Festivals and New Orleans

I've heard it being called a "cultural cheat code"...

New Orleans has a lot of festivals. In fact, some friends visiting for the first time during French Quarter Fest recently said, “We love it here! I want to come back when there’s no festival going on.

Good luck with that, my friend.

As a newcomer, going to one of our festivals can be a great way to get started here and feel what the city is all about at its best. Your cultural immersion will likely include good food, good people, good vibes, and above all—good music (and yes, we can absolutely debate how much jazz is in Jazz Fest).

It's not a cheat code in my experience nor will make you a local overnight, but it will give you a glimpse into all the things the city and region has to offer. If you’re headed to Jazz Fest, don’t just stick to the big stages. Explore the local craft booths, check out the Native American cultural displays, dance with the little ones in the kids’ tent, and browse the incredible art for sale. Most importantly, talk to people. The stories are everywhere.

Wrong shoes...

Of course, my first jazz fests had a few good (inter)cultural moments. I went with a French friend whose charming mispronunciation of Neil Young nearly got us to meet him. We walked from the premises all the way to our house by the river (a good 5 miles …). We got rained out and danced in puddles. And I ran into a friend from Albania who was also visiting. All in one weekend and in the wrong shoes...

Maybe skip the ticket altogether. That may be the real cheat code... Linger on the edges. Take it in from a stoop, a porch, or one of the many unofficial corner parties — because in New Orleans, to use a tried-and-true cliché, culture doesn’t need a ticket. It just needs you to show up.