Bourbon Fest
Get ready to drink and be merry! The New Orleans Bourbon Festival is happening from March 22 - 25 and will take place at the Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans & Hilton New Orleans Riverside. This year's theme-alongside their long-running "Women In Bourbon" focus-will be "The Art of Distilling." From Bourbon judging to a lineup of various speakers, the New Orleans Bourbon Festival has something for everyone. Tickets start at $92.34 and all proceeds of the festival will be donated to the general fund of Kids Can NOLA, their permanent charitable beneficiary.
Misery: The Play
See one of Stephen King's most terrifying stories live on stage during the Jefferson Performing Arts Society's production run of Misery. The store focuses on romance writer Paul Sheldon, who ends up trapped in the home of his number one fan Annie Wilkes after she rescues him from a car accident. The show will be at the Westwego Cultural Center and will run from March 23 to April 2. General admission tickets are $35 with special discounts for seniors, military, students, and children.
New Orleans Home & Garden Show
Seasoned home-owners and those who are brand new with having their own space should definitely check out this year's New Orleans Home & Garden Show. Interact with many vendors who specialize in roofing, floor planning, gardening, windows, electrical work, pet needs, and so much more. The show will run from March 24 to 26 and will be at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. General admission is $15 and kids 12 and under get in for free.
New Orleans Opera's Madame Butterfly
The New Orleans Opera is bringing its magnificent production of Madame Butterfly to The Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts. This production of Madame Butterfly is updated for the context of our current society, reflecting updated values and reflections of the past narrative. The show will be performed on Friday, March 24 and Sunday, March 26. Tickets start at $32.00. You won't want to miss it!
New Orleans Spring Fiesta
Experience the uniqueness of Crescent City architecture at this year's New Orleans Spring Fiesta. Take part in history and architecture walking tours through the French Quarter, as well as through homes and courtyards in the Vieux Carré, on March 26 and April 1. There will also be a French Quarter wagon parade on March 25, as well as a gala the same day at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. Visit the New Orleans Spring Fiesta's website for specific ticket prices.
The Tremé Creole Gumbo & Congo Square Rhythms Festivals return, honoring the legacy of enslaved African peoples within New Orleans. The festivals will take place March 25 - 26 in Congo Square in Louis Armstrong Park. There will be lectures and the Ashé Cultural Arts Center's Sistahs Making a Change will host a special community dance class led by Bombazo Dance Company! Admission for the entire weekend is free but registration is encouraged for the community dance, and a donation box will be placed at the park entrances.
Ecole Bilingue de la Nouvelle-Orléans' Fête Française is back for another year of celebrating French culture here in New Orleans. The festival is the school's biggest fundraiser of the year and has the distinction of being the biggest French festival in New Orleans. Fête Française will take place on March 25 and will include New Orleans' top musicians and restaurants, Le Marché of artistic vendors, Le Jardin de Bière, and much more. The festival will take place Uptown at Magazine and General Pershing and admission is free to the public.
FishSTOCK
Join artist Brandon Ballengée on March 25 for a celebration of art and fish. The event is called FishSTOCK and will take place at 499 F. Edward Hebert Blvd. in Belle Chasse. The event, which is part of the Searching for the Ghosts of the Gulf projects, will spotlight the importance of fish and how many species have declined around the world due to many factors. Guests can enjoy hands-on activities, food, live music by acts like Aaron Foret and the Valparaiso Men's Chorus, and the world's largest fish collection.
Basin Brew Fest
Celebrate and enjoy Louisiana craft beer at this year's Basin Brew Fest in Morgan City. The event will take place on March 25 and will feature some of the most well-known craft breweries in the state like Abita Beer, Faubourg Brewing Co., NOLA Brewing Co., Gnarly Barley Brewing Co., Parish Brewing Co., and so much more. The festival will also have "restaurant crawl" with many different vendors and food trucks from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $40 and guests must by at least 21 years old to enter.
Mud Fest
Bring your kids out on March 25 and let them get messy at the Louisiana Children's Museum's Mud Fest. Kids will be allowed to play around in a giant dirt pile and take part in different activities like Café du Mud and Studio in the Mud, as well as get cleaned up at The Spa. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Children's Museum. Tickets are $20 for non-LCM members, $10 for LCM members, and tickets will give guests access to both the festival and the museum.
LA Derby + Shantel Lanerie 2nd Line Walk
The Fair Grounds Race Course will be hosting its inaugural Breast Cancer Survivor and Memorial Second Line on Sunday, March 26 following the last race of the day. The event benefits the Shantel Lanerie Breast Cancer Foundation, which honors the late Shantel Lanerie and provides resources, education, advocacy and support to those suffering with Breast cancer. Adult tickets are $40 and children's tickets are $20. Registration for the event can be found on their website.
Jamie Galloway Big Ass Party & Crawfish Boil
Enjoy delicious crawfish and fantastic music at the 9th annual Jamie Galloway Big Ass Party & Crawfish Boil. The event will be at the Maple Leaf Bar on March 26 from 1 to 7 p.m. Peel lots of crawfish while listening to live music by the Soul Brass Band, Dave Jordan & the NIA, Chris Mule, and Alvin Youngblood Hart with Papa Mali. It is recommended to book a table ahead of time and prices are either $200 or $400 depending on the table and the time that you and your group would like to come in for.
