French Quarter Fest is back, and this year features a 5k!

French Quarter Fest has grown into a massive event in New Orleans, drawing locals and visitors alike to the heart of the Crescent City. This year will feature a new addition to the festivities, as a 5k race will be happening during the festival.

New Orleans City Councilman JP Morrell emphasizes that with the growth of French Quarter Fest, there needs to be a management of expectations. Namely, expect parking in the French Quarter to be extremely scarce on the day of the popular festival.

City and state police will have the French Quarter on lockdown, with enhanced parking enforcement and a watchful eye toward any potential threats. That means you won’t be able to slide into a parking spot on Decatur Street and hop into the festivities. “Be aware that you’re going to park far away, but it is a wonderful experience,” Morrell noted.

French Quarter Fest kicks off on Thursday, April 16, and runs through Sunday, April 19^th. For those who want to partake, JP Morrell suggests paying to park somewhere in the CBD and hoofing it over to the festivities.

“Inevitably, you have people show up to the festival in their car, thinking they’ll park nearby and then they’re in line for hours to get to the barricades,” the city councilman points out. He adds that it’s a wonderful event full of fun and festivities, and doesn’t want to see people frustrated by unreasonable expectations.