FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Mary Beth Romig
New Orleans CVB
504-566-5019
mbromig@neworleanscvb.com

Erica Papillion 
New Orleans CVB
504-566-5019
epapillion@neworleanscvb.com

24th Annual French Quarter Festival a Success!
New Orleans hosts a record-breaking single day attendance of 208,000 of festival-goers

NEW ORLEANS – May 7, 2007 – The New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (NOMCVB) is pleased to announce that the 24th Annual French Quarter Festival was a success!

  • The French Quarter Festival (FQF) was held Friday, April 13-Sunday, April 15, 2007.
  • Attendance was up from last year’s tally of 350,000, with 425,000 people
  • The festival set a single day record on April 15, 2007 with 208,000 people in attendance.
  • Fifteen stages hosted the best in New Orleans music, spread throughout the French Quarter.
  • A variety of genres were represented, including contemporary jazz, rhythm & blues, zydeco and gospel.
  • Nearly 60 food and beverage booths located in Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park and the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint made up the “World’s Largest Jazz Brunch,” a signature event, featuring authentic local cuisine from renowned area restaurants.
  • Other activities included the official FQF second-line parade, free courtyard tours, a Pirate’s Alley Art Show and Gumbo Ya Ya’s “Guess the Weight of the World’s Largest Praline” contest.

The success of FQF is another example of New Orleans flawlessly executing large-scale special events. In addition to FQF, over the past four months, the city has been host to the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Mardi Gras, the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival, the Zurich Classic, the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division I Mens’ Basketball Tournament and the first weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

The New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (www.neworleanscvb.com) is the driving force behind New Orleans' most important industry, tourism, which generates $5 billion in visitor spending and creates 85,000 jobs. Today the cultural riches, sensual indulgences and unparalleled service that define the New Orleans experience continue to flourish, as they have for centuries. The most celebrated and historic core of the city - including the French Quarter, Central Business District, Warehouse and Arts District, Magazine Street and Garden District - not only remains intact, both physically and spiritually, but is thriving. The New Orleans CVB is proudly welcoming visitors and business travelers every day.

French Quarter Festival 2007 was produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc., (FQFI) the 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, which also produces Satchmo SummerFest in August and Christmas New Orleans Style in December. For more information about any of these events, call (504) 522-5730 or visit www.fqfi.org.