Jazz in the Park

Jazz in the Park

★★★★★ 4.9 (7) • $

Lynn J. "Louis Armstrong Park hosts Jazz in the Park each spring. Check out all my photos of the free bands from 4 to 8 every Thursday night. Various local vendors sell food, drinks and art pieces at reasonable prices.The Treme art and music festival is also held annually in Armstrong Park.Nola (New Orleans French Quarter) is renowned for it's live music offerings.THE DEAL: It's free, fun entertainment for the whole family!"

Wednesdays on the Point

Wednesdays on the Point

★★★★★ 4.5 (6) • $$

Shannon S. "They get some good music here but it isn't as much fun and its far smaller as compared to the YLC Wednesday on the Square. They have a small selection of vendors to get food and drinks from. Parking is easy and you can also take the ferry for a nice visit. My only complaints are that there is no shade so you are in the sun the whole time and the beers are bit too expensive."

Royal Teddy Bear Tea

Royal Teddy Bear Tea

★★★★☆ 3.7 (6)

Angie T. "On the first day of Christmas my awesome CM said to me, "Do you want to go to the Royal Teddy Bear Tea?"I have always wanted to do this. ALWAYS. It's been on my Nola bucket list for a while now. This time of year we get so busy but when the opportunity presented itself I knew. Go...or regret not going.The Royal Teddy Bear Tea at the Royal Sonesta is an experience you or your child won't soon forget. We sang, we ate, we played. My little girl was in good company with other little ones..(#miniyelpers) The food was yummy and the kids were treated like royalty. It was so much fun! Thanks Morgan and thank you, Royal Sonesta! You gave us a cherished memory for life."

Andouille Fest

Andouille Fest

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

Hector G. "What a great time in La Place. Great music. Excellent food. Nice folks. Loved the bands. They gave us a ride to the front of the fair. Great selection of arts and crafts."

Mardi Gras Indian Super Sunday Parade

Mardi Gras Indian Super Sunday Parade

★★★★★ 4.9 (7)

Helen M. "My experience this time was soooo fun. I enjoyed everything and just about everyone. Lol. Honestly every corner I turned there was an Indian coming through getting their beautiful feathers together. To see the different Indian Groups come together and just parade around wearing their best artwork is truly Something that someone must see for their selves. Its an experience to see this. Many people wearing their roles of their tribe on their feathers and just chanting their native chants and rolling with their crew of family it just an amazing thing to see. Even the little ones had their feathers on leading the way to the big cheifs. You have to be there really it is just impossible to try and explain to them. Very fun! Of course be very mindful of your surroundings and if you bring your little ones out make sure you guys are able to flight if need be. It is a huge crowd so just really be cautious and have fun. There are many food truck a and alcoholic portable daiquiri stations that you may run into. Overall just have a good time Man!"

Annual Oak Street Po-Boy Festival

Annual Oak Street Po-Boy Festival

★★★★☆ 4 (59)

Steve I. "So the poboy fest seems to grow bigger and bigger every year....about 40 food vendors this year encompassing seven blocks of Oak St. Loved most of the new foods I tried at this year's fest. My favorite though was the vanilla ice cream filled donut with bananas foster sauce from Blue Dot Donuts (probably one of the best things I've ever eaten for $5).It is kind of strange, though, that the organizers of this festival let any business get a booth here to sell whatever they want even though it is the po-boy festival. I ate at seven different places and only four of those places even offered a po-boy. I guess money does really talk!Come early to avoid the inevitable crowds and shortage of food, bring lots of cash, eat as much as you can handle, and enjoy the music and good times of New Orleans."

New Orleans Rv & Camping Show

New Orleans Rv & Camping Show

★★★★☆ 4 (1)

Mike C. "From March 3-5, 2017, The 26th Annual New Orleans Spring RV & Camping Show was in full effect at the Kenner Pontchartrain Center. The event was blessed with beautiful weather on Saturday and the crowds reflected it, as there were a lot of people on site; which is good for the venue. Admission was $10.00 for adults and children 15 and under received free admission. There was lots of free parking and kudos to the event for having a shuttle bus to run people back and forth from the parking lot to the venue. There were 3 seminars with Billy Thibodeaux of Premiere RV, Inc.; one each day of the event. As you walked in the door, you were immediately met by a 1923 Model T Dream Camper which tows its own outhouse. The owners, 78-year-old Rod Cathcart and 83-year-old Bob Barkwill, also provided live musical entertainment for the arriving guests.This event featured both indoor & outdoor displays, as well as several camping related vendor exhibitions. Local favorites such as Bent's RV, Berryland Campers & Dixieland RV were all on site and eager to make a sale; and I saw plenty of sales taking place during the 3 hours I was there. For the record, I am an RV fan and am fortunate that my father-in-law has a 36 foot RV that I get to use all the time. However, even if you are not in the market for an RV or a trailer, this venue is a perfect and inexpensive way to keep your young children occupied for a good half a day. Now if your child is anything like mine, he'll want to board nearly every single trailer, toy hauler and RV at the exhibition, and you'll be pretty tired by the time you chase him/her around all day. This is good wholesome fun for the family and I hardly wait till next year.There is something for everyone here, as you can get a travel trailer for as little as $10,000.00 or a luxury Class A Diesel Motorhome for $500,000.00. There were so many brands on display, that I actually cut & pasted the below listed major brands so you get an ideas as to how big this show actually was.2017 Brands On Display:Chateau Motor HomesCoachmen - Motorhomes & TrailersCrossroads - TrailersDayCruiser - Sprinter MotorhomesDutchmen - TrailersDynamax - Motorhome & trailersEntegra - MotorhomesEvergreen - Lifestyle Luxury 5th WheelsFleetwood - MotorhomesForest River - R-Pod Tent Trailers / Travel Trailers / MotorhomesGrand Design - Toy Haulers & TrailersGulfstream - Travel TrailersHeartland - Travel trailers & toy haulersHighland Ridge - trailersHoliday Rambler - MotorhomesJayco - Motorhomes & travel trailersK-Z - trailers & toy haulerslKeystone - 5th Wheels / travel trailers / toy haulersLittle Guy - Travel TrailersMonaco - MotorhomesNewmar - MotorhomesOpen Range - Roamer & HourneyerPalomino - Travel Trailer / toy haulersPleasure Way - MotorhomesPrime Time - Travel TrailersRedwood 5th WheelRenegade - Class C MotorhomesRoadtrek - MotorhomesShasta - Phoenix 5th WheelsSkyliner Weekender RVStarcraft - AR-1 Travel Trailers / Toy HaulersThor - MotorhomesTiffin - MotorhomesVanleigh - Vilano 5th WheelsVenture - Sonic Travel TrailerWinnebago - Motorhomes"

Italian Heritage Festival

Italian Heritage Festival

★★★☆☆ 3 (4)

Roger B. "Friday night was a beautiful evening to start Kenner's 12th annual Italian Heritage Festival in Rivertown. Weather was a mite brisk, but not too chilly. The festival runs through Sunday, ending at 8 pm. It wasn't too crowded tonight. They had several food booths open tonight, plus a couple that didn't show up. That was our dinner, Italian food along with a little beer and wine. Off to the other side from where we were sitting, there were several kids activities. An Italian genealogy group had set up camp in the heritage building. Two rows of crafts tents lined the block of Williams. There was a $5 charge per person to get in. A pleasant way to spend a spring evening."

Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus

Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus

★★★★★ 4.5 (20)

Michael S. "One of the best times you will ever have! A family friendly option for the start of the Mardi Gras season!Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is a smaller Mardi Gras parade with a nerdy science fiction theme to it. It's a walking parade instead of the larger floats that are accustom to most Mardi Gras parades. Don't let that fool you, the parade went on for at least two hours, had a lot of lively brass/jazz bands, and certainly people get really into it without it getting too "adult oriented" like some of the parades.Pick a spot in the French Quarter to get a prime viewing curb seat, and enjoy a very cool vibe in one of the coolest cities you can visit!"

Gumbo Festival

Gumbo Festival

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (7)

Crystal B. "It was a very nice and enjoyable family fun day at this festival. The rides were fantastic, mainly for the children and there were lots of games to play for both children and adults also. Most rides required four tickets and tickets are $1 each. There were lots of children out gallivanting from ride to ride and those with the $25 unlimited ride wrist band was certainly living it up. The rain did muddy the lawn near the rides but it wasn't too bad. It was just so nice to see them having fun. There was definitely ample space for folks to roam about the festival without bumping elbows with one another and the music was pretty decent. Now for the star of the festival, the gumbo...or shall I shall fumbo (fumble). I'm not sure who calls this place "the world's best gumbo" but what they're selling for $8 is horrendous IMO. There was no flavor and it was way too watery. This bears no resemblance to traditional New Orleans style gumbo. I really hate to say this but they may want to reconsider a name change from "Gumbo Capital of the World" Festival to "Bridge City's Best-We-Can-Do Gumbo" Festival. You will need tickets to purchase food but the ticket line moves fast, which is a good thing. It was good to see lots of cops present but they really needed someone directing traffic. Other than the sacrilege gumbo, we really enjoyed ourselves and the hosts, staff and everyone working there were very friendly. They even gave out free pepper sauce upon leaving. TIP: Be sure to bring your own folding chairs!"

Krewe Of Eve

Krewe Of Eve

★★★★☆ 4 (3)

John L. H. "What was once the one parade I could take my kids to has become an awful mess. Prior to this year I would always watch the parade at the very beginning. That meant easy parking, a quick viewing experience and an easy exit post parade. This year the geniuses in. Mandeville decided that area was a "no parade zone" due to construction. That meant I was forced to find a new spot or deal with the wrath of my children. You see, I promised them I would take them to a parade, and you should never make promises to kids that you don't intend to keep. So anyway, I studied the route and picked a spot. The spot I picked (classified) seemed to offer all that my old spot did, but in soon learned it was nothing like it. First off, I encountered some ne'er do wells smoking marijuana in the parking area. Thanks degenerates for exposing me to your bad habits. Second, the route in this area is not lined with barricades. It's a lot easier to prevent float crushings if the route is barricaded. Also in this area were an enormous amount of parked vehicles along the side of the road. Apparently the only spot without illegally parked cars was my original spot and that wasn't an option. These car people we parked literally on the route in the road. Should one of them decided he wanted to mow down the crowd nothing would have stopped him. The parade itself was all out of sync. The gap between floats was massive despite being somewhat close to the start of the route. This all women's crew was pretty good about throwing to the kids which was the one plus, but waiting so long between floats made my kids antsy. It was almost as if there was no organization to the parade whatsoever. The final nail in the coffin was the post parade experience. Despite the parade being completely past our location, traffic was at a standstill. For some reason the police had the only avenues of exit completely blocked. Making matters worse was that when one additional route opened, they weren't doing anything to facilitate traffic moving smoothly. It's almost as if this was the northshore's first ever Mardi Gras parade and no one knew what to do. As parades go, this was not a good experience. My kids did enjoy catching stuff, but if they don't improve the entire operation, I doubt I'll be back."

New Orleans Book Festival

New Orleans Book Festival

★★★★★ 5 (2)

Helene S. "Mardi Gras for the MindLove how Tulane 's mission to create, communicate, and conserve knowledge extends beyond the university as the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University is free and open to the public. So much fun to be able to experience a great lineup of authors. Lead by well-known author Walter Isaacson and Cheryl Landrieu, the book festival is held annually on the undergraduate campus. Learned about innovation, food, and community with Kimball Musk moderated by Walter Isaacson. Interesting to learn about community gardens as well as the beginnings of Tesla, PayPal and Zip2. Loved hearing from Jake Tapper about his career in the news as well as writing novels. Maureen Dowd was the perfect moderator for this session. Have you ever used Khan Academy? Amazing how Sal Khan transformed a way to virtually tutor his family after Katrina into a way to offer free online education globally. The future? Education in the Age of AI.So lucky to meet authors and get a book signed at the festival tent. Grab a tote bag or a cup of coffee from PJs for free. Closed with the Queen of Soul, Irma Thomas, and a second line. Let the good times roll! There is literally something for everyone. I have it Book-marked for next year!"

Mardi Gras Madness

Mardi Gras Madness

★★★★★ 5 (1)

May A. "DON'T stop the madness!I loved it! It was a fun, crazy, time-of-your-life, raucous experience. Yay! we finally experienced our first Mardi Gras 2020!! In New Orleans, annual Mardi Gras festivities begin up to a month in advance so celebrations actually began in January and continued until Fat Tuesday which is "Mardi Gras" in French. We attended as many parades as we could in 3 days. The well-celebrated Mardi Gras carnival season were fun and were enjoyed in cities and towns all around Louisiana, from north to south, east to west. We learned that no two parades celebrated simultaneously so you can attend all and not miss a single one.Mardi Gras is always on the Tuesday (before Ash Wednesday). The day before Mardi Gras is known as Lundi Gras. Between sightseeing tours we watched different krewes parade down Poydras and Tchoupitoulas and St Charles Streets. Multi-colored beads in the air at Mardi Gras are thrown from floats to parade-goers and we were eager to be in the midst of this year's celebration! I've even seen them throw a whole bag of beads... and my Mom caught one... one bag! LoL! So much fun trying to catch them. Catch them from the air... don't pick beads off the ground, we weren't supposed to. Rule #1. Only amateurs pick them up, unless, they are some crazy beads. Cups are always my favorite, they flew off the floats in large quantities, they were easy to catch and they have the krewe's name on them. Kewl! My favorite and the very best throws are the signature and customized throws from the king and/or queen and their court's floats. I also got a couple of coin-like souvenirs called "doubloons" commemorating various Mardi Gras Krewes and also custom beads unique to the Krewe, oh, and a rubber ball (glow) too.It wasn't just the floats that were entertaining but we also enjoyed seeing the marching bands from different schools all across New Orleans. I understand that they were also out there to compete for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. There were some 80+ parades during the Mardi Gras season and we were able to watch these large float parades.February 22 - Krewe of TucksFebruary 24 - Krewe of Proteus (French Quarter)February 25 - Krewe of Rex and the Krewe of ZuluThere was heavy police presence. People of all ages were there to celebrate. I've seen kids trying to catch some souvenirs too! Bourbon Street was another thing. Yes, we did go there. Caught some beads -- flashed my braces! It was unfortunate that two people died this year during Mardi Gras season. Safety is always an issue. Enjoy and have fun but be extra careful!Review #1711"

Krewe of Little Rascals

Krewe of Little Rascals

★★★☆☆ 3 (6)

Andi F. "Please note: Do not expose yourself at this parade. There are families with small children around. Police are nearby and you will be arrested and charged. You will not earn any beads and you will possibly be a felon.This is the first Metairie parade of the Mardi Gras season. I parked on the 2nd floor of the Lakeside Mall garage on the Veterans side of the mall. The first floor was already full. I came by myself, and figured this was the best spot as people could spread out a bit more. I walked around in the mall a bit until the parade got to the mall. The parades are on the parade tracker you can download from the local news station, which is convenient, you don't have to stand outside waiting, not knowing where the parade is at. The vehicle that tracks the parade is usually the 2nd or 3rd vehicle in the parade.This parade was decent having marching bands, dance troupes, the Kiwanis in their little cars, floats. The throws seemed plentiful. I wasn't close enough to catch anything as I knew they had no special throws. There were supposedly 24 floats in this parade. It was a decent enough time, and geared more to the family than adults. Great parade to bring your kids and older parents to."

French Quarter Festival

French Quarter Festival

★★★★★ 4.5 (102)

Helene S. "If you love jazz music, creole cuisine, or New Orleans, the French Quarter Festival is a must experience. Music, food and art make this the perfect trifecta for a free four day festival spread out on over 20 stages throughout the Quarter. Celebrating the 35th year, music ranges from traditional jazz like the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to funk, gospel, zydeco, R&B and even Klezmer. Interesting to see and hear family traditions continue. Amazing to watch Lena Prima singing her dad's hits, listen to the talented Marsalis "first family of jazz" perform, hear the Neville Brothers play a set, or experience the magic of Irma Thomas, the Soul Queen of New Orleans. The music starts at 11 and continues until late into the night. You can literally meander from stage to stage listening to the different genres. Great way to sample tasty treats from across New Orleans. Favorites include chicken grillades and cheddar cheese grits from K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen, Duck Debris PoBoys from Jacque-Imo's Cafe, and Gulf Fish Beignets from Royal House. Sweet treats on our menu over the past decade include Buttermilk Drops from Wink's Original Buttermilk Drop Cafe, Praline Beignets from Loretta's and Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding from Boucherie. (Cooking Tip-Day old donuts make the best bread pudding. Add pecans and raisins and skip the added sugar.) Of course, Plum Street Snoballs are perfect on a hot and humid festival day. Try the nectar cream for added decadence. Bring cash, although more and more vendors accept credit cards or Venmo today. Local artist Ayo Scott designed the 2019 French Quarter Festival poster. Featuring Irma Thomas with the Mississippi River in the background, it was so interesting to meet him at the festival and hear about his journey to craft his artworks and also to help rebuild New Orleans Post Katrina. Such an amazing painter. Insiders tip: If you have reciprocity museum passes, you can use them to avoid the portopotties throughout the festival or just cool off during the day. You can park in the local neighborhoods, such as Marigny, for a couple of hours during the week, but the weekends are much more crowded."

Krewe Delusion

Krewe Delusion

★★★★☆ 3.8 (4)

Jen L. "I feel like this is the year that Krewe of Delusion has come into its own. The subkrewes were inventive and Trixie Minx was their Grand Marshal so that's pretty awesome. Loved the marching group Krewe of King James (making their debut). With KdV getting slicker and fancier, Delusion felt more like grassroots than their lead in.I still don't know what was up with that giant ball though."

Brunch Fest NOLA

Brunch Fest NOLA

★★★★★ 5 (1)

Michelle Q. "I bought the VIP ticket. The swag bag and goodies were amazing! A toy for my pup, pens, a cup, koozies, dog treats, I was truly happy. I thought that VIP ticket got you in early to the fest, but I read the post wrong. I got there 30 minutes early. It was ok, we chilled with our pup until they opened up to let us in. The staff was very helpful and friendly. They were amazing with our dog. I truly enjoyed all of the vendors. The food was delicious. I had the monte cristo, crawfish mac and cheese and pork fries! My mimosa was pretty good too. It was fun walking around and petting the rescue pets and seeing everyone with their own pets. They had water bowls everywhere for the dogs. The bands were fun to listen to. They even had a dog giving kisses! I got lots of treats for my pup and learned a lot about other local vendors that cater to pets in the city. I will definitely go back next year. Oh! And the location of the fest was genius. On the river, sun and shade. It was a great day."

Bloody Mary Fest

Bloody Mary Fest

★★☆☆☆ 2.3 (3)

Jena S. "This event was pretty cool , it helped that i won the tickets through yelp and it was free! The bloodies were really good and they had a lot of different ones , I wish more restaurants from the area would of participated bc it is a nice way to learn about other restaurants you may have not been to in the city . So yelp had a Bloody Mary event and so I'm comparing these 2 , I feel like the yelp event beat the festival , the festival said that there was going to be food , but it wasn't what I would reallyCall food , they had a company with their gormet cheeses and another booth with jellies with cream cheese and some nut assortment , also Lollies chocolates which was more to sell their chocolates . And another dip/chicken salad place. But it was more just a sample . Which would of been fine if they would of not advertised the food , so we went for 12 so not knowing the food situation we didn't eat before , and so basically after 3 drinks in we were smashed . The yelp event had dragos oysters and other surrounding restaurants wit bloody Mary's and food ! Like jambalaya and shrimp and grits and things such as that , I think that would of been more suitable food for a bloody festival, or even someone selling food I kno the bar was open to buy food on the other side but it was a timeLimit and we wantedto stay into the bloody tasting . But overall I likedThis event"

Krewe of Hermes

Krewe of Hermes

★★★★★ 4.6 (9)

Andi F. "This is a solid start to the Friday night parades leading up to the great Fat Tuesday. The floats were lovely, the parade riders seemed sober for the most part, and they threw a lot of stuff! This is a fast moving parade.A bit from their website is as follows. Founded in 1937, Hermes has paraded longer than any other night parading krewe in New Orleans' Carnival. Held every year at 6:00 p.m. the Friday before Shrove Tuesday. In the early days, float creation emphasized craftsmanship, detail and story, and Hermes is known for upholding these ideals. Hermes is also known for an unusual and longtime tradition, the Walking Parade, held earlier that Friday in the French Quarter. After lunch with friends and fellow float riders, the members, dressed in suits and krewe ties and laden with beads to throw, spill from various restaurants and gather on Royal and St. Louis Streets. High school marching bands thunder to life and lead the procession through the Quarter on its way to dress for the night parade.Hermes was also a Greek mythological being. Hermes is an Olympian god in Greek religion and mythology, the son of Zeus and the Pleiad Maia, and the second youngest of the Olympian gods (Dionysus being the youngest). Hermes is considered a god of transitions and boundaries. He is described as quick and cunning, moving freely between the worlds of the mortal and divine. He is also portrayed as an emissary and messenger of the gods; an intercessor between mortals and the divine, and conductor of souls into the afterlife. He has been viewed as the protector and patron of herdsmen, thieves, oratory and wit, literature and poetry, athletics and sports, invention and trade, roads, boundaries and travelers.Again, the only gender neutral restrooms are the port-a-johns set out by the city."

New Orleans Bourbon Festival

New Orleans Bourbon Festival

★★★★★ 5 (2)

Kelly J. "The New Orleans Bourbon Festival is awesome! I mean, drinking bourbon in New Orleans is one of my favorite things to do. As a Kentucky girl I love bourbon through and through. And, I also love New Orleans. So, combining the two is a win-win situation for me. The festival allows attendees the chance to enjoy quality bourbons and cuisines while experiencing the charm of New Orleans. Numerous distilleries and restaurants are brought in to showcase their amazing products, and attendees get to try all of it! But, it's not all about eating and drinking, attendees can also choose to participate in sessions with some amazing guest speakers. Sessions range from strictly knowledge-based, to bourbon and bourbon products tastings, to food pairings, and beyond.In addition to eating, drinking, and learning, attendees are offered up some amazing entertainment and experiences as well. The festival kicks off with an awesome Bourbon and Burlesque event, offers some really great sponsor bourbon dinners, and gives attendees the opportunity to participate in, simply come out and watch, or even judge (for a fee) some competitions. If you're a fan of bourbon, and you're a fan of New Orleans, then I definitely recommend checking out this festival! Laissez les bons temps rouler!"

Krewe of Jingle

Krewe of Jingle

★★★★★ 4.6 (5)

Jen L. "I always miss this parade for one reason or another... working, out of town, etc. So I finally put it on my list of things to do this past weekend. And... yknow it was OK. First I am so very grateful that Carnival krewe floats MUST (by law) remain ad free. The sponsored floats are kind of sad to me. OTH, if I won the lottery I would totally sponsor a Jen's Friends float in all these ridic parades and have a moving party. So yeah. 10 floats (yawn) and beaucoup marching groups, which I really enjoyed how the different groups jazzed up their outfits with Holiday flair. Also I'm going to push this review up to a 4 for the McMain band which reminded me why I miss catching parades downtown. That drumline echoing between the buildings is the BEST!So if you're around, go check it out but don't make a special trip in for it. But as always, any parade is better than no parade!"

Krewe Du vieux Den

Krewe Du vieux Den

★★★★☆ 4 (1)

Eli C. "If you want to catch a glimpse of that new orleans magic behind the scenes and in the making, this is the place to go. This large space houses the krewe du vieux floats- salaciously decorated for the city's most adult themed parade. A great venue to rent too!"

Greek Festival

Greek Festival

★★★★☆ 4.2 (29)

Shannon S. "I LOVE Greek Fest and I go every year. I do the race on Friday night and you get free beers, a t-shirt, and free entry for the entire weekend for the price of your race entry which ends up being a great deal. I love the food, the music and most of all the fun people that are enjoying themselves to the maximum here. This is a great family event with activities for all ages. Beer, Wine, liquor are all in abundant supply and the pastries are decadently delicious so it is definitely a must do on the festival schedule. Friday night has always been the most fun for me but I go all three days!My video review of Greek Fest is here:https://youtu.be/tYPpHEbsmhk"

Oktoberfest Nola

Oktoberfest Nola

★★★★☆ 4.3 (22)

Andi F. "This is a great festival! They do have ATM's here, but the fee is exorbitant, so bring cash with you. None of the vendors seem to accept credit cards.There are several beer booths, wine booths and a wide variety of food options. There is an admission fee. The live music and the skits were great. The chicken walking around was just too funny. Granted, I am writing this review in May, but I can not wait for this festival to come back this October. It is really a great small festival. The beer booths have a couple dozen different beers on tap. The wine booths have several wines available by the glass or by the bottle. There is a spot to get a full plate meal, or booths to get various small plates.Seating does go as quick as the parking. So, wear comfortable shoes, bring your own chairs, bring cash, be prepared to walk. There are booths with German themed items for sale. It is very small, about one city block. Things are a bit on the expensive side, so please be aware that you are paying for the environment. There are port-a-johns for restrooms, so be prepared for that."

Whitney White Linen Night

Whitney White Linen Night

★★★★☆ 3.8 (16)

Marielle S. "No. Just...no. Heat. Crowds of pretentious people. I just can't do it.At one point, White Linen Night was considered the biggest social event of the summer. Somewhere along the line it became bad. Very bad. Hoards of people (many of whom know nothing about art and are just there to simply "be seen") packed onto a street sweating onto each other while drinking wine. Glamorous? I don't think so. White Linen Night has now become po boy fest minus the awesome food and fun spiritI used to think I could do it. I used to think I could go down there and have a good time. I have never had a good time at White Linen Night. Not even once. If you are into art, that's awesome. I get that the main purpose of the night is to visit galleries that you wouldn't normally visit and maybe buy some art, but I would rather take my own day and visit said galleries when I am not fighting through a crowd of hundreds of people and sweating my makeup off."

Krewe Of Elks-Orleans

Krewe Of Elks-Orleans

★★★★★ 4.6 (7)

Marielle S. "The Elks trucks parade is a classic and it's the perfect end to Mardi Gras. The crowds are always a lot more laid back at this parade than at other parades, the riders are always really generous with the throws, and while the "floats" aren't anything overly fancy, they get the job done.I pretty much grew up on truck parades. The sounds of a truck's horn and the smell of exhaust will probably remind me of Mardi Gras for the rest of my life. For this particular parade, I like to just sit back and relax somewhere on St. Charles Avenue and just watch it pass as I enjoy the day.The best part of this parade is that it seems to go on and on almost without end. It's really entertaining and it's one of the few parades where people aren't chomping at the bit to get some fancy throw- they just enjoy it for what it is."

Japan Festival

Japan Festival

★★★★☆ 4 (3)

Jen L. "Japan Fest is one of those things that I've meant to go to for years...and just somehow never make it out there. It is sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans and takes place in and around NOMA.I got there mid afternoon and the crowds were big but not unmanageable. There were demonstrations on the front steps by a variety of groups (drummers, aikido, dance). Costuming was encouraged and some of these were *great* and others were...let's dress like a pirate but that's OK too. There were folks discussing how to write a haiku and demonstrating (and selling) calligraphy and art. Plus beaucoup Japanese goods for sale. I wish there had been more food (only Cafe NOMA and 1 food truck outside). But the admission price of $5 (free for NOMA members) was good and worth the price for the people watching."

Gleason Gras

Gleason Gras

★★★★★ 5 (1)

Kate D. "Gleason Gras is my favorite festival of the year! I feel so fortunate to have met Steve and be able to contribute to his foundation for ALS. This year was the first time I attended the Festival being held at Champion Square next to the Superdome. I really like this location for the festival because the VIP area is so nice inside the XLIV Club. In years past when the festival was in Mid City the VIP area was in a huge tent, but the XLIV Club is really an amazing location. Although there were so many people the space is huge and there was always a place to sit if you wanted. In addition to all the space inside if you purchase a VIP ticket you have everything at your fingertips... drink, food, fun activities, live bands plus a viewing area right up to the stage, and of course the auction. In addition to the silent auction is a live auction in which Drew Brees participates. It's so fun to be right up front for the live auction and it's obvious Drew loves Steve and is happy to be there to help raise money for the ALS Foundation. So, here 's another thing. This festival is FREE! They do suggest that you give a $10 donation to the ALS Foundation when you arrive but it's not required. There are plenty of pay as you go food booths and vendors outside to accommodate everyone who attends. I happen to prefer the VIP section since everything I mentioned above is included with the ticket purchase. It's worth every penny and the experience is unbelievable. If you haven't already been to Gleason Gras I very highly suggest it and I very highly suggest splurging on the VIP ticket. This festival has been and always will be my favorite."

Family Gras

Family Gras

★★★★★ 4.9 (7)

Steve I. "Why do I love Family Gras? Well I love the fact that the main focus of Family Gras is on the concerts and the parades. Where else in the world can you listen to FREE concerts while enjoying a Mardi Gras parade? Only in Metairie I say. I go to Family Gras every year and it's one of my favorite times of the Mardi Gras season. Since Family Gras started I've seen the Zac Brown Band, Little Big Town, Gavin De Graw, Natasha Beddingfield, We the Kings, Taylor Swift, Hot Chelle Rae, and some local singers (Amanda Shaw and Cowboy Mouth).This concert festival is very family friendly as the name suggests. They usually have a kids area where they can do arts and crafts plus the kids love the parades. There are also food vendors to satisfy those cravings we all get when we are out and about. This is just a wonderful wonderful festival that caters to the whole family. Located on the huge median across the street from Lakeside Mall, Family Gras brings to focus what I consider some of the very best things about our city....MUSIC, MARDI GRAS, and FAMILY."

Krewe of Elks-Jeffersonians

Krewe of Elks-Jeffersonians

★★★★★ 5 (1)

Steve I. "I got to give it to Metairie. They know how to do Mardi Gras right! Traffic flow is easy before and after parade, rarely ever too crowded even on Mardi Gras Day, and Mardi Gras Day is when they have the truck floats. I love these truck floats as they are right behind each other. No need to wait for the next float as there is only a few seconds wait for the next one. They have over 150 truck floats Mardi Gras Day between all the parades that roll down Vets!! The fun starts at 10am and is quickly over by around 1pm.Very family friendly as everyone out here is courteous and friendly. Lots of families come out here Mardi Gras Day. Parking is a breeze as you rarely ever have to park more than one block away. Food is readily available as the parade goes down Veterans Blvd which is the main commercial street in Metairie. Would much rather come here Mardi Gras Day than deal with the parking and crowd issues in New Orleans."

Versai Hoi Cho Tet -Vietnamese New Year Festival

Versai Hoi Cho Tet -Vietnamese New Year Festival

★★★★★ 4.5 (17)

Shannon S. "This is a fantastic event that transports you to another culture and fully immerses you in a Vietnamese festival. These folks really know how to throw and party and have a good time and there are plenty of drinks along with great food like plaintain friiters, various soups, kabobs, spring rolls, egg rolls and all manner of other things in Vietnamese that I don't even know what they were. This is one of the most packed festivals of its type I've ever attended and there is no shortage of fun for children so this is an event for all ages. Firecrackers and silly string are in full effect and you never know when they will be used. The entertainment and main stage are all top notch and could give a Vegas show a run for the money. The only negative thing I could comment on is that nasty honky hipsters were skulking and sulking about in their nasty depressing hipster ways.Hoi Cho = FestivalTet = Vietnamese/Lunar New YearVersailles Hoi Choi Tet is the Vietnamese New Year's Festival at Mary Queen of Vietnam Church in New Orleans East.The festival typically begins on Friday around 6:00 PM and ends on Sunday around 10 pm. Opening ceremonies with lion dance are Friday around 6:30 PM. The big entertainment with Vietnamese pop singers and local community talent are on Saturday night, around 8 PM.Entry is FREE!Food, Drinks and Live Entertainment!BRING CASH (as its cash only)!"

Louisiana Seafood Festival

Louisiana Seafood Festival

★★★★☆ 4.3 (20)

Marielle S. "Oooh wee! It was hot out there, y'all and I ain't talking about the shrimp and jalapeño cheese grits I had. That sun was shining. There was nothing but open space. I was glad I wore sunblock. I was mad I wore jeans (serious rookie mistake!).This was my first time checking out the Seafood Fest and it didn't disappoint. My only real complaint is that it was in an area with no tree coverage in the middle of the summer. I think having it in the fall would be better, but what do I know? I was able to sample a few things, so I'm going to review each one by one.PJ's: 5/5 stars- This was our first stop. I got a nice iced coffee for $5 and if you saved the cup, you get could get a refill for $3. Considering this was one of the few booths with a huge fan and tables, this spot ended up being a lifesaver. Bonus points for the free coffee coupons they were handing out.Lüke: 5/5- I got the shrimp and jalapeño cheese grits and they were amazing! For $8 they gave a nice size serving and it was served nice and hot. My favorite dish of the day.Saltwater grill: I can't rate it because I wasn't the one who ate it, but for $5 you get a really big alligator sausage stick. It looked tasty and you can't beat that deal with a sausage stick.Drago's: 3/5- We got the half- dozen charbroiled oysters and they were just okay. The oysters themselves were TINY. I know this is supposed to just be a sample, but I was underwhelmed and for $9 it didn't feel like it was worth it.Dirty Dishes: 5/5- We had the dirty mac which was smoked gouda mac and cheese with crawfish and tasso. I have written a separate review for Dirty Dishes and this dish before- I am definitely a fan. They gave a huge serving and the cheese was nicely melted over the whole dish and it was quite tasty. For $8, this might be one of the better deals at the fest.I also stopped by the Barefoot wine tent for a few samples and I really enjoyed them. Also, the misting tent was a total lifesaver. It's amazing how good semi-cool water can feel when you have been standing under the boiling sun for 45 minutes. We didn't stop to listen to the bands, but I liked what I heard and they sounded great.All in all it was a good time. Next year I will remember to wear a sun hat and shorts and a tank top, so that I can stay cool. It would be nice if they moved this fest to the fall or at least under the trees where Brunch Fest was, but I know beggars can't be choosers when there is a festival nearly every weekend."

Mardi Gras New Orleans

Mardi Gras New Orleans

★★★★★ 4.6 (24)

May A. "Mardi Gras 2020oMg! Where do I even begin! This was my first Mardi Gras experience in New Orleans. Learned a few things from our tour guides during our short adventure:1) The original Mardi Gras started in 1703 in Mobile when French settlers celebrated at Twenty-Seven Mile Bluff, the first settlement in the city. Yup! Before New Orleans, there was Mobile, Alabama. The celebration was small and not what people think of Mardi Gras today!2) Mardi Gras is not always celebrated on a particular date. It is the Day before Ash Wednesday, 47 days before Easter so count back 47 days before Easter and you'll get your Mardi Gras day. This year was February 25... 2021 date will be February 16. 3) Mardi Gras is a season! It starts sometime in January and ends on "Fat Tuesday." Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday" -- meaning it is the last opportunity to eat rich food before the fast of Lent begins (Catholics).4) King Cake! I didn't know anything about the King Cake until Yelper Russ B mentioned it. I didn't know they came in many flavors but the two main flavors are these two flavors -- cinnamon and vanilla. Cream cheese runs a close third. A King cake is a puff pastry cake that is traditionally eaten on January 6 in honor of Epiphany, which historically marks the arrival of the three wise men/kings in Bethlehem who delivered gifts to the baby Jesus. I hand carried a cinnamon King cake back to California to share with my co-workers. If you find the baby in your slice it symbolizes luck and prosperity to whoever finds it in their slice of cake. Originally, the baby was placed in the cake to symbolize baby Jesus. That's cool :)5) Krewe! A krewe in New Orleans (pronounced "crew") is a social organization that puts on a parade or ball for the Carnival season. We enjoyed a few of them: Krewe of Tucks on Feb 22 (generous with their bead throwing), Krewe of Orpheus on Feb 24 "Lundi Gras" (prefers to throw their beads and souvenirs to the balconies). On Mardi Gras, Feb 25, we watched Krewes of Zulu and Rex.So much fun!! TIP: Super Bowl + Mardi Gras = Super Gras! The 2024 Super Bowl will be on February 4, right in the middle of Mardi Gras season (much like the 2013 Super Bowl). Party on!Review #1710"

Wednesday at the Square

Wednesday at the Square

★★★★★ 4.5 (42)

John L. H. "This is a cool event. Kudos to the YLC for putting on this great event.The 12 week free concert series takes place in Lafayette Square and has great local vendors and great music. At the last event the Radiators played and talked about retirement. Of course the have been threatening retirement since at least 1994, but they put on a great show anyway.For the food and drinks you need tickets. Each ticket is $1, and beers are four tickets. Abita was on hand with Jockamo IPA, Amber and another kind I can't remember.There are several parking garages and lots in the area. Just remember not to park in front of the courthouse or you will be towed."

Freret Market

Freret Market

★★★★☆ 4.3 (16) • $$

Jen L. "Almost 5 years later, this is still one of my favorite local markets. It has live music and puppies (rescue groups with adoptables) and lunch (lots to choose from) and crafts. It's just a great way to spend an afternoon. Last weekend I had a watermelon lemonade, crawfish pasta for lunch, petted a few rescue pups, AND watched the band and a toddler interpretive dance to their music. I perused the crafts and the costume sale they were having in the back.So much fun and you never know who you'll run into. And what you might be able to take home with you."