New Orleans is a city that has long relied on tourism as a cornerstone of its economy. While the majority of 2025 is already in the books, there’s still plenty of time for fun to be had in the Crescent City this calendar year ... and things to look forward to in the coming year as well. Kelly Schulz of New Orleans and Co. joined WWL’s Tommy Tucker to discuss some of the festivities that still lie ahead. “The fifth annual NOLA By NOLA music festival launches on September 25th that started during COVID and it keeps growing and expanding every year,” Shulz noted. While the idea grew out of putting people back into music venues in smaller, safer numbers after the COVID pandemic shook things up, the festival has grown and evolved since then.
Another big event coming to New Orleans is the Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie (otherwise known as the Pastry World Cup), which will attract visitors from all over the world. “This is something that we secured in 2024 and New Orleans was the first country in North America to host this event,” Shulz explained. “It is extremely prestigious. Chefs from all over the world compete for a slot in this competition. And the event will be returning again in 2026, so it’s a great honor,” she went on to say.
“We would love to see this become a staple of our fall calendar,” Shulz noted. “There are already so many reasons to visit New Orleans in the fall and we hope this can become one of those ongoing reasons. And locals can enjoy it as well,” referring to both the NOLA By NOLA music festival and the Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie coming to the Crescent City. Ultimately, she says it’s about bringing fresh eyes and fresh ideas to the area so locals and visitors alike can enjoy the festivities.