UPDATE: 3:45PM Saturday, April 15, 2023
The rain has subsided and French Quarter Fest is back on after a roughly two hour rain delay.
Folks attending the event are beginning to make their way out of from the shelter of bars and cafes to once again enjoy the music and events going on.
So...once again: It's a beautiful day for the French Quarter Festival.
Earlier reports of stormy conditions are either not panning out or are holding off until later in the day, evening.
Still, the festival will goes on rain or shine, and officials expect a big turnout over the next three days.
"I don't think the rain will deter people," Kelly Schulz, a vice president with New Orleans and Company, said, adding that hotel occupancy numbers downtown are close to what they were for the 2019 French Quarter Festival, the last one before the COVID Pandemic.
Wanna go? Here some links to help with your experience:
French Quarter Festival, the French Quarter Festival Music Schedule, French Quarter Festival's facebook page.
New Orleans & Company's French Quarter Festival Guide.
A Walking Guide to French Quarter Fest from Place d'Armes Hotel
Eater's What to eat at French Quarter Fest.
Premium Parking's French Quarter Parking guide.
"We know that a lot of visitors are in town for French Quarter Fest already," Schulz noted.
Festival officials say they are ready for whatever weather comes the city's way.
"Being a rain-or-shine event, put together quite a bit of a plan," said Morgan Valerie, who handles public relations for the festival. "There are multiple steps that go into place."
Valerie says organizers are in contact with the National Weather Service and homeland security officials. She also says in the event of lightning or high winds, concerts will be paused so musicians and festivalgoers alike can seek shelter.
"Luckily, we're in a space where if there is a need to go into shelter, people can go into close-by buildings to get out of that, but unless things get much more out of hand, we continue rolling with our shows," Valerie said.
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