[Robert Witkowski]

New Orleans' 2023 Spring Festivals

07:00 March 24, 2023
By: Staff

Spring is in the air! And with that comes spring festival season. There is a festival for whatever sparks joy for you--food, culture, history, music, or books. Check out our list of festivals!

MARCH

March 19- 26

Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival

French Quarter, Various Locations

Tennesseewilliams.net

Experience the 37th annual celebration of literature, theater, culture, writing, Tennessee Williams and more. Enjoy captivating full-length productions by regional theater companies while engaging in informative and entertaining panel discussions.



[Marc Pagani, Bourbon Festival website]

March 22-25

The New Orleans Bourbon Festival

neworleansbourbonfestival.com

Calling all bourbon lovers! The Bourbon Festival is a three day celebration of all things bourbon. There are grand tastings, panel discussions, distillers producing the best bourbon in the country, all descending on New Orleans to share their bourbon and knowledge with you. Come to the fest ready to taste some of your favorites and discover some new bourbons to add to your shelf at home. Tickets are available on the website.



March 22 -26

Blooming Art

New Orleans Museum of Art

Noma.org

The four-day showcase will highlight the intricate beauty of over 100 floral displays, while exploring the themes of light, metamorphosis, and discovery. The exhibition will feature public exhibits, luncheons, talks, as well as exclusive patron and preview parties.



March 24-26

Saints and Sinners Literary Festival

214 Royal St.

sasfest.org

The New Orleans Saints and Sinners Literary Festival annual literary event celebrates its 20th anniversary and brings together LGBTQ+ writers and readers from around the world for a weekend of literary panels, book signings, and writing workshops, while also celebrating the vibrant culture of New Orleans.


March 25

Big Bass Fishing Rodeo 

New Orleans City Park

Neworleanscitypark.org

With a history dating back to 1946, this is the longest-running freshwater festival in the United States. Visitors can expect a variety of vendors, exhibitors, raffles, and fishing tackle for sale, along with the highlight of the festival - the Big Bass Rodeo.



March 25

Celebration of the Merryville Pioneers and History

628 North Railroad Avenue, Merryville, LA

Merryvillemuseum.org

The Merryville Historical Society and Museum invites you to attend their yearly Heritage Festival, where you can explore the captivating Wild West stories of the No Man's Land Gang and more. Experience family-friendly entertainment, lively music, and thrilling cowboy shoot outs.



March 25

Freret Street Festival

Freret St.

Freretstreetfestival.org

Spanning six blocks of Freret Street, the eagerly awaited festival is an annual celebration in New Orleans, offering a diverse range of local music, art, and cuisine, with more than 200 vendors, food trucks, and restaurants.



March 25

Lafayette Holi: Acadians Festival of Colors

Girard Park, Lafayette

Lafeyetteholi.org

Each year, the Lafayette Holi: Acadians Festival of Colors takes place in Lafayette, Louisiana, as a celebration of the Indian festival of Holi. The festival features live music, cultural performances, traditional Indian food, and an explosion of vibrant colors.


March 25

Louisiana Crawfish Boil Championships

520 6th St, Marrero

iscchargers.org

Looking for a fun and exciting event that celebrates the best of Louisiana's crawfish culture? Look no further than the Louisiana Crawfish Boil Championships—a competitive and mouth-watering festival that attracts the best crawfish boiling teams from around the state.


March 25

Old Metairie Fest

St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, Metairie

School.stfrancisxavier.com

Get ready to experience the vibrant and festive atmosphere of Old Metairie at the annual Old Metairie Fest, where you can enjoy a diverse line-up of live music performances, indulge in delicious food from local vendors, and browse through unique arts and crafts booths.


March 25-26

Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival

Louis Armstrong Park

neworleans.com/event/congo-square-new-world-rhythms-festival

Celebrate the African diaspora's influence on Louisiana's music, dance, and culture, with the two-day event held annually in New Orleans. Visitors can enjoy a diverse range of performances, including traditional African drumming and dance, brass bands, and contemporary jazz.


March 25-26

Olde Town Slidell Antique Street Fair

First, Second & Erlanger Streets, Slidell

Louisiananorthshore.com

Twice a year in the charming historic district of Slidell, the Old Town Slidell Antique Street Fair takes place, featuring over 200 vendors offering antiques, collectibles, and vintage items, along with live music, food, and family-friendly activities.


March 26

New Orleans Spring Fiesta

826 St. Ann St.

Facebook.com

Dating back to 1937, the New Orleans Spring Fiesta showcases the city's unique charm and rich heritage through various cultural events and activities, including tours of historic homes and courtyards in the French Quarter and Garden District.


March 26

World Championship Crawfish Etouffee Cook-Off

438 Samuel Drive, Eunice

Etoufeecooking.org

Every year, Eunice, Louisiana proudly hosts the World Championship Crawfish Etouffee Cook-Off, where more than 50 teams compete to create the best version of the classic Cajun dish, crawfish etouffee; festival-goers can sample the dishes and vote for their favorites.


March 25 - April 11

Natchez Spring Pilgrimage 2023

Various Locations
natchezpilgrimage.com

Explore beautiful mansions and gardens in Natchez, Mississippi during this year's Natchez Spring Pilgrimage. Gain the opportunity to tour around the interiors of many different historical private homes and museums that are housed in structures that date back to the 1800s.


March 30 - April 1

NOEW Fest

Various Locations

noew.org/fest

Experience music that pushes the boundaries of creative and cultural innovation at the inaugural New Orleans Entrepreneur Week Fest. Some of the featured performing artists include White Denim, Pell, People Museum, Juno Dunes, Brass-A-Holics, and Water Seed.


March 30 - April 2

The Overlook Film Festival

Prytania Theatres at Canal Place

overlookfilmfest.com

Celebrate all things horror in America's most haunted city at the Overlook Film Festival. The fest will screen new, recent, and older horror films from around the world, as well as premiere the new Renfield movie with actor Nicolas Cage and director Chris McKay in attendance.


March 31

Shell-A-Bration

Cajun Ballroom at Audubon Zoo

crcl.org/program/shell-a-bration

Live music and delicious oysters will be in plentiful supply at the Shell-A-Bration event in the Audubon Zoo. The celebration is dedicated to raising awareness for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana's Oyster Shell Recycling Program to restore Louisiana's oyster habitat.


March 31- April 1

Volksfest [Courtesy of Deutsches Haus]

Volksfest

Deutsches Haus

deutscheshaus.org/volksfest-schedule

Head out to the Deutsches Haus and take part in a traditional German celebration of spring. There will be plenty of German food including bratwurst on a pretzel bun, live music by the band Prost!, wine and schnapps tasting sessions, a maypole, and even dachshund races.



Hogs for the Cause [Courtesy of Gustavo Escanelle]

March 31- April 1

Hogs for the Cause

UNO Lakefront's, 6801 Franklin Ave

hogsfest.org

Attend a three-day festival featuring mouth-watering barbecue, refreshing beer, and lively music—all in support of the children's hospital. 85 local and regional BBQ experts will compete against national and New Orleans artists, while enjoying a range of live performances.


APRIL

April 1

Psychic Fair

1708 Lake Ave, Metairie

Attendees have the opportunity to explore a variety of metaphysical and spiritual practices, from tarot and palm readings to energy healing and aura photography, providing an immersive and educational experience for those interested in the mystical arts.


April 1

Irish Italian Isleños Parade

W. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette,
visitstbernard.com/events

Celebrating the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans' Irish, Italian, and Canary Islander communities, the annual Irish Italian Isleños Parade features an array of colorful floats, marching bands, dance troupes, and costumed riders.


April 1-2

St. Tammany Collectors Con

Castine Center

sttammanycollectorscon.com

Attend the Northshore's largest celebration of pop culture, video games, comic books, and more. Special guests will include actors Matthew Wood (Stars Wars), J.J. Cohen (the Back to the Future trilogy), and Terrance Rosemore (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Treme).


April 2

Abita Springs Busker Festival

Abita Springs Trailhead Museum

trailheadmuseum.org/busker-festival

Experience the music of New Orleans in Abita Springs at the 12th annual Abita Springs Busker Festival. This free festival was established to preserve Louisiana roots' music and will feature live music from NOLA acts, as well as hot food and cold beer.


April 2

GatesFest [Courtesy of GatesFest Facebook]

GatesFest Music & Arts Festival

Congregation Gates of Prayer

gatesfest.org

One of Metairie's favorite family-friendly festivities, GatesFest, is returning for 2023. In addition to food and an arts' village, the festival will have live music provided by Marc Broussard, Cowboy Mouth, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, and more.



Cycle Zydeco [Courtesy of cyclezydeco.org]

April 12-16

Cycle Zydeco

Various Locations

cyclezydeco.org

Experience the beauty and uniqueness of Acadiana while getting some exercise at this year's Cycle Zydeco. Bike around South Louisiana while enjoying great Cajun food and traditional Cajun/Zydeco music at different festival locations.



French Quarter Fest [Courtesy of Gustavo Escanelle]

April 13-16

French Quarter Festival

French Quarter, Various Locations

frenchquarterfest.org

With over 20 stages, 60 food and beverage vendors, and more than 700,000 attendees, the French Quarter Festival is an annual four-day music and food extravaganza that takes place in one of the city's most famous neighborhoods, showcasing local music acts.


April 14

Westwego Friday Night Concert Series

Corner of Sala Ave & 4th St, Westwego

visitwestwego.com/event/free-friday-night-concert

With live music performances every Friday night, the Westwego Friday Night Concert Series offers a fun and family-friendly way to start off the weekend and enjoy local musicians' talents in the picturesque setting of Westwego's amphitheater.



[Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons]

April 14-16

Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival

Ponchatoula Memorial Park, Ponchatoula

lastrawberryfestival.com

Celebrate the strawberry harvest with food, music, carnival rides, a 5K race, a parade, and a strawberry eating contest. The beloved tradition is the reason why the town is known as Louisiana's "Strawberry Capital."


April 22

Tulane University's Crawfest

Tulane Newcomb Quad

crawfest.tulane.edu

Taking place on the campus quad of Tulane University, this university tradition boasts an abundance of attractions, including live music performances by local artists and a massive crawfish boil featuring over 20,000 pounds of crawfish.


April 22

18th Annual Crawfish Cook-off

Fritchie Park, Slidell

business.sttammanychamber.org

Enjoy over 40,000 pounds of crawfish at Hospice House's 18th Annual Crawfish Cook-off. There will be a "Best Crawfish in St Tammany Parish" competition with over 50 teams competing, as well as live music by Christian Serpas, the Bucktown Allstars, and the Pine Leaf Boys.



Scottish Tartan Festival [Courtesy of Scottish Society of the Louisiana Highlands Facebook]

April 22

Scottish Tartan Festival

182 Gleason St, Minden

scottishtartanfestival.com

Experience the vibrant and rich culture of Scotland at the Scottish Tartan Festival, where you can immerse yourself in traditional Scottish music and dance performances, and indulge in authentic Scottish cuisine and drinks.



April 25

Paradigm Gardens Concert Series

1121 S. Rampart St.

paradigmgardensnola.com/concertseries

Experience lively evenings in Central City with an array of culinary delights, refreshing beverages, and captivating music. Every event offers a delectable menu crafted by the finest local chefs and restaurants, accompanied by live entertainment and sweet treats.


April 25

Swing in the Oaks

City Park, 42 Dreyfous Dr.

lpomusic.com

Celebrating the vibrant jazz culture of New Orleans, Swing in the Oaks is an annual music festival held in City Park, featuring live performances by both local and national jazz musicians, delicious food vendors, and an energetic atmosphere among historic oak trees.


April 26-30

Festival International de Louisiane

Downtown Lafayette

festivalinternational.org

This festival features live performances, cuisine, and fun activities for visitors to celebrate worldwide music, arts, and culture. Along with having a significant economic effect, the festival offers 300,000+ tourists the chance to see other cultures while learning about Acadiana's distinctive culture and creativity.


April 27-30

Plaquemines Parish Seafood Festival

333 F Edward Hebert Blvd, Belle Chasse

plaqueminesparishfestival.com

The annual celebration in Plaquemines Parish offers a distinctive mash-up of mouthwatering seafood, exciting music, and amusing activities. Swamp pop music from the past is played at the event. Apart from carnival games and the Seafood Queen Pageant, visitors can also take in local craftsmen's wares.


Fanatec GT World Challenge [Courtesy of NOLA Motorsports Facebook]

April 28-30

Fanatec GT World Challenge

NOLA Motorsports Park

nolamotor.com/gtworldchallenge

Thrilling sports car racing awaits at the 2nd annual Fanatec GT World Challenge at Avondale's NOLA Motorsports Park. See supercars from famous manufacturers like Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, and Aston Martin face off against each other in high speed racing.



Robin Barnes at Jazz Fest [Courtesy of Gustavo Escanelle]

April 28-30 & May 4-7

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Fair Grounds Race Course

nojazzfest.com

New Orleans honors the city's strong musical heritage with local food and drink vendors, art, renowned jazz musicians, and word-famous performers. Lizzo, Dead & Company, Ed Sheeran, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Kane Brown, and H.E.R. will be a few of the musical artists that will perform over the two-weekend festival.



April 29

Denham Springs Antique Fair

N. Range Ave, Denham Springs

denhamspringsantiquedistrict.net

Located in downtown Denham Springs, this annual event draws visitors from all over the state, with more than 200 vendors, offering a wide variety of antiques, vintage items, and collectibles, as well as live music, food vendors, and a welcoming environment for families.


Kite Fest Louisiane [Courtesy of Kite Fest Louisiane]

April 29-30

Kite Fest Louisiane

3383 Rosedale Rd, Port Allen

westbatonrouge.net/kite-fest-louisiane

Each year in Port Allen, Kite Fest Louisiane offers free entertainment for all ages, featuring hundreds of kites soaring high above the Mississippi River, in addition to kite-flying competitions, workshops, and demonstrations, along with delicious local food and live music.




MAY


NOLA Crawfish Festival [Courtesy of Gustavo Escantelle]

May 1-3

NOLA Crawfish Festival

The Broadside

nolacrawfishfest.com

The NOLA Crawfish Festival is the perfect event to go to during the downtime between the two Jazz Fest weekends. Enjoy plenty of delicious crawfish, refreshing beer, and live music by headliners George Porter Jr., Russell Batiste, Sonny Landreth, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, and more.



Daze Between New Orleans [Courtesy of DBNO Facebook]

May 2-3

Daze Between New Orleans

Faubourg Brewery

dazebetweennola.com

Head out to Faubourg Brewery and enjoy plenty of beer at the Daze Between New Orleans event between the Jazz Fest weekends. The festival will directly benefit the Rex Foundation and will feature live music by Tanks and the Bangas, David Shaw, and more.


May 5

Cinco De Mayo Fest

Los Jefes Grill

facebook.com/losjefesgrill

Celebrate Mexican American culture at Los Jefes Grill's 7th annual Cinco De Mayo Fest. Enjoy music by DJ Mannie Fresh and the Honey Island Swamp Band, food vendors like Dragos and La Cocinita, a margarita bar, a taco eating contest, and even lucha libre matches.


May 13

Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival

French Market

apasnola.com

This annual event honors and celebrates the culture, traditions, and contributions of New Orleans' Asian American and Pacific Islander communities through exciting activities that include cultural performances, martial arts demonstrations, food, exhibits, and a marketplace featuring a diverse range of vendors.


May 19-21

Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo [Courtesy of Bayou Boogaloo Facebook]

Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo

Bayou St. John, Louisiana

thebayouboogaloo.com

Bayou Boogaloo is a party on the bayou-Bayou St. John. There will be bands, delicious food, and art at this three-day festival. Come out and hear Juvenile, Reverend Horton Heat, Boyfriend, People Museum, and more. With both land tickets and water tickets available, this festival will go on, rain or shine.



Hangout Fest [Courtesy of Hangout Fest]

May 19-21

Hangout Fest

Beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama,
hangoutmusicfest.com

Hangout Fest has a variety of musical genres, from indie rock to electronic dance music, in addition to local food and art vendors. This festival is on white-sand beaches of Gulf Shores. Bring your friends, put on your best swimwear, and head to the beach for some sun-filled fun. Everyone of all ages is welcome, rain or shine.



May 20

LA Veterans Festival

Slidell, Louisiana

facebook.com/LAVeteransFestival

This Festival is hosted by the East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity. The Louisiana Veterans Festival provides an opportunity for families and friends to celebrate our veterans for their service. There will be great music, food, and enjoyment. Musical acts include Marc Broussard, Tyler Kinchen and the Right Pieces, and Soul Revival.


May 25

Food Fight New Orleans

Spanish Plaza, New Orleans

foodfightnola.com

Food Fight is the preeminent New Orleans food competition bringing together over 40 restaurants and 30 spirits to see who has the top dish. The categories include top traditional dish, top creative dish, top vegetarian dish, top classic cocktail, and top creative cocktail. Chefs and bartenders compete at this all-inclusive event.


May 26- 28

Greek Fest [Courtesy of New Orleans Greek Festival Facebook]

Greek Fest

1200 Allen Toussaint Blvd,

gfno.com

The Greek Festival is back for its 48th year of celebrating Greek culture, food, and heritage. Come see traditional dances, try delicious pastries and meals, and enjoy all that the beautiful country of Greece has to offer—all from the banks of Bayou St. John!


June

June 2-3

Cathead Jam

422 S Farish St, Jackson, Mississippi

catheadjam.com

Cathead Jam is a must-see event for music fans thanks to its vibrant atmosphere and stellar musical roster, which features performers from different genres. The Dreamnote Foundation promises to provide accessibility to music and art in impoverished areas all around Mississippi.


New Orleans Food and Wine Experience [Courtesy of nowfe.org]

June 7-11

New Orleans Food and Wine Experience

900 Camp St.

nowfe.com

A five-day celebration of the finest culinary offerings in New Orleans, the New Orleans Food and Wine Experience takes place in the French Quarter, featuring a range of events such as tastings, wine pairings, cooking demonstrations, seminars, and exclusive dinners.

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