Massive crowds are expected to pour into the French Quarter from now until Sunday for French Quarter Fest: New Orleans' largest free music festival.
So as you prepare to enjoy a world-class lineup of over 300 musical acts, dance the Cajun jitterbug, chow on local cuisine, and appreciate all the cultural depth New Orleans has to offer, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
What time is the festival?
French Quarter Fest runs from Thursday, April 10th to Sunday, April 13th. Each day the festival begins at 11 am and goes until 8 pm. The festival will go on, rain or shine.
Leave your cash at home
For the first time, festival purchases are completely cashless, so be sure to bring a debit card, credit card, or mobile payment option. But of course, you won’t have to pay a red cent for the music.
However, if you arrive at the festival and realize you just have cash, there will be available cash exchange stations.
Bring your chairs, leave your coolers
Coolers WILL NOT BE ALLOWED past the Riverfront checkpoints. However, feel free to bring your chairs and set up; the earlier you get there, the better the spot you’ll get. If you haven't been to FQF before, it gets busy!
No outside drinks are allowed. You can bring a water bottle, but you must empty it before heading through security. Also, keep in mind that all bags will be searched at security checkpoints.
Navigate French Quarter Fest with the dedicated app
Download the French Quarter Fest app for iOS or Android here.
This map also shows the location of every stage, special event, restroom, first aid station, parking lot, and more.
The full music schedule and highlights
To access the daily lineup for each stage, hour by hour, go here.
Below are some of the highlights for each day of the festival
April 10th - Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Tuba Skinny, Roi Anthony
April 11th - The Original Pinettes Brass Band, The Soul Rebels, Flagboy Giz & the Wild Tchoupitoulas
April 12th - Little Freddie King, Irma Thomas, Brass-a-holics, Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen
April 13th - Lost Bayou Ramblers, Big Frieda, Honey Island Swamp Band, Treme Brass Band
Road Closures and Parking
There will be road closures for the festivals that last all weekend. Here is the current list of road closures:
Bourbon St. — Canal St. to Dumaine St.
Royal St. — Conti St. to St. Peter St.
Decatur St. — Conti to St. Peter St.
N. Peters St. — Conti to St. Louis St.
All areas are closed off to vehicle traffic, and DO NOT ALLOW parking. If you park in one of these areas, expect to get towed. There will also be amny other areas closed off to parking, so keep an eye out for signage.
You can access the guide to recommended parking and public transportation here.
What about food?
For the culinary explorers, you can see the full list of food offerings and locations by clicking here.
French Quarter Fest is more than just the music
French Quarter Fest offers more than just incredible music and unforgettable food, there are also many special events that include free dance classes, a children’s zone, and French Quarter After Dark events.
Access the full special event schedule here.