New Orleans Festivals & Shows

In a city that's proud of its culture, heritage, music, and food, it's not hard to find a celebration dedicated to one or more of those attributes. New Orleans festivals bring a multitude of things to the table, the main factors being: live entertainment, fun, games, and culturally stimulating activities. We took the time to compile a list of our favorite annual parties in the Crescent City, and we recommend you take the time to attend one for an experience you won't soon forget.

Take part celebrating the life, work and literary accomplishments of one of America's most important writers at the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. Williams is remembered through writing workshops, panel discussions, literary readings, stage performances, a book fair, music, writing contests and other events incorporating literature, poetry and other art forms - and more importantly, food and drink!

Web: www.tennesseewilliams.net

Let the people who know Crescent City best show you the city's historical architecture and explain the culture and history surrounding the area. The New Orleans Spring Fiesta & Historic Home Tours showcases the history of the city's oldest homes, providing tours of the houses, courtyards and gardens of these treasured buildings.

Web: www.springfiesta.com

Join in the city's springtime party at the French Quarter Festival. The festival has taken place annually for the last 28 years, featuring fun, food and free music from New Orleans based bands. Fans of every genre will find their favorite music playing, with over 800 bands on the bill. The FQF also features food from over 40 area restaurants including Emeril's NOLA, Pat O'Brien's, The Gumbo Shop, Hard Rock Café, The House of Blues, and Muriel's Jackson Square.

Web: www.neworleansonline.com

Celebrate your love for music at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The festival is one of the city's largest parties, providing two weekends of live music from world-renown performers and some of the best food in the Crescent City. Legends like Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, Al Green, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Willie Nelson, and Gladys Knight have taken the stage for the festival.

Address: 336 Camp St. Ste. 250, New Orleans, LA 70130 - MAP
Phone: (504) 410-4100
Web: www.nojazzfest.com

Opa! Celebrate "Greece on the Bayou" at the Greek Festival New Orleans. The annual party celebrates Greek tradition with food, drinks and entertainment inspired by the Hellenic culture. Let the kids run around at the Athenian Playground, enjoy live Greek music, tour the Cathedral or watch the Hellenic Dancers perform - however you choose to get in on the party, you'll find something to enjoy at the Greek Festival.

Web: www.greekfestnola.com

Pay homage to a New Orleans native with one of the greatest voices in jazz music history, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong at the Satchmo SummerFest. The festival takes place at the Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint and is dedicated to the life and career of Armstrong. The festival features live music from local jazz musicians, family activities, food, seminars and much more.

Web: www.fqfi.org

Take time to say "thank you" to the people who work in the petroleum and shrimping industries, providing economic prosperity to the region and ultimately, the world. The Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival celebrates the work of the employees dedicated to their craft through food, music, events and art. You won't want to miss out on what Time Magazine calls "...one of the best, most unusual, the most down-home, the most moving and the most fun the country has to offer..."

Web: www.shrimp-petrofest.org

Celebrate the roots of American music and the unsung heroes who have made it great at the Ponderosa Stomp. Contributors to rock-n-roll, blues, jazz, country, swamp pop, and soul are all honored by performances showcasing their talents that helped propel others to fame. The Stomp also explores the impact of Louisiana music on the country.

Web: www.ponderosastomp.com

Check out a one-of-a-kind music festival that takes place annually on Halloween weekend. The Voodoo Experience brings New Orleans some high-profile performers like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ozzy Osbourne, Eminem, Nine Inch Nails, Snoop Dogg, Tool, John Mayer, Drake, Lil Wayne and many more. Music isn't the only thing you'll find at the festival. Art work and large installations have become a staple for the event; along with Halloween costumes, and food vendors galore.

Web: www.thevoodooexperience.com

Also...

Mardi Gras

Web: www.mardigrasneworleans.com

New Orleans, LA

New Orleans Festivals & Shows

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