Disclosure :: This post is sponsored but we are so excited that Fête Française is back that we couldn’t wait to share!
BONJOUR, Y’ALL!
Don’t Miss Fête Française 2023! New Orleans’ Premier French Festival!
Did you know that March is International Francophonie month? Francophonie means to celebrate French language and culture around the globe and Fête Française, New Orleans’ Premier French Festival happens during Francophonie month! This year the festival is on Saturday, March 25 from 11 am to 5 pm. This FREE, family-friendly street festival is hosted by Ecole Bilingue (EB), a French immersion school uptown near Napoleon and Magazine Streets.
Saturday, March 25th, 11am – 5pm
General Pershing at Magazine Street
Free Admission and Free Bike Valet Available
You don’t need to be a francophone or francophile to attend Fête. The festival always brings an exciting set of local and regional favorite bands for their main stage and this year is definitely no different! Fête performers for 2023 include Sweet Crude, SaxKixAve, T’Monde, and the Young Fellaz Brass Band.
If it’s not the music that brings attendees back year after year, it’s the selection of local restaurants and delicious delicacies that draw foodies and families alike. This year, N7, St. James Cheese Company, Elysian Bar, Rimon, Lunette Snoballs, Perrone & Sons, and Nirvana, alongside EB’s own in-house chef serving up French onion soup, Moroccan lamb stew, a crêpe station, the EB pâtisserie (a massive pastry selection!) and épicerie (that means food market). New this year is Hogs for the Cause mainstay team Swinetinis and the BBQ Slingers roasting a whole pig!
Fête has become synonymous with the best moules-frites (mussels and fries) one can find in the city. Les Deux Papas is an exclusive vendor at Fête Française as the chefs are a team of two former EB dads who have helmed the tent since the festival’s early days before Katrina. Seriously, you haven’t lived until you’ve had mussels from Les Deux Papas!
Attendees can imbibe themselves at one of the multiple thirst stations – Urban South’s Beer Garden, Bacchanal’s Rosé Room (in air conditioning!), full bars, and also the festival’s signature champagne and Lillet drink – Joie de Vivre – on a delightful Spring day.
The festival also boasts a number of local culture booths and artist vendors in the marché; numerous games and children’s activity areas, including an obstacle course, gyroscope, bounce houses, a rock climbing wall, and carnival games. Another popular feature of this festival is their “Toddler Town” which consists of miniature playhouses and slides specific for the younger set.
***Fête Française would like to send a special thank you to their leading sponsors Perrone Sons, Hancock Whitney, Peony, First Horizon, Where Y’At Magazine, and Urban South***
