September 25-October 5, 2025
NOLAxNOLA celebrates not just the local musicians of the city but also the storied and unique venues that host them. From the French Quarter and the Warehouse District to Mid-City and Treme, you can explore the many eclectic neighborhoods of NOLA while jamming out to some incredible live music.
Ticket prices vary by venue.
October 3-5, 2025
Just across the Mississippi River from the French Quarter lies Gretna Fest. Gretna Fest returns with a lineup including Sam Hunt, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Natasha Bedingfield, Better Than Ezra, and several others. Enjoy delicious food, art, and community at the fest. Fun fact: there are shuttles available for you to park and ride. The Gretna-Canal Street Ferry will also be operating, meaning you can catch the ferry from the French Quarter to get to Gretna Fest! Find more information on transportation here.
Tickets are $45-$55 for a single day, or $100 for a weekend pass. Children ages 12 and under attend for free.
October 4-5, 2025
Fried chicken lovers, this is the festival for you! At Fried Chicken Fest, enjoy all the crispy, crunchy (and of course spicy) goodness from local and regional cooks and venues. This year’s festival takes place on the scenic New Orleans lakefront and will feature live music performances and fun for the whole family. The fest also features a custom car showcase. The first-ever FCF 5K Run/Walk will be held Saturday morning at 8 a.m. before gates open. All 5K registrants will receive free entry to the festival that day.
Daily tickets are $13+
October 4, 2025
Art for Art’s Sake returns on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 6-9 p.m. along Magazine Street. Enjoy browsing the over 100 shops, stores, restaurants, and galleries participating along the six-mile stretch. Enjoy complimentary wine samples provided by Breaux Mart, special deals, and extended hours at a variety of participating Magazine Street businesses as well as live music throughout the evening. Find more information here.
Free to attend.
October 10-12, 2025
Gentilly Fest is an annual festival that highlights the vibrant Gentilly neighborhood culture. With live music on three stages, local restaurants and caterers serving diverse menus, and local artisans and vendors selling handmade crafts, Gentilly Fest provides a weekend of excitement for everyone. Attending with children? Make sure to stop at Kid’s Village for activities like face painting, garden crafts, and pottery.
Free to attend.
October 10-11, 17-18, and 24-25, 2025
Celebrate all things German with beer, brats, oompah music, and more at the annual Deutsches Haus Oktoberfest celebration. This year’s event, which takes place along the banks of Mid-City’s Bayou St. John, will also feature a dog parade and costume contest, dance competitions, a children’s corner, more than 20 different German beers, a variety of German wines, and over 20 types of schnapps.
Admission is $10 and free for children under 12 years old.
October 10-12, 2025
New Orleans is known worldwide for its great music and delicious food, and you can get a taste of both at the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival. Sample delicious barbecue from vendors across the city, explore the market filled with local artists and hear some world-class live blues and jazz music at Lafayette Square Park in downtown NOLA. And best of all, it's...
...Free to attend!
October 23 - November 3, 2025
Each year New Orleans is home to some of the best in the business during New Orleans Film Festival. Actors, actresses, directors, producers, writers, and of course fans of film flock to the Crescent City every fall to showcase their works and participate in exclusive screenings. Everything from full-length features, documentaries, shorts, animations and even music videos can be expected at this weeklong fest. With so many genres and so much to choose from, you can customize your New Orleans Film Fest Experience.
All access passes are available starting at $350 and single film tickets are $16.
October 17-19, 2025
Get ready to groove to the beats of the funkiest musicians in New Orleans this October 17-19. NOLA Funk Fest is a celebration of Louisiana’s rich music history. Held at Spanish Plaza, performers include Dumpstaphunk, Master P ft. Soul Rebels, Erica Falls, Jon Cleary, and many more!
Tickets start at $56+ for single day general admission.
October 17-19, 2025
Every year, Bayou St. John comes alive with Gospel music at Praise Fest. Enjoy three days of hand-clapping, foot-stomping, and soul-touching Gospel music and praise.
Free to attend.
October 25, 2025
New Orleans’ beloved Halloween parade, Krewe of BOO!, rolls through downtown and the French Quarter on October 25. Artists from Kern Studios design 3-D paper mâché and fiberglass props that mimic all of Halloween’s spooky creatures. Don’t miss this chance to dress up in costume and celebrate in the “Boo Carré.” The parade is free to attend.
Free to attend.
October 25, 2025
Celebrate the rich history and vibrant culture of this famous neighborhood at the Tremé Fall Fest! This day of festivities includes an incredible line-up of local musicians, local vendors serving tons of classic New Orleans cuisine, arts and culture displays, and much more. Be sure to join in on the second line as they parade through the neighborhood.
The festival is FREE to attend, but donations to Friends of Tremé Culture and its mission to revitalize and preserve the neighborhood are appreciated!
October 31 - November 1, 2025
Bayou Bacchanal is the original celebration of Caribbean Carnival in New Orleans. Filled with live music, dance performances, Caribbean cuisine, and celebration, the festival highlights Caribbean culture and its influence in New Orleans. Experience the excitement this November.
Tickets TBA.
November 8-9, 2025
Fall is the time for festivals dedicated to classic New Orleans eats. Stop by Armstrong Park for your choice of delectable gumbos, some seafood, some okra, and some vegan. There’s truly an option for everyone. Combine that with live music and free admission, you just can’t beat Tremé Creole Gumbo Fest.
Free to attend.
November 16, 2025
Celebrate the history of the iconic New Orleans sandwich– the po-boy. Originating during a streetcar strike in the late 1920s, the po-boy was made to support struggling workers. The term “po-boy” comes from the name “poor boy”, referring to the individuals the sandwiches were made for.
The Oak Street Po-Boy Festival isn’t just about the po-boys, though. Oak Street is steeped in rich history, and the festival serves as a celebration of the rebirth of a historic shopping district. At the festival, you can try dozens of varieties of the classic New Orleans sandwich, visit one of the stages of live music, shop at a local art market, and taste plenty of other food as well. Festival is free but wristbands are required to purchase a po-boy. Early bird wristbands are now available.
Wristbands are $10 in advance.
November 15, 2025
Are you looking to get your hands on something classic? How about something sweet? Well, Beignet Fest is the place for you! The festival is centered around celebrating this New Orleans staple with appearances from delights bursting with seafood, cheese, and more. Held in New Orleans City Park at 4 Friederichs Avenue with live music and fun for the whole family, you are destined to have a sugary sweet Saturday in the park.
Admission is $25 for adults, and children ages 10 and under get in for FREE!
November 29, 2025
In many cities, Thanksgiving is simply Thanksgiving - one day of thankfulness, family and lots of food. But here in New Orleans, there’s always an extra party to accompany a holiday. Bayou Classic is an annual football game between Grambling and Southern universities, but it’s also so much more than that. The weekend is filled with other special events like a school vs. school Battle of the Bands and a Greek Show, plus a parade through downtown on Thanksgiving Day!
Tickets to the game are $25+