Lakeside2Riverside: 2024 Spring Festivals Guide Edition
APRIL
April 24-28 | Festival International de Louisiane
Downtown Lafayette, festivalinternational.org
Celebrate cultures from all around the world at Lafayette's own international festival. Taste international cuisines from local vendors, shop around the market for unique arts and crafts, and listen to live music from many different international artists.
[Courtesy of Where Y'at Staff]
April 25-May 5 | New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots,nojazzfest.com
There is no festival in New Orleans quite like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Feast on delicious crawfish monica while sipping on fresh homemade lemonades. This year's lineup features the Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Jon Batiste, and many more icons.
April 26-28 | Italian Festival
Highway 51, Tickfaw, theitalianfestivalorg.com
For some of the best Italian cuisine, carnival rides, royalty, and just all things Italian, head to Tickfaw's annual Italian Festival. Catch the parade strolling by while enjoying the most delicious spaghetti and live music.
April 26-28 | Plaquemines Parish Seafood Festival
333 F Edward Hebert Blvd., Belle Chasse, plaqueminesparishfestival.com
Kicking off the weekend with a 5K run, Plaquemines Parish Seafood Festival is a family-fun event to enjoy fresh boiled seafood, listen to talented local musicians, and go on carnival rides. Check out the seafood royalty while you're there.
April 27 | Denham Springs Spring Festival
N. Range Ave., Denham Springs, denhamspringsantiquedistrict.net
The Denham Springs Spring Festival has hundreds of vendors, art exhibits, food stands with delicious New Orleans food and fun rides. Attendees can tour the Old City Hall exhibits and explore antiques and collectables from centuries ago.
[Courtesy of Kite Fest Louisiane]
April 27-28 | Kite Fest Louisiane
3383 Rosedale Rd., Port Allen, westbatonrouge.net
After grabbing some food from the booths, kick back and watch the skies as hundreds of colorful kites fill the air at the Kite Fest Louisiane. This free event offers a kite-making workshop for those interested and performances by indoor kite flyers.
April 29-May 1 | NOLA Crawfish Festival
The Broadside, facebook.com/nolacrawfishfestival
Make sure to go hungry and indulge in the tasty, juicy crawfish at the NOLA Crawfish Festival. This weekend-long festival has a crawfish eating contest, live music, and a crawfish cookoff for those who want to show off their boiling skills.
April 30-May 1 | Daze Between New Orleans
Faubourg Brewery, dazebetweennola.com
Grab a beer and grub on some traditional Louisiana cuisine while listening to talented musicians including Gov't Mule and Galactic. If you enjoy jazz, folk, or funk, this is the perfect event for you to get your groove on at the Faubourg Brewery.
MAY
May 3-5 | Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival
1290 Rees St., Breaux Bridge, bbcrawfest.com
Head on over to the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival to munch on all things crawfish. This event has crawfish prepared in ways you may never knew could be possible. There will be a parade, carnival games, and even a crawfish eating contest.
May 4 | May The 4th Be With You Star Wars Fest
Houma Courthouse Square, facebook.com/m4houma
Head down to Downtown Houma for an out of this world celebration at the fourth annual Star Wars festival. This free festival will support the Terrebonne High School Band Boosters and will feature music by The Caniacs, as well as Nonc Nu and Da Wild Matous
May 4-5 | Cinco De Mayo Fest
Fat City Park, Metairie, cincodemayofest.com
There is no better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than heading on over to the annual Cinco de Mayo Fest. Sip on a delicious margarita, grab a gourmet taco, and jam out to the live music with special DJs. Enter into the taco-eating contest for some extra fun.
May 9-11 | Boggy Bayou Festival
4473 Heritage Rd., Ville Platte, facebook.com/boggybayoupineprairie
Taste some delicious Cajun favorite foods, including gumbo and jambalaya while listening to local bands perform at the Boggy Bayou Festival. A pageant will take place where young ladies compete to be crowned the queen of the fest.
May 11 | Brews, Boils, & Bubbles
Lakeshore Drive at Franklin Avenue, brewsboilsbubbles.com
From the organizers of the National Fried Chicken Festival, this brand new fest, taking place behind the UNO Lakefront Arena, celebrates crawfish, beer, and champagne. General admission is $30 and there will be two VIP experiences available as well.
[Courtesy of Hangout Fest]
May 17-19 | Hangout Fest
Beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama, hangoutmusicfest.com
What is better than enjoying a sunny weekend on the beach and listening to some of the top artists in the world? This year's lineup includes Zach Bryan, Lana Del Rey, Cage the Elephant, and so many more incredible musicians.
May 17-19 | Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo
Bayou St. John, thebayouboogaloo.com
A festival on both land and water, the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo is a weekend filled with music, food, arts, and fun. Grab your kayak or canoe to float along Bayou St. John while enjoying music by Nik West, George Porter Jr., and more.
May 18 | Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival
French Market, frenchmarket.org
Celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month and learn more about Asian and Pacific Islanders in New Orleans through music, exquisite cultural cuisine, and unique arts and crafts. Check out the most beautifully crafted traditional attire worn by the dancers and performers.
[Courtesy of LA Veterans Festival]
May 18 | LA Veterans Festival
Slidell Heritage Park, Slidell, laveteransfestival.com
Head on out to the LA Veterans Festival to pay your respects and tributes to veterans all across Louisiana. There will be live music, food, and drinks. This event is hosted by the East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity, and all proceeds will go to their program.
May 24-26 | New Orleans Greek Festival
1200 Allen Toussaint Blvd., gfno.com
Gather around the grounds of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral during Memorial Day weekend and have a great time at this year's Greek Fest. Enjoy traditional Greek cuisine, performers by the Hellenic Dancers, and more.
Whether you're a wine connoisseur or love trying new foods, Covington's month-long culinary, fine wine, and music adventure has a little bit for everyone. Every Saturday in June, there will be special dinners and events that include wine tastings.
[Courtesy of Where Y'at Staff]
June 5-9 | New Orleans Wine and Food Experience
Multiple Locations, nowfe.com
This might just be a wine-lover's dream come true. With some of the best chefs and winemakers from across the globe, the five-day New Orleans Wine and Food Experience is an explosion of delicious foods and lavish wines.
June 8-9 | Creole Tomato Festival
French Market, frenchmarket.org/creoletomatofest
What is better than a juicy Creole tomato on a hot summer's day? Celebrate Creole tomatoes at the 38th annual Creole Tomato Festival. Sponsored by Rouses Market, there will be food booths, live music, merchandise, and, of course, delicious tomatoes.
Sign Up!
FOR THE INSIDE SCOOP ON DINING, MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, THE ARTS & MORE!
