Wednesday at the Square kicked off on March 19 in Lafayette Square. The concert series runs through May 7. View the full schedule here.
French Quarter Fest returns April 10-13 and will once again have a NewOrleans.com Stage powered by New Orleans & Company in Jackson Square. View the all-star lineup here.
Hogs for the Cause will take place April 4-5 at the UNO Lakefront festival grounds. Their music lineup is available here.
Jazz Fest; headlined by Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band and Luke Combs, returns to its regular seven day schedule starting Thursday, April 24. The full schedule is available here.
To view the full list of spring festivals, visit our website here.
New Developments
New Orleans named #1 Best Food City in the World by TimeOut
Excerpt from the TimeOut list:
Why visit now: New Orleans has always had a rich culinary history, with influences spanning French, Spanish, Vietnamese, African and more. The range of exceptional dining experiences – from the elegant, iconic Antoine’s to a neighbourhood po-boy joint like Parkway Bakery & Tavern – make this city unique. Try traditional dishes like shrimp Creole, jambalaya and red beans and rice at places all around town, or check out newer, award-winning restaurants combining Louisiana flavors with the likes of Senegalese (Dakar), Mexican (Acamaya) and Indian (Saffron). New Orleans celebrates its cuisine whenever it can, from the all-encompassing offerings at Jazz Fest to annual festivals honouring faves like oysters, Creole tomatoes and beignets – and everyone is invited to the party.
How it ranked: A whopping 93 percent of New Orleans locals rated the city highly for restaurants and eating out – the third-highest percentage of all cities surveyed. Combine that with a high number of votes from our panel of food experts, plus all-round decent affordability scores, and it’s easy to see how the Big Easy came out on top as the best place to eat out in 2025.
Junebug, from the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, opened March 20
Located at 744 Camp Street in Downtown New Orleans, Junebug offers late-night dining and drinking and occupies a beautiful, historic building that once housed the iconic Jazz City Studio, where legendary producers and artists—including Cosimo Matassa, Allen Toussaint, and The Meters—developed and shaped the sounds of funk music in the 1970s.
Junebug’s kitchen, helmed by Executive Chef Shannon Bingham, delivers a variety of snacks, small plates, and larger dishes, all designed to be enjoyed in a variety of settings, whether it’s casual snacking at the dining bar or more formal, composed meals in the lounge or dining spaces.
Junebug’s beverage program, led by Bar Manager and Assistant General Manager Sophie Burton, offers a fruit-forward cocktail menu divided into three categories: House Cocktails (with A-Side and B-Side riffs representing two drinks with similar flavors but different expressions), Play the Samples (single-shot cocktails), and Classics (from New Orleans and Elsewhere).
Spirit Airlines adds direct flight from MSY to the largest city in Honduras
Starting May 8, Spirit Airlines will add a direct flight from MSY to Tegucigalpa, the largest city in Honduras.
Spirit will fly to the location twice a week at 9:30 a.m.
Special Announcements
New Orleans Gets U.S. State Department Approval to Submit UNESCO Creative City Application
UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) created the UN Creative Cities Network (UNCCN) to empower cities to support each other to innovate and prosper through the arts.
The UNCCN covers eight creative fields — design, film, music, crafts and folk art, literature, media arts, gastronomy and architecture
New Orleans has been interested in and working on the application since 2022.
“We are applying to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network because we want to fortify New Orleans’ seat at the global table, to open doors and shine a light on the rich cultural landscape that makes our city a hallowed destination for music lovers from across the world. In New Orleans, music doesn’t just tell our story — it is our story,” said Walt Leger III, President & CEO of New Orleans & Company.
Engagement with UNESCO opens doors to give New Orleans a seat at the table for future UNESCO World Heritage Site designations & global events on culture and sustainable development.
There is also a New Orleans Advisory Board consisting of a diverse group of New Orleans musicians, hoteliers, music industry representatives, festival organizers and business leaders that have decades of experience in the city and industry.
Super Bowl LIX by the Numbers
Super Bowl LIX has come and gone, but its impact is still evident and will be felt for years to come.
From groundbreaking firsts to record-breaking numbers, Super Bowl LIX cemented New Orleans' legacy as one of the world's leading host cities for America's most-watched game.
Keep Louisiana Beautiful and New Orleans & Company Call New Orleanians to Love the Boot
Love the Boot Week, April 5-13, is an Annual Litter Removal and Beautification Initiative
New Orleans & Company’s sponsorship supports KLB in sending supplies to the first 600 groups to register for Love the Boot Week. Supplies include volunteer t-shirts, gloves, and trash bags.
In addition to sponsoring Love the Boot Week, New Orleans and Company will host a cleanup along St. Charles Avenue Wednesday, April 9 from 3-5 pm.
Awards
New Orleans & Company SVP of Tourism has been President of Skål New Orleans Chapter. With her selection as President, Kim will continue to promote the mission of Skål International New Orleans – fostering the visitor and travel industry community by being the forum of choice for certain senior level executives to create relationships, be convivial and interact with their peers.
New Orleans & Company SVP of Convention Sales and Strategies Stephanie Turner was named a Visionary in the 2025 Smart Women in Meetings by Smart Meetings.
