New Orleans French Quarter Festival
The Big Easy Brings Together Music, Food and Family in April
Apr 5, 2009
The annual French Quarter Festival in the city's historic old town offers scores of musical acts performing on outdoor stages along the banks of Mississippi River and on the streets of the quarter. This year's festival is April 17 to 19, Friday through Sunday.
French Quarter Festival Attracts Local Residents
The French Quarter Festival last year had attendance of 435,000 people during the 25th anniversary event, according to organizers. The festival attracts as many local Louisianans as out-of-state tourists. Festival organizers on their website estimate half of those attending are locals. Local readers of offBeat Magazine voted it the Best Festival of 2008, beating out the internationally popular New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival which starts in late April.
Outdoor stages will be set up throughout the old town, at Jackson Square and along Bourbon, Royal and Chartres streets, and also along the banks of the Mississippi River. Each stage features the music that has shaped New Orleans, from jazz, gospel, Cajun and zydeco to blues, R&B and folk. The 2009 festival has a new Louis-Louis Pavilion Stage on the riverfront paying tribute to Louis Armstrong and Louis Prima. On Sunday, the festival continues its tradition of gospel music on the main riverfront stage.
Creole and Cajun Food in New Orleans
Louisiana Creole and Cajun culinary delights are offered by the many food vendors at the spring festival. Local restaurants are among the riverfront vendors. Enjoy crawfish bread and jambalaya, black beans and rice or etouffee while meandering between outdoor stages. If that's not enough, New Orleans features some of the best dining anywhere with restaurants like Emeril's, Antoinnes and Broussards. For a more casual venue, treat yourself to the buffett at The Court of Two Sisters, grab a Po-boy sandwich at Central Grocery, some gumbo and grits at Mother's, or a freshly made beignet at Cafe du Monde.
For youngsters, the festival features the Children's Headquarters in the Audobon Aquarium Plaza on the riverfront. There are educational displays including the healthy kids cooking demonstration, and activities including hula hoop and jump rope competitions, face painting and crafts, drumming circles and other children's attractions.
Purchasing Tickets and Places to Stay
Other than what you pay for food from vendors or at restaurants, the festival itself is free and open to the public. Lodging is available downtown within walking distance or a short street car ride of the French Quarter.
For a memorable three-day weekend in the Big Easy, without the chaos or congestion of Mardi Gras, the French Quarter Festival is hard to beat.
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