Description

Coming to New Orleans for French Quarter Fest? Book your French Quarter hotel today! Get the best rates on New Orleans hotels on NewOrleans.com. 

New Orleans is known for its great weather, local music scene and food culture – all of the ingredients necessary for an active year-round festival calendar. We’ve got Jazz Fest, Satchmo Fest, Crescent City Blues & Barbecue, not to mention the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival and countless other food and music fests. But if you ask any New Orleanian to name their favorite, chances are they’ll pick French Quarter Fest. 

Once a small, local music festival, French Quarter Fest has grown into the largest free live music festival in the south. Year after year, French Quarter Fest breaks attendance records as music-lovers (more than half a million at last count) flock to New Orleans for this festival celebrating the history, the people, the food, and the talents of Louisiana and the Gulf south. The festival is so popular, an extra day was added to the schedule in 2011 to accommodate music fans and additional performers.

What you need to know about French Quarter Festival:

* It’s FREE! And, as a result, hotels in the French Quarter are booked months in advance, so get your New Orleans hotel rooms early! Check out our Deals page for special rates and packages.

* 18 major stages line the streets of the French Quarter, the French Market, the U.S. Mint, Jackson Square and Woldenberg Park on the Mississippi River.

* More than 90 food and beverage booths (all local restaurants) are scattered across the festival grounds, a feat organizers like to call “the largest Jazz Brunch in the World.” Vendors include GW Fins, Muriel’s Restaurant, Pat O’Brien’s Bar, Love at First Bite (makers of the famous cochon de lait po-boy) and other local favorites.

* It’s a local thing! The festival celebrates the best in New Orleans’ rich, local music scene. Past performers include Trombone Shorty, Amanda Shaw, Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield, Connie Jones, Pete Fountain, Vince Vance, Tim Laughlin and more.

* Grab a map at an information booth. The festival is spread across the French Quarter, and the map covers everything you need to know – stage locations, performance schedules, food zones, restrooms and more.

* Bring a fest chair or blanket and dress for the season. There is no seating at the festival, and New Orleans is typically warm and sunny on spring days, followed by cooler evenings when the sun goes down.

* Looking for more to do while you’re in New Orleans? Take a French Quarter tour. The Boos! & Booze ghost tour, the French Quarter walking tour, and the French Quarter vampire tour are a few of the most popular.

Click the music lineup tabs for more information about the performers and to print the French Quarter Fest schedules by day!

Check the Calendar of Events to find out more about what’s happening in the Big Easy!

Food

Restaurants and chefs that have participated in the French Quarter Festival include:

• Alibi
• Alpine
• Amy's Vietnamese
• Antoine's
• Ba Mien Vietnamese Cuisine
• Barreca's
• Begue's @ The Royal Sonesta
• Bennachin
• Between the Bread (EAT)
• Bombay Club
• Boucherie
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
• Buttermilk Drop Bakery
• Bywater Bar-B-Que
• Clock Bar @ Chateau Bourbon Hotel
• Corky's BBQ
• The Court of Two Sisters
• Crabby Jack's
• Crazy Johnnie's
• Creole Delicacies
• Crepes a la Cart
• Crescent City Pie and Sausage
• Daiquiri Delight Shop
• Desire Oyster Bar @ Royal Sonesta
• Dickie Brennan's
• Dunbar's Creole Kitchen, Inc.
• Flour Power Confectionery
• Gumbo Shop
• GW Fins
• Hard Rock Cafe
• House of Blues
• Jacques-Imo's
• Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville
• The Joint
• Lakeview Harbor
• Little Tokyo
• Love At First Bite
• Mona's
• Muriel's Jackson Square
• New Orleans Original Daiquiris
• Emeril’s NOLA
• Oceana Grill
• Original New Orleans Po Boys
• Pat O'Brien's

Details

Hours of operation:  Events vary by day, generally beginning by noon and continuing throughout the day until 10 p.m. After hours, concerts are available at selected venues and in some cases remain free to the public.

Cost:  Free and open to the public / check listings for costs of afterhours shows related to festival performances.

FAQ

What is French Quarter Festival?

The award-winning French Quarter Festival is Louisiana's largest free music event, a four-day local music showcase scattered throughout the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. There are music performances on 18 stages. The community festival also features the "World's Largest Jazz Brunch," which are the festival food booths operated by nearly 60 local chefs and restaurants throughout the festival weekend.

When is the festival?

The festival usually falls on the second full weekend in April. Sometimes, Easter will fall on that weekend, so please check with us before making your travel arrangements if you are unsure of the exact dates.

• 2013 - April 11-14

How much does it cost to attend French Quarter Festival?

The three-day weekend festival is FREE and there is no cost to attend any of the performances. The only costs are for food, beverage and merchandise purchases on festival grounds, and certain off-site special events.

Where is French Quarter Festival held?

French Quarter Festival is held throughout the historic French Quarter (Vieux Carre) neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana. Music stages are located at Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, Bourbon Street, Royal Street, the French Market Performance Pavilion and, in the past, Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint. "World's Largest Jazz Brunch" booths can be found in Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, and, in the past, Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint. Special events take place at various locations throughout the French Quarter.

Where do I park?

Since the festival takes place on public property, we do not have designated parking areas. There are many paid parking areas in the French Quarter and all are filled on a first come first serve basis. Parking lots in the French Quarter generally fill up early during special events, such as French Quarter Festival, so come early!

Can I bring my cooler or ice chest?

French Quarter Festival does not allow coolers, ice chests or large containers in major festival areas. The free event receives no public funding, and its success and continuation relies solely upon beverage/merchandise revenues. Help keep the festival free by purchasing your beverages at the festival!

Who produces French Quarter Festival?

The festival is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. FQFI has a full-time staff of six and a volunteer corps of nearly 1,000. The organization also produces other free community events, including Satchmo SummerFest in August and Christmas New Orleans Style in December.

Are festival grounds wheelchair accessible?

All music stages are wheelchair accessible via the many public sidewalks found throughout the French Quarter.

How do I volunteer for French Quarter Festival?

Please call (504) 522-5730 or click here to learn about our many exciting team and individual volunteer positions. The festival is largely run by volunteers, whose tireless dedication has helped FQF to grow.

How can I get a job or internship with French Quarter Festivals, Inc.?

FQFI is currently not accepting applications for fulltime employment. Undergraduate and graduate students interested in an unpaid internship (either for credit or not for credit) should send a resume and cover letter to FQFI, 400 N. Peters St., Ste. 205, New Orleans, LA 70130. Interns should be dependable and want to work in a fast-paced special events environment.

How do I perform at French Quarter Festival?

The festival is a showcase for New Orleans musicians. You must be a local New Orleans musician/band to perform at the festival. The only exceptions made are for Cajun and zydeco performers from throughout the Louisiana region and for international (overseas) groups who perform their interpretation of traditional jazz. We are not currently accepting performance requests for national artists from outside Louisiana, high school marching bands or performance troupes, or dance teams.

Music performances at the free community festival are made possible by the Musicians Union - Local 174-496/Music Performance Trust Fund and by over 50 entertainment sponsors, ranging from music venues and restaurants to record companies and private individuals. Please call (504) 522-5730 or email us to learn more about entertainment sponsorship or the music application process.

If you feel your band qualifies as a potential performer, please send a press kit (CD, press release, photo) to FQFI, 400 N. Peters St., Ste. 205, New Orleans, LA, 70130. Although press kits are accepted throughout the year, we recommend sending them from August through November.

How do I become a food vendor?

In order to qualify as a food vendor, you must own and operate a restaurant in the French Quarter, New Orleans, or the surrounding areas. Caterers, commercial vendors, or any company from outside of Louisiana are not considered. Restaurants that have more than 3 locations, or are considered a chain or franchise may not be considered. The applications are usually sent in December and each restaurant must go through an application and approval process as set forth by the Jazz Brunch Committee. If you feel your restaurant meets these basic requirements, you may contact us at (504) 522-5730 or email heather@fqfi.org to receive information.

Does the festival have an official tour operator?

FQFI does not make recommendations or referrals on tours operators. There are several local companies that offer FQF packages. You may call the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention Visitors Bureau at (504) 566-5011 for general tourism information or visit www.neworleanscvb.com for a list of tour operators.

Can I bring my pets to the festival?

Sorry - pets are discouraged, and prohibited in some areas.