Dear Festivals, Welcome Back!

New Orleans is Like Nowhere Else

Let’s face it. Our city is unique and our people are unique. These are just a couple of reasons why it is amazing living here. Yes, our city has its downfalls, and we aren’t blind to them, but most of us are not going to let that scare us from celebrating and enjoying the best parts of living here.

A Gradual Return to Normal

It feels like forever, but here we are. Almost back to normal. We have had a successful Mardi Gras, so next up is festival season. Excuse my enthusiasm, but I am SO READY!

A couple of weekends ago, I went to Fete Francaise and Feret Festival, while my daughter went to her first Buku Music Festival. It felt so good to be back out enjoying the live music, the food, and shopping with local vendors. I didn’t realize how much I had missed it.

So dust off your fest attire or craft yourself something fresh, because I am sure after a two-year hiatus, festivals are back and I’m sure they will be better than ever!

Find Your Fest

Almost every weekend from here to November has some sort of fest or event filled in with one festival or another. For a calendar of fests and events from now until the end of the year, head over to neworleans.com for an easy-to-navigate listing of festivals, concerts, and events. You can narrow your search by day / week / month and area of the city, Northshore, or outside the metro area. No matter what you’re looking for, you’re bound to find something that interests you. Fest attendance costs can add up so here is a little tip. You can volunteer at a fest and for most, after your shift, which is typically between one and four hours long, you are able to enjoy the rest of the fest for free!

Here is a little breakdown of some of the upcoming fests:

French Quarter Fest: April 21-24. FQF is absolutely family friendly! There will be food, music, art, and of course, immersion into the culture of the French Quarter. The fest goes from the Riverfront all the way to Jackson Square. It is free to attend, while food and beverages are an additional cost.

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival: April 29- May 1st and May 5-8th. This is the Grande Dame of New Orleans Festivals, and I personally am so excited to go this year. Jazz Fest is a great family friendly event, so be sure to bring a chairs or a blanket for kids to lounge and relax since the days can be long and hot! You can find more New Orleans Mom tips here. The cubes are out and we are all ready to dance and sing, while enjoying some crawfish Monica and mango freeze. Festing in Place was a perfect way to celebrate while in quarantine, but it feels so good to be festing in person this year. Prices vary based on experience.

Crawfish Cookin For A Cause: April 30th, 11am-5pm. The event takes place on the Mandeville Lakefront. This year is the 12th annual fundraiser for local families affected by catastrophic illnesses. This is a family friendly event,with several playgrounds, a sandy beach, and a splash pad for kids to enjoy. Tickets are $35 pre-sale or $45 at the gate, and include all you can eat crawfish from several local boiling teams all competing to see who has the best boil, with beverages available for purchase. The 2022 beneficiaries are Project Red Light for Hope and Grant’s Gift Foundation.

Zoo To Do: May 6th. An elegant experience at the zoo to benefit wildlife conservation and our own Audubon Zoo. Attire is black tie or white linen event, there will be music,  delicious food and drinks from many of the best New Orleans restaurants, and auctions. This is a 21+ event and tickets start at $175.

Bayou Bougaloo: May 20-22. Head over to Mid City with a floatie of your choice, jump on into Bayou St John, and enjoy an amazing line up of live music, delicious food, and tons of fun. This is a family-friendly event. Ruby Slipper will have a stage just for kids, and there will also be craft tables set up. Don’t forget the sunscreen! Tickets start at $10 per day and $45 for the weekend.

Greek Fest: May 27-29. Another local favorite, the Greek Fest is everything we want in a festival: delicious food, music, dancing, and culture. Admission is $10 (12 and under are free), and your donation goes to support the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

As the summer heats up, so do the events! Essence Festival, Running of the Bulls, Satchmo Fest, New Orleans Food and Wine Festival, Tales of the Cocktail, and the Red Dress Run are all on the horizon.

Happy Festing my friends!

Nikki
Nikki was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she has lived in Seattle and Portland. After visiting New Orleans, she fell in love with the city, and she and her husband decided to take a chance and move from the PNW to NOLA. Nikki has two kids, Amaya (16) and Tyson (13), she and her husband Dave have been married for 16 years, they live on the Northshore. Nikki works full time as a NICU nurse. Nikki and her family have fully embraced the culture of New Orleans, while they live on the Northshore, they play in New Orleans as often as they can. As a member of New Orleans Mom, she hopes to bring the perspective of the veteran mom and life with big kids and teenagers.

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