Here in New Orleans, we know how to throw a party and have the best food and music festivals for nearly every occasion! There’s always something to celebrate in the Big Easy.
From world-famous celebrations like Mardi Gras and The Jazz and Heritage Festival to hidden gems like Luna Fête and Wednesdays at the Square, New Orleans offers a festival for almost every interest and season. Whether you’re craving live jazz, our delicious Creole cuisine, or vibrant holiday light displays, there’s always something exciting happening in the Big Easy.
New Orleans festivals are great if you are a foodie, music lover, or culture enthusiast! Our guide highlights the best New Orleans festivals throughout the year, month by month, along with unique details, local tips, and fun tidbits to help you plan an epic trip.
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Table Of Contents
- New Orleans Best Fest Bets for January ⛄️
- New Orleans February Festivals ❄️
- New Orleans March Festivals 🎭
- New Orleans April Festivals – Peak Season! ☀️
- New Orleans May Festivals 🎹
- New Orleans June Festivals 🌻
- New Orleans July Festivals 🍹
- New Orleans August Festivals 🌅
- New Orleans September Festivals 🍗
- New Orleans October Festivals 👻
- New Orleans November Festivals – We're not done yet! 🍷
- New Orleans December Festivals 🎄
- It's Time to Start "Festing" Again!
- Essential Items for Your New Orleans Trip Packing List
- Find the Best Hotel Options for Your New Orleans Festival Trip:
- Final Thoughts on the Best Food and Music Festivals in New Orleans
- Keep Reading for More Travel Inspiration
🎶Make sure to get the Best Folding Festival Chair with a Carrying Case (our favorite on Amazon) for all of New Orleans’ festivals!🎭
New Orleans Best Fest Bets for January ⛄️
Many people are recovering from the holiday season in January, but not us! We are just getting started and looking forward to the beginning of Mardi Gras season this month!
- Allstate Sugar Bowl (Early January) – There are also free music concerts and fun activities during this weekend.
- King’s Day (January 6) – also known as Twelfth Night or the Feast of the Epiphany, falls on January 6 and marks the official start of the Mardi Gras season in New Orleans. It is also the start of King Cake season too!
- Krewe of Joan of Arc Parade (January 6) – a medieval-themed walking parade in the French Quarter.
- Phunny Phorty Phellows Streetcar Ride (January 6) – With a history dating to the 1800’s the group does a countdown to start the Mardi Gras Season then rides a streetcar down St. Charles officially starting the season on Twelfth Night.
New Orleans February Festivals ❄️
- Mardi Gras (Varies, typically in February or early March) – Our huge event of the year stretching across several cities – not just New Orleans. See our Mardi Gras Locals Guide for great info on parades and fun! This year, 2025, it is on March 4th, but it varies.
- Lundi Gras Fest Celebrations (Monday Before Mardi Gras) – “Fat Monday,” is the day before Mardi Gras and features parades, concerts, and the ceremonial arrival of Rex, the King of Carnival, via riverboat. It is held in varying areas, but usually the main festival is in Spanish Plaza with food, free music, and fun!
- Fun Tidbit: The tradition of Rex arriving by boat dates back to 1874!
New Orleans March Festivals 🎭
- St. Patrick’s Day Parades and Block Party(Mid-March)
- St. Joseph’s Day & Super Sunday (Around March 19) – Super Sunday (always the Sunday closest to St. Joseph’s Day) is when the Mardi Gras Indians parade throughout different neighborhoods in New Orleans with traditions that date back to the 19th century
- Top Taco Festival (Mid-March) A paradise for taco and tequila lovers, this festival features restaurants competing for the title of best taco and best margarita, with guests sampling unlimited tastings. It is in Metairie at Lafreniere Park, but still a must-do and not too far away.
- Fun Tidbit: VIP ticket holders get access to a special tequila lounge for high-end tastings.
- Sometimes Mardi Gras will fall in March – Each year varies (2025 it is March 4th, but 2026 it is February 17th)
- Wednesdays at the Square (Spring, Various Dates, 2025 it starts 3-19-25))
A free weekly concert series at Lafayette Square featuring live music, local food vendors, and craft beer.
Fun Tidbit: It’s a favorite among locals as a way to unwind midweek while supporting local musicians. - Tennessee Williams Literary Festival (Late March)
This festival celebrates the legacy of the playwright behind A Streetcar Named Desire with theatrical performances, writing workshops, and a “Stella!” shouting contest.
Fun Tidbit: The shouting contest is a nod to the famous scene where Marlon Brando yells “Stella!” in the 1951 film adaptation.
New Orleans April Festivals – Peak Season! ☀️
- French Quarter Festival (Early April)
- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (“Jazz Fest”) (Last weekend of April & first weekend of May)
- Japan Fest (Mid-April) – Hosted by the New Orleans Museum of Art, Japan Fest is the largest celebration of Japanese culture in the region, featuring traditional performances, martial arts, food, and anime enthusiasts.
- Fun Tidbit: The Japan festival includes a cosplay contest that attracts some of the best-dressed anime fans in the South.
New Orleans May Festivals 🎹
- New Orleans Crawfish Festival (Early May)
A festival celebrating Louisiana’s favorite crustacean with all-you-can-eat crawfish boils, live Zydeco music, and cook-off competitions.
Fun Tidbit: The crawfish-eating contest challenges participants to see who can peel and eat the most in a limited time. - Bayou Boogaloo (Mid-May) – One of our favorite festivals in the Mid-City Bayou St. John area. It’s great to set out on a kayak and listen to all of the music from the bayou!
- New Orleans Food Truck Festival (Late May) – A street food lover’s dream, this festival brings together the city’s top food trucks, serving everything from gourmet burgers to Vietnamese banh mi and classic Creole dishes.
- Fun Food Truck Fest Tidbit: Some of the city’s most famous brick-and-mortar restaurants started as food trucks!
- Greek Festival – (late May) – Held at the Hellenic Center on Bayou St. John, it celebrates Greek heritage with amazing food, drinks, music, and cultural performances.
New Orleans June Festivals 🌻
- New Orleans Pride Festival (Early June) – Series of events and a parade through the French Quarter.
- Creole Tomato Festival (Early June) – Held at the historic French Market, this festival celebrates the beloved Creole tomato with tastings, cooking demos, and tomato-eating contests.
- Fun Tomato Fest Tidbit: Unlike typical tomatoes, Creole tomatoes thrive in Louisiana’s hot, humid climate, giving them a uniquely sweet and tangy flavor.
- Cajun Zydeco Festival (Mid-June)
A lively two-day celebration of Cajun and Zydeco music featuring dance performances, authentic Louisiana cuisine, and accordion-heavy bands.
Fun Tidbit: Free dance lessons are offered, so even beginners can enjoy the fast-paced Cajun two-step!
New Orleans July Festivals 🍹
- Essence Festival of Culture (Early July or late June) – A Week of music, workshops, food, and celebrations!
- San Fermin in Nueva Orleans (Running of the Bulls) (Mid-July) – Our “bulls” are roller-derby skaters with soft bats and batons! It’s a really fun fest time! It usually starts at Gallier Hall.
- Tales of the Cocktail (Mid-July) – One of the world’s most prestigious cocktail festivals, Tales of the Cocktail is a must-attend for mixologists, bartenders, and spirits enthusiasts, featuring tastings, seminars, and competitions.
- Fun Tidbit: Many legendary New Orleans cocktails, like the Sazerac and Hurricane, were invented in New Orleans.
New Orleans August Festivals 🌅
- COOLinary New Orleans (All Month) – Great restaurant menus with special pricing featured all of August.
- Satchmo SummerFest (Early August)
A festival honoring Louis Armstrong with jazz performances, educational seminars, and delicious Creole food.
Fun Tidbit: The festival’s name comes from Armstrong’s nickname, “Satchmo,” which was a play on “Satchel Mouth” due to his wide grin. - Beignet Fest (Late August/Early September) – A festival dedicated to the iconic New Orleans pastry, Beignet Fest features creative takes on the classic fried dough, from sweet to savory variations.
- Fun Tidbit: A portion of the festival’s proceeds goes to programs supporting children with autism.
New Orleans September Festivals 🍗
- Southern Decadence (Labor Day Weekend) – A vibrant celebration throughout the French Quarter and parade!
- National Fried Chicken Festival (Late September)
A finger-licking event on the lakefront, this festival showcases some of the best fried chicken in the country, with local and national vendors competing for the title of best fried chicken.
Fun Tidbit: Expect live music, cooking demos, and even a “fried chicken eating contest.” - Gentilly Fest (Late September)
A family-friendly festival celebrating the Gentilly neighborhood with local music, food, and community-driven activities.
Fun Tidbit: Proceeds go toward improving schools, parks, and police efforts in the area.
New Orleans October Festivals 👻
- Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival (Mid-October)
A soulful celebration of blues music and smoky barbecue, this free festival in Lafayette Square is a must for music and food lovers.
Fun Tidbit: The festival features some of the city’s best BBQ pitmasters, including slow-smoked ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. - Oktoberfest at Deutsches Haus (Weekends in October)
New Orleans’ own version of Oktoberfest at Deutsches Haus celebrates German heritage with authentic beer, bratwurst, and polka dancing.
Fun Tidbit: The stein-holding contest challenges participants to see who can hold a full beer stein the longest! - See our Oktoberfest Guide for more on this and other great Oktoberfest celebrations!
New Orleans November Festivals – We’re not done yet! 🍷
- Treme Creole Gumbo Festival (Mid-November) – Music, food (featuring gumbo of course), and lots of fun!
- Oak Street Po-Boy Festival (Mid-November) – A tribute to New Orleans’ famous sandwich, the Po-Boy Festival features dozens of vendors offering unique takes on the traditional French bread sandwich, from fried shrimp to cochon de lait. Fun Tidbit: Some festival-goers vote for their favorite po-boy, and past winners have included unexpected fillings like soft-shell crab and duck confit.
- Hogs for the Cause (Early November) – A BBQ and music festival raising money for families affected by pediatric brain cancer, featuring teams competing to create the best pork dishes.
- Fun Tidbit: Some teams get super creative, making dishes like pork-stuffed beignets and bacon-wrapped alligator!
New Orleans December Festivals 🎄
- Luna Fête (Early December)
A stunning digital light festival featuring large-scale projection mapping on historic buildings, immersive art installations, and interactive displays.
Fun Tidbit: The event is free and often features artists from around the world. - Reveillon Dinners (All Month)Celebration in the Oaks (Late November – Early January) – Featured special menu at most of the best NOLA restaurants with multi courses for a great price!
- New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE) (Early December) – A premier culinary event, NOWFE brings together top chefs, winemakers, and food lovers for tastings, wine pairings, and chef-led dining experiences.
- Fun Tidbit: The event includes the “Royal Street Stroll,” a parade where attendees sip wine while enjoying art and live jazz.
- Celebration in the Oaks (Late November – Early January) – This one is a must-see if you are in town! It’s held at City Park and walking entry includes the Botanical Gardens and Storyland Amusement Park too!
It’s Time to Start “Festing” Again!
You can also check out the New Orleans Tourism Calendar for any updates or festival additions!
Essential Items for Your New Orleans Trip Packing List
- Comfortable Walking Shoes – Walking in New Orleans can mean 8-10 miles a day without even realizing it. Our comfy shoe pics are these comfortable Sketchers go-walk ones or our favorite Birkenstock Gizeh sandals from Amazon!
- Portable Phone Charger – Between taking photos, using the map app, and taking more pics, your phone battery will drain quickly. Bring a portable phone fast charger (amazon has this great inexpensive one) to ensure you stay connected and don’t miss out on capturing magical travel moments.
- Refillable Water Bottle – Staying hydrated is important. It gets hot here! Pack a refillable water bottle that’s lightweight and will keep you hydrated by using so you can utilize public water stations all day. Check out this inexpensive collapsible water bottle 2 pack on Amazon!
- Travel-Sized Cooling Towel – Vacation sun in New Orleans can be intense, even in cooler months. A cooling towel can help keep you cool during those long walking days. Just wet it, wring it out, and drape it around your neck for an instant cool-down. This budget-friendly 4-pack travel cooling towel set on Amazon can be clipped onto a bag or belt loop!
- Lightweight Backpack – A comfortable, lightweight backpack is essential for carrying all your day essentials without feeling weighed down. Check out this budget-friendly packable lightweight backpack with pockets on Amazon!
- Travel Laundry sink wash kit – Soap Suds are TSA approved and will help you pack lighter because you can wash clothes as your trip progresses. (on Amazon)
Find the Best Hotel Options for Your New Orleans Festival Trip:
Final Thoughts on the Best Food and Music Festivals in New Orleans
New Orleans is truly a city of festivals, and we love them all! We truly live in the best town! With all of the fun festivals, no matter when you visit, there’s always something worth celebrating. From legendary Mardi Gras parades to unique culinary celebrations, there’s an event for every interest.
Which festival are you most excited to attend?