Experience French Quarter Fest's After Dark Events & Other Special Events

French Quarter Fest Special Events

French Quarter Fest is a free festival in New Orleans with amazing music and food. This year, the festival will take place from Thursday, April 16, to Sunday, the 19th.

While the festival ends at 8 p.m. every night, there will be additional shows after the festival closes with the French Quarter After Dark Series. There will be events every night after the festival with big-name New Orleans artists, brands, and cultural institutions that will keep the fun going.

Thursday Programming

On Thursday, April 16, the extra events will be kicked off with Stories Behind the Sounds: Celebrate Music History at The Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC). This will feature a film screening of Tierra Sagrada and Q&A with filmmaker Ned Sublette. This is a documentary film about Afro-Cuban music. The event will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Williams Research Center on 410 Chartres St. From 6 to 9 p.m.

The New Orleans Jazz Museum will open their new exhibit The First Piano Professors and the Lost Music of Early New Orleans. This exhibit explores the careers of early jazz and blues composers. The event will feature live music and complimentary food and will take place at the New Orleans Jazz Museum on 400 Esplanade Ave.

Both events are free and open to the public. To end the night, rock singer David Shaw will be performing at the House of Blues New Orleans! Doors are at 8 p.m. and tickets start at $36.

Friday Programming

On Friday, April 17, Big Sam's Funky Nation will perform at Good Measure! Big Sam's Funky Nation blends jazz, funk, and hip-hop, creating a uniquely New Orleans sound. The concert will take place from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., with doors at 8 p.m. Good Measure is located at 600 Carondelet St.

Saturday Programming

If you want to start your day feeling energized and mindful, check out Flow into the Fest, presented by YEAH! YOGA and BK House. This class will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the BK Historic House and Gardens on 1113 Chartres St. This class is open to all levels. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit bkhouse.org.

At 1 p.m., the HNOC will present Cosimo at 100: The Sound that Shaped New Orleans. This is in honor of the 100th birthday of Cosimo Matassa, an iconic music engineer who has shaped many New Orleans musicians' careers. There will be a lecture hosted by Nick Spitzer focusing on Cosimo's legacy from 1-2 p.m. at the HNOC Williams Research Center on 410 Chartres St. After that, there will be a birthday celebration with a DJ and cake from 2-4 p.m. at the HNOC's Helis Hall on 520 Royal St.

At the same time, the BK House will be presenting the Patio Planters Garden Concerts! From 1-2:15 p.m., Andre Bohren & Harry Hardin Duo will perform, followed by Marc Paradis & John Paul Carmody from 2:45-4 p.m. This will take place at 1113 Chartres St.

At 6:30 p.m., pianist John Davis will perform at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. This will feature music from their exhibition, The First Piano Professors and Lost Music of New Orleans.

Sunday Programming

To start the day, BK Gardens will be continuing their Garden Concerts with Elijah Hartman & His Swingin' Friends from 1-2:15 p.m. and The Cole Williams Trio from 2:45 to 4 p.m. This will be at 1113 Chartres St.

From 2-3 p.m., the St. Louis Cathedral Choir and Orchestra will perform! The cathedral is at 615 Pere Antoine Alley. Both of these events are free and open to the public.