From April through September, NOLA’s’ outdoor spaces are full of the sound of live music, delicious food, and fantastic artwork.
Just like the city’s culture, New Orleans’ festival season is a melting pot. There’s something for everyone during this exciting time of year.
Read on to learn more!
Music Lovers
New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz and a world-famous music city. So, it’s only natural that some of the best music festivals on the planet take place here. Plus, these events are truly unique — you won’t find festivals like these anywhere else:
- Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival | March 30 – 31
- Freret Street Festival | April 6
- French Quarter Festival | April 11 – 14
- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival | April 25 – May 5
- Cajun-Zydeco Festival | June 22 – 23
- ESSENCE Festival | July 4 – 7
- Satchmo Summerfest | August 2 – 4
Photo by Bart Everson via Wikimedia Commons
Foodies
Po-boys, oysters, crawfish… If it’s delicious, New Orleans probably has a festival dedicated to it.
Foodies will be delighted to try lots of local favorites during festival season:
- New Orleans Bourbon Festival | March 20 – 23
- Hogs for the Cause | March 29 – 30
- New Orleans Wine & Food Experience | April 3 – 7
- Crawfish Mambo | May 11
- Oyster Festival | June 1 – 2
- French Market Creole Tomato Festival | June 8 – 9
- Tales of the Cocktail |Â July 16 – 21
- COOLinary | August 1 – 31
Art Lovers
New Orleans is a city where people go to be inspired. Whether they call it home or just fell in love during a visit, iconic artists have always maintained exciting and complex relationships with the Crescent City,
NOLA’s festival season features many large events where local, national, and international artists alike showcase their work for thousands of festival-goers. If a combination of gallery openings, streetside art, live music, great food, and beautiful weather sounds like a good time, these festivals are for you:
- Saints and Sinners Literary Festival | March 29 -31
- Treme/7th Ward Arts and Culture Festival | May 25 – 26
- Whitney Zoo-to-Do | May 3
- Whitney White Linen Night | August 3
- Dirty Linen Night | August 10
- New Orleans Museum Month | August 1 – 31
Photo by Karen Apricot via Wikimedia Commons
Culture Connoisseurs
If you get a thrill out of experiencing different ways of life, New Orleans is the place for you. NOLA’s festival season honors our city’s vibrant mix of people and traditions, featuring exciting celebrations of cultures from across the globe.
Below, you’ll find a list of festivals for the “culture connoisseurs”:
- Irish Channel Parades | March 16
- Mardi Gras Indians Super Sunday | March 17
- Fete Francaise | March 23
- Greek Fest | March 23 – 26
- Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival | March 30 – 31
- Treme/7th Ward Arts and Culture Festival | May 25 – 26
- Asian Heritage Festival | April 6
- Festigals | June 20 – 23
- Cajun-Zydeco Festival | June 22 – 23
- ESSENCE Festival | July 4 – 7
- Running of the Bulls | July 12 – 14
LGBTQ Visitors
The Crescent City has been named one of the most welcoming cities for the LGBTQ community in the nation, and our festival season features a few huge LGBTQ events:
- New Orleans Pride | June 7 – 9
- Southern Decadence | August 29 – September 2
- Saints and Sinners Literary Festival | March 29 -31
Hotel Monteleone Visitors
Hotel Monteleone is the perfect place to stay during the festival season. Our location in the heart of the French Quarter puts our guests in close proximity to dozens of the year’s most exciting events.
We also are the official headquarters of the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival, a five-day event that brings over 130 authors, actors, and musicians to New Orleans in honor of the legendary Tennessee Williams. The festival takes place March 27 – 31, and tickets are on sale now for a jam-packed schedule of performances, workshops, and more!
Experience New Orleans Festival Life at the Hotel Monteleone!
Let us be your home away from home during the most exciting time of year in the Crescent City. Reserve a room with us today!
