February 23, 2024
Shamrocks and bunnies and festivals—oh my! It is springtime in New Orleans, and we have a full calendar of events spanning from March through May. Mardi Gras madness has worn off and given way to Spring Fever in the Crescent City. Catch a cabbage at one of our St. Joseph’s Day, show off your Easter Bonnet at the Marigny Bunny Hop, rock out with the Rolling Stones at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival or meet amazing authors at the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival. No matter what you desire, New Orleans has it.
Danny Boy! Experience five days of unforgettable live music, engaging interviews, insightful panels, exclusive banjo and guitar clinics, and masterclass sessions at the Danny Barker Banjo & Guitar Festival from March 6–10, 2024. The two stages of live music at the New Orleans Jazz Museum will present 30 of the Crescent City’s finest ensembles complemented by a series of combination interviews and performances with outstanding banjoists and guitarists. The mission of the Danny Barker Banjo and Guitar Festival is to showcase and highlight the many contributions and accomplishments of NEA Jazz Master Danny Barker: musician, singer, songwriter, educator, raconteur extraordinaire and author—who played guitar and banjo with many top jazz artists over the course of his 70 year plus career—and served as a mentor to numerous young New Orleans artists who have since come to prominence, including Wynton Marsalis, Herlin Riley, Leroy Jones, Gregg Stafford and Dr. Michael White (www.dannybarkerfestival.com/).
Good Idea! New Orleans Entrepreneur Week unites innovators and visionaries to explore, learn and connect throughout this impactful week in the spirit of innovation and culture. For 13 years, NOEW gathers entrepreneurs in and beyond New Orleans together for a dynamic week-long experience. Attendees immerse themselves in an array of focused content and excitement spread across diverse programming, including panels, sessions, summits, pitches, networking and partner events (www.noew.org/).
Get Lucky! Irish and Italian eyes are smiling this year at any of Irish and Italian parades that happen in the French Quarter, Irish Channel, Downtown and Marigny as well as in Chalmette and Metairie, located just a few miles outside of the city. These parades are known for their nontraditional throws such as cabbage, onions, carrots, lucky beans, garter belts and even Irish Spring Soap. In addition to the parades, there are two block parties at Parasol’s and Annunciation Square, both in the Irish Channel, on St. Patty’s Day. Or stop by one of our famous Irish drinking establishments in the French Quarter like Pat O’Brien’s, Molly’s on the Market, Kerry Irish Pub, Erin Rose, Ryan’s Irish Pub, or one of our delicious Italian restaurants such as Italian Barrel or Irene’s. This year’s schedule: March 1–Irish Channel Practice March, 12 p.m. March 15–Irish Channel block party, 1 pm; Downtown Irish Club Parade, 7 p.m. March 16–Parasol’s Block Party 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Tracy’s Block Party 11am–’til; Irish Channel Parade, 1 p.m.; Italian–American St. Joseph's Parade, 6 p.m. March 17–St. Patrick's Day Parade on Metairie Rd., 12 p.m. March 25–Louisiana Irish–Italian Parade (Metairie), 12 p.m. April 6–Irish–Italian Islenos Parade at St. Bernard, 11 a.m. (www.stpatricksdayneworleans.com/).
“I Have Always Depended on the Kindness of Strangers!” The 36th Annual Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival takes place March 20–24, 2024 in the French Quarter. The fest brings authors, actors and musicians from around the globe for this five-day event. Attendees enjoy writing workshops, theatre events, literary panels, scholars conference, literary walking tours, music events, culinary and cocktail events (https://tennesseewilliams.net). Happening at the same time is the Annual Saints and Sinners LGBTQ+ Literary on March 22–24, 2024, also in the French Quarter. The Saints and Sinners Literary Festival was founded in 2003 and has grown into an internationally recognized event that includes LGBTQ+ publishers, writers and readers. The Festival features panel discussions and master classes around literary topics that provide a forum for authors, editors and publishers to discuss their work benefitting emerging writers and for fans of LGBTQ+ literature (https://www.sasfest.org).
Drink Up! Indulge in the finest bourbons at the New Orleans Bourbon Festival on March 20–24, 2024. There are many events during the festival, from a whiskey competition to grand tastings where guests sip on the smoothest bourbons, enjoying delicious food and mingling with fellow bourbon enthusiasts. Sample from a wide selection of bourbons and learn about the history and production of this beloved spirit from industry experts (www.neworleansbourbonfestival.com/).
Feel the Beat! Dance to the beat in Congo Square on March 23–24, 2024 at the Congo Square Rhythms Festival. Congo Square was the place where enslaved African people gathered on Sunday afternoons to practice their ancestral traditions. Their legacy lives on at the Congo Square Rhythms Festival, a free event that celebrates the music, food and dance of our forebears, creating an event that is fun for the whole family (www.jazzandheritage.org/events/2024-congo-square-rhythms-festival/).
Hop to It! Easter weekend (March 29–31) is a fabulous time to don those bonnets and visit the Crescent City. There are fundraisers, parades, parties, bunny hops (bar crawls), Easter egg hunts and bonnet contests. Bunnies in the Big Easy, a charity fundraiser put on by Ambush Magazine happens on March 29, 2024. The Marigny Bunny Hop, a bar crawl through the Marigny neighborhood is on Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m. And spend the entire day Easter Sunday in the French Quarter and enjoy three very unique parades and a bonnet contest. The Historic French Quarter Easter Parade begins at Antoine's Restaurant at 9:45 a.m. on Easter Sunday heading to St. Louis Cathedral for 11 a.m. mass. The parade consists of mule-drawn carriages, old convertibles and various walkers throwing Easter trinkets to the observers. Following Mass, participants in the parade move to Jackson Square to show off their Easter bonnets and outfits before returning to Antoine’s, where awards are given out for the best Easter finery. The French Quarter Easter Parade, formerly the Chris Owens Easter Parade, presents the 39th Annual French Quarter Easter Parade on Sunday at 1 p.m. The celebration starts at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel Ballroom at 11 a.m. with a hat contest, silent auction and entertainment. Riders will then hop on the floats and ride through the heart of the historic French Quarter. The parade will be complete with colorful floats, marching bands, beads, Easter trinkets and plenty of eager revelers. Following the parade revelers can enjoy a Champagne Brunch. The final parade of the day is the Gay Easter Parade, put on by Ambush Magazine and the city’s LGBT community. Their route passes most the gay bars, restaurants, shops and businesses in the French Quarter. It is a rainbow of sequins and glitter as their participants include Flamboyant Drag Queens and Kings riding in horse-drawn carriages and convertibles wearing their glittering Easter best. The parade is kicked off with the annual Easter Bonnet Contest at Good Friends Bar, a LGBTQ+ neighborhood bar at the corner of Dauphine and St. Ann Streets.
Street Cred! The Freret Street Festival is an all-day event in Uptown New Orleans on March 30, 2024. This noteworthy locals’ festival boasts six blocks containing over 200 local artists and chefs, 46 brick and mortar businesses, three stages and 20 bands (freretstreetfestival.org/).
Spring Scream! Spring gets scary at the Overlook Film Festival April 4–7, 2024. Most of the screenings and events take place at the Prytania Theaters in Canal Place and the Historic Prytania Theater Uptown. The Overlook Film Festival is dedicated to all things horror—it’s a genre film festival celebrating the best of horror films. They screen a selection of feature length and short films, contemporary to classic, including festival favorites, anticipated new releases and world premieres in the horror, thriller, and sci-fi genres from both emerging artists and master filmmakers. In addition to the films, the festival hosts signature live events and activities which include live shows, radio plays, one-person performances, interactive entertainment, games, and one-of-a-kind immersive experiences—all an essential part of our genre summer camp weekend (www.overlookfilmfest.com/).
Pig Out! Hogs for a Cause happens April 5–6, 2024 at the UNO Lakefront Arena. The two-day barbecue festival welcomes local and regional barbecue masters and backyard chefs to participate. Local breweries and a musical line-up of both New Orleans performers and national musical acts enhance the event. The entire festival is set up to help a worthy cause. They are the premier nationwide source of funding for families with children fighting pediatric brain cancer. Hogs for the Cause works with both local and national children’s hospitals to offer monetary relief to families with children who have brain cancer (https://hogsfest.org/).
Quarter Rhapsody! The 2024 French Quarter Festival is April 11–14, 2024. Each year, thousands of attendees descend upon the crown jewel of the city. This celebration highlights the food, music, art and culture of the city and state of Louisiana. With more than 20 stages throughout the French Quarter, entertainers represent every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to R&B, New Orleans funk, brass bands, folk, gospel, Latin, Zydeco, classical, cabaret and international, making it the largest showcase of Louisiana music. There is delicious cuisine from some of the city’s best restaurants and caterers served in Jackson Square, the Jazz Museum at the Mint, JAX Brewery and Woldenberg Riverfront Park (https://frenchquarterfest.org/).
Play Through! The Zurich Classic is New Orleans’ premier golf tournament, and the only PGA TOUR event in the region, will be from April 22–28, 2024 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. The Zurich Classic boasts a rich history, dating back to 1938, with past winners including golf greats like Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus, Billy Casper, Davis Love III, David Toms and Vijay Singh (zurichgolfclassic.com/).
Track Music! The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is held at the New Orleans Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots, the third oldest racetrack in the country, from April 25–May 5, 2024. This music, food and art festival enjoys a mixture of local, national and international artists. This year some of the headliners include the Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Heart, Jon Baptiste, Neil Young and Queen Latifah. The festival is a cultural feast in which thousands of musicians, cooks and craftspeople welcome attendees annually (www.nojazzfest.com/).
On the Bayou! Get your groove on at Bayou Boogaloo from May 17–19, 2024 in the Mid-City neighborhood along Bayou St. John. This Festival celebrates Louisiana’s music, art, food and culture every year. The festival features four stages exploring New Orleans’ musical roots in blues, jazz, zydeco, Cajun, funk, hip-hop and rock. There will also be a kid’s stage and full schedule of activities for all ages, an art market with original works of art in a variety of mediums from Louisiana’s most celebrated artisans as well as food vendors, serving a plethora of traditional New Orleans cuisine and original, inventive recipes (thebayouboogaloo.com/).
Opa! Baklava, Gyros and Ouzo Daiquiris are on the menu at the New Orleans Greek Festival held over Memorial Day Weekend, May 24–26, 2024 on Bayou St. John at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. There will be homemade traditional Greek Food, wine, pastries, live, traditional Greek dancing, Greek bands playing near the Bayou, tours of the Cathedral, a marketplaces with everything Greek, and a Greek grocery with delectable cheeses, dips, spices and other goodies (http://www.greekfestnola.com).
Danny Boy! Experience five days of unforgettable live music, engaging interviews, insightful panels, exclusive banjo and guitar clinics, and masterclass sessions at the Danny Barker Banjo & Guitar Festival from March 6–10, 2024. The two stages of live music at the New Orleans Jazz Museum will present 30 of the Crescent City’s finest ensembles complemented by a series of combination interviews and performances with outstanding banjoists and guitarists. The mission of the Danny Barker Banjo and Guitar Festival is to showcase and highlight the many contributions and accomplishments of NEA Jazz Master Danny Barker: musician, singer, songwriter, educator, raconteur extraordinaire and author—who played guitar and banjo with many top jazz artists over the course of his 70 year plus career—and served as a mentor to numerous young New Orleans artists who have since come to prominence, including Wynton Marsalis, Herlin Riley, Leroy Jones, Gregg Stafford and Dr. Michael White (www.dannybarkerfestival.com/).
Good Idea! New Orleans Entrepreneur Week unites innovators and visionaries to explore, learn and connect throughout this impactful week in the spirit of innovation and culture. For 13 years, NOEW gathers entrepreneurs in and beyond New Orleans together for a dynamic week-long experience. Attendees immerse themselves in an array of focused content and excitement spread across diverse programming, including panels, sessions, summits, pitches, networking and partner events (www.noew.org/).
Get Lucky! Irish and Italian eyes are smiling this year at any of Irish and Italian parades that happen in the French Quarter, Irish Channel, Downtown and Marigny as well as in Chalmette and Metairie, located just a few miles outside of the city. These parades are known for their nontraditional throws such as cabbage, onions, carrots, lucky beans, garter belts and even Irish Spring Soap. In addition to the parades, there are two block parties at Parasol’s and Annunciation Square, both in the Irish Channel, on St. Patty’s Day. Or stop by one of our famous Irish drinking establishments in the French Quarter like Pat O’Brien’s, Molly’s on the Market, Kerry Irish Pub, Erin Rose, Ryan’s Irish Pub, or one of our delicious Italian restaurants such as Italian Barrel or Irene’s. This year’s schedule: March 1–Irish Channel Practice March, 12 p.m. March 15–Irish Channel block party, 1 pm; Downtown Irish Club Parade, 7 p.m. March 16–Parasol’s Block Party 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Tracy’s Block Party 11am–’til; Irish Channel Parade, 1 p.m.; Italian–American St. Joseph's Parade, 6 p.m. March 17–St. Patrick's Day Parade on Metairie Rd., 12 p.m. March 25–Louisiana Irish–Italian Parade (Metairie), 12 p.m. April 6–Irish–Italian Islenos Parade at St. Bernard, 11 a.m. (www.stpatricksdayneworleans.com/).
“I Have Always Depended on the Kindness of Strangers!” The 36th Annual Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival takes place March 20–24, 2024 in the French Quarter. The fest brings authors, actors and musicians from around the globe for this five-day event. Attendees enjoy writing workshops, theatre events, literary panels, scholars conference, literary walking tours, music events, culinary and cocktail events (https://tennesseewilliams.net). Happening at the same time is the Annual Saints and Sinners LGBTQ+ Literary on March 22–24, 2024, also in the French Quarter. The Saints and Sinners Literary Festival was founded in 2003 and has grown into an internationally recognized event that includes LGBTQ+ publishers, writers and readers. The Festival features panel discussions and master classes around literary topics that provide a forum for authors, editors and publishers to discuss their work benefitting emerging writers and for fans of LGBTQ+ literature (https://www.sasfest.org).
Drink Up! Indulge in the finest bourbons at the New Orleans Bourbon Festival on March 20–24, 2024. There are many events during the festival, from a whiskey competition to grand tastings where guests sip on the smoothest bourbons, enjoying delicious food and mingling with fellow bourbon enthusiasts. Sample from a wide selection of bourbons and learn about the history and production of this beloved spirit from industry experts (www.neworleansbourbonfestival.com/).
Feel the Beat! Dance to the beat in Congo Square on March 23–24, 2024 at the Congo Square Rhythms Festival. Congo Square was the place where enslaved African people gathered on Sunday afternoons to practice their ancestral traditions. Their legacy lives on at the Congo Square Rhythms Festival, a free event that celebrates the music, food and dance of our forebears, creating an event that is fun for the whole family (www.jazzandheritage.org/events/2024-congo-square-rhythms-festival/).
Hop to It! Easter weekend (March 29–31) is a fabulous time to don those bonnets and visit the Crescent City. There are fundraisers, parades, parties, bunny hops (bar crawls), Easter egg hunts and bonnet contests. Bunnies in the Big Easy, a charity fundraiser put on by Ambush Magazine happens on March 29, 2024. The Marigny Bunny Hop, a bar crawl through the Marigny neighborhood is on Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m. And spend the entire day Easter Sunday in the French Quarter and enjoy three very unique parades and a bonnet contest. The Historic French Quarter Easter Parade begins at Antoine's Restaurant at 9:45 a.m. on Easter Sunday heading to St. Louis Cathedral for 11 a.m. mass. The parade consists of mule-drawn carriages, old convertibles and various walkers throwing Easter trinkets to the observers. Following Mass, participants in the parade move to Jackson Square to show off their Easter bonnets and outfits before returning to Antoine’s, where awards are given out for the best Easter finery. The French Quarter Easter Parade, formerly the Chris Owens Easter Parade, presents the 39th Annual French Quarter Easter Parade on Sunday at 1 p.m. The celebration starts at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel Ballroom at 11 a.m. with a hat contest, silent auction and entertainment. Riders will then hop on the floats and ride through the heart of the historic French Quarter. The parade will be complete with colorful floats, marching bands, beads, Easter trinkets and plenty of eager revelers. Following the parade revelers can enjoy a Champagne Brunch. The final parade of the day is the Gay Easter Parade, put on by Ambush Magazine and the city’s LGBT community. Their route passes most the gay bars, restaurants, shops and businesses in the French Quarter. It is a rainbow of sequins and glitter as their participants include Flamboyant Drag Queens and Kings riding in horse-drawn carriages and convertibles wearing their glittering Easter best. The parade is kicked off with the annual Easter Bonnet Contest at Good Friends Bar, a LGBTQ+ neighborhood bar at the corner of Dauphine and St. Ann Streets.
Street Cred! The Freret Street Festival is an all-day event in Uptown New Orleans on March 30, 2024. This noteworthy locals’ festival boasts six blocks containing over 200 local artists and chefs, 46 brick and mortar businesses, three stages and 20 bands (freretstreetfestival.org/).
Spring Scream! Spring gets scary at the Overlook Film Festival April 4–7, 2024. Most of the screenings and events take place at the Prytania Theaters in Canal Place and the Historic Prytania Theater Uptown. The Overlook Film Festival is dedicated to all things horror—it’s a genre film festival celebrating the best of horror films. They screen a selection of feature length and short films, contemporary to classic, including festival favorites, anticipated new releases and world premieres in the horror, thriller, and sci-fi genres from both emerging artists and master filmmakers. In addition to the films, the festival hosts signature live events and activities which include live shows, radio plays, one-person performances, interactive entertainment, games, and one-of-a-kind immersive experiences—all an essential part of our genre summer camp weekend (www.overlookfilmfest.com/).
Pig Out! Hogs for a Cause happens April 5–6, 2024 at the UNO Lakefront Arena. The two-day barbecue festival welcomes local and regional barbecue masters and backyard chefs to participate. Local breweries and a musical line-up of both New Orleans performers and national musical acts enhance the event. The entire festival is set up to help a worthy cause. They are the premier nationwide source of funding for families with children fighting pediatric brain cancer. Hogs for the Cause works with both local and national children’s hospitals to offer monetary relief to families with children who have brain cancer (https://hogsfest.org/).
Quarter Rhapsody! The 2024 French Quarter Festival is April 11–14, 2024. Each year, thousands of attendees descend upon the crown jewel of the city. This celebration highlights the food, music, art and culture of the city and state of Louisiana. With more than 20 stages throughout the French Quarter, entertainers represent every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to R&B, New Orleans funk, brass bands, folk, gospel, Latin, Zydeco, classical, cabaret and international, making it the largest showcase of Louisiana music. There is delicious cuisine from some of the city’s best restaurants and caterers served in Jackson Square, the Jazz Museum at the Mint, JAX Brewery and Woldenberg Riverfront Park (https://frenchquarterfest.org/).
Play Through! The Zurich Classic is New Orleans’ premier golf tournament, and the only PGA TOUR event in the region, will be from April 22–28, 2024 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. The Zurich Classic boasts a rich history, dating back to 1938, with past winners including golf greats like Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus, Billy Casper, Davis Love III, David Toms and Vijay Singh (zurichgolfclassic.com/).
Track Music! The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is held at the New Orleans Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots, the third oldest racetrack in the country, from April 25–May 5, 2024. This music, food and art festival enjoys a mixture of local, national and international artists. This year some of the headliners include the Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Heart, Jon Baptiste, Neil Young and Queen Latifah. The festival is a cultural feast in which thousands of musicians, cooks and craftspeople welcome attendees annually (www.nojazzfest.com/).
On the Bayou! Get your groove on at Bayou Boogaloo from May 17–19, 2024 in the Mid-City neighborhood along Bayou St. John. This Festival celebrates Louisiana’s music, art, food and culture every year. The festival features four stages exploring New Orleans’ musical roots in blues, jazz, zydeco, Cajun, funk, hip-hop and rock. There will also be a kid’s stage and full schedule of activities for all ages, an art market with original works of art in a variety of mediums from Louisiana’s most celebrated artisans as well as food vendors, serving a plethora of traditional New Orleans cuisine and original, inventive recipes (thebayouboogaloo.com/).
Opa! Baklava, Gyros and Ouzo Daiquiris are on the menu at the New Orleans Greek Festival held over Memorial Day Weekend, May 24–26, 2024 on Bayou St. John at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. There will be homemade traditional Greek Food, wine, pastries, live, traditional Greek dancing, Greek bands playing near the Bayou, tours of the Cathedral, a marketplaces with everything Greek, and a Greek grocery with delectable cheeses, dips, spices and other goodies (http://www.greekfestnola.com).
