Here in the Big Easy, one thing is for sure. We know how to “pass a good time,” let the good times roll, and we know how to throw a good party that people from far and wide come to attend. Mardi Gras and the French Quarter Festival, the largest free music festival in the South, are two shining examples of hospitality in our fair city where “hostess with the mostest” has a whole new ring.
Kim Welsh
Carl Mack... Mardi Gras Museum & Chris Owens, Queen of Bourbon Street
February 01, 2018
In a French Quarter version of a “rags to riches” story, Carl Mack, a Rochester, New York native first appeared in 1984 in his trademark red and white striped suit and straw hat playing his wheeled xylophone for tips in Jackson Square. Meanwhile, he was astutely observing the local culture thinking of ways he could carve out his niche in it. He expanded his repertoire of entertainment skills to juggling, face painting, balloon twisting, pantomiming, and basic magic tricks.
Holiday Traditions: Past and Present
November 06, 2017
Imagine spending some time in the French Quarter during the holiday season in the 1800’s… can you hear the clip-clopping sounds of horses pulling buggies down the cobblestone streets? When invited into a home along Royal Street, you see a small potted citrus tree on the table decorated with little gifts, paper ornaments, and tallow candles. Mistletoe is hung above the door to bring good fortune throughout the year.
Vieux Carré Voodoo and Restless Spirits
July 27, 2017
Founded in 1718, New Orleans has almost three centuries of French, Spanish, African, Native American, and Acadian history; our very rich and dark history is filled with violent deaths, which contribute to hauntings and paranormal activity. Legends of grisly murders, plundering pirates, voodoo spirits, and restless wanderers run rampant across the city.
Romantic French Quarter Weddings
May 02, 2017
Weddings in the French Quarter are as unforgettable and unique as the city itself, capturing the romance and timeless elegance of historic New Orleans. Romance, after all, has always found its home in the French Quarter and is one of the many reasons that New Orleans is a top wedding destination for those who want to live happily ever after. When it comes to celebrating in style, there is no place like the French Quarter.
Spring Flings, Festivals, and Fun!
February 03, 2017
The “Greatest Show on Earth,” otherwise known as Mardi Gras will be celebrated this year on February 28th. The biggest free party thrown in North America always falls 46 days before Easter and is the city's most popular attraction. Visitors and locals alike love the party atmosphere, the crowds, costumed revelers, and the camaraderie.
Festive Holiday Happenings In and Around the Vieux Carre
October 31, 2016
In New Orleans, holiday traditions are as thick as roux as we roll out the red (and green) carpet for visitors and locals alike. Exquisite sights, wonderful Creole food, long-treasured Creole traditions spiced with 21st-century fun, and jazz concerts abound. When Louis Armstrong put his gravelly vocals to smooth brass on the swinging 1955 recording of "Christmas in New Orleans," his voice was like New Orleans itself... a unique blend of rough edges and refinement. Our well-worn and mightily loved Crescent City is decked out in lights, bows, and sparkle, ready for the season's pageantry.
Voodoo and Restless Spirits of the Vieux Carre
August 01, 2016
In the land of voodoo, vampires, and witchcraft, it’s no wonder that America’s most haunted city is rife with tales of restless spirits. Native Americans warned French settlers not to build a city on this “cursed land.” Louisiana Voodoo originated from the traditions of the African diaspora as a cultural form of the Afro-American religions that developed within the French, Spanish, and Creole speaking African American population of Louisiana. It is an African-based religion rooted in West African Vodun.
Romantic French Quarter Weddings
May 10, 2016
Danni lived in Texas all of her life and she never dreamed that she would tie the knot in the French Quarter. After graduation from Texas A&M University with a degree in elementary education, she moved to Fredericksburg, Texas, to teach math and science to fourth graders. She did not know anyone in the small town until she met Brandon, a dashingly handsome neighbor from Illinois. They fell head-over-heels madly in love and the rest is history! She had the world in her hand… or, as we say in New Orleans, the world was her oyster!
Non-stop Spring Celebrations!
February 03, 2016
The “Greatest Show on Earth,” otherwise known as Mardi Gras will be celebrated early this year on February 9th. The biggest free party thrown in North America always falls 46 days before Easter and is the city's most popular attraction. Visitors and locals alike love the party atmosphere, the crowds, costumed revelers, and the camaraderie.
