early November and is 13 years running.

Another famous festival in New Orleans. I have not attended this festival, but who doesn’t love mac and cheese. It takes place in the middle of October in Louis Armstrong Park.

Easily my favorite food festival of all time. First of all, I love boudin, I love bourbon, and I love beer. The Emeril Lagasse Foundation puts on this legendary festival in Champion Square, usually during the second weekend of November. It is co-run by the Link Restaurant Group (Herbsaint, Cochon) and Aaron Sanchez from Johnny Sanchez. Yet they don’t even begin to scratch the amount of talent at the festival. The majority of restaurants mentioned in my list also have booths serving their take at boudin. Some of the restaurants represented include Compére Lapin, Meril, La Petite Grocery, and GW Fins. The event supports Emeril’s Foundation, which helps mentor young kids through culinary education and nutrition. Ticket prices are steep, but once you buy your ticket, it is unlimited boudin, bourbon, and beer. 

A festival designed around the New Orleans treat. The event is usually shortly before Mardi Gras, at the end of January. There is a large variety, and you can try as many small cake samples as you want depending on how many tickets you purchase. It takes place in Champion Square. There are also food trucks because you will probably have a sugar overdose. 

Another festival to increase your caloric intake for the day. Beignets of all shapes and flavors (not sizes because they are generally the same sample size). The festival is located in City Park and occurs in early October.

A festival for crawfish. In late April on Tulane’s campus. The festival is free for all Tulane students and relatively cheap for guests. Once in the festival, you are entitled to all you can eat crawfish (until they run out). I swear they serve a metric ton of the crustacean. The beloved New Orleans shellfish is accompanied by live music. Usually, they score a prominent artist or two. One year Moon Taxi while another year the Venga Boys played.