September 27-October 6, 2024
This New Orleans festival 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 you jam out to some incredible live music.
Ticket prices vary per venue.
October 5-6, 2024
Fried chicken lovers, this is the festival for you! 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.
Daily tickets are $10
October 5, 2024
Art for Art’s Sake returns on Saturday, Oct. 5 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 11-13, 2024
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, pottery, and even a kid’s entertainment stage.
Gentilly Fest seeks to strengthen bonds between the community and first responders. Proceeds from the festival are put towards funding office supplies, furniture, and other office equipment for law enforcement, paramedics, and firefighters. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public!
October 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26, 2024
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 11-13, 2024
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. The best part?
Entry to the festival is totally FREE!
October 17-27, 2024
Each year New Orleans is home to some of the best in the film business. 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. Early bird tickets are on sale until August 31, 2023.
Ticket price is TBA
October 18-20, 2024
Experience the funk-filled melodies of New Orleans' finest musicians at the upcoming New Orleans Funk Fest. Featuring a jam-packed lineup of performances, NOLA Funk Fest aims to educate, inspire, and empower music lovers young and old.
In addition to the funky tunes, you'll also find a delightful array of food, drinks, artisanal crafts, and commemorative merchandise available for purchase, making this event an all-encompassing celebration of New Orleans' vibrant culture. The festival will take place from October 18- 20 at the New Orleans Jazz Museum in the heart of the French Quarter. Ticket prices start at $40, with VIP tickets available.
October 19, 2024
Krewe of Boo is the annual, spooky Halloween parade in New Orleans, because no major holiday here is complete without a parade. The parade rolls through the French Quarter and passes landmarks like Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral. The floats are scary (and beautiful) works of art, and many who attend will dress in costume in celebration of Halloween weekend.
Free to attend.
October 24, 2024
Top Taco returns this fall for another year of head-to-head competition. Festival attendees will have the chance to sample tacos from over 50 competitors and have a say in who wins the Top Taco Title. Categories include Top Creative Taco, Top Traditional Taco, Top Vegetarian Taco, and Top Cocktail. In addition to the culinary component of the show, there will be three stages with live music, creative tequila lounges, a tent dedicated to mezcal tasting, and some of the top chefs and cocktail mixologists in New Orleans.
The event will take place on October 24 at Lafreniere Park in neighboring Metairie. Ticket prices range from $85 – $135, VIP tickets available.
Taylor Swift The Eras Tour
October 25-27, 2024
Taylor Swift is no stranger to New Orleans, and she’s scheduled to bring The Eras Tour to Caesars Superdome on October 25-27, 2024. This epic concert is a journey spanning 17 years and 10 albums, with 44 songs divided into 10 distinct acts. You won’t want to miss it, but in the meantime, check out our Taylor Swift-Inspired Guide to New Orleans here.
October 26, 2024
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 27, 2024
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.
November 2, 2024
Louisiana culture is on full display at NOLA Zydeco Fest. Held at Crescent Park, this festival will have you tapping your toes and dancing to the best in zydeco. Creole and Cajun food will be available for purchase. Tickets are $20 for general admission.
November 1-2, 2024
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.
Prospect.6: The Future is Present, The Harbinger is Home
November 2, 2024 - February 2, 2025
Prospect New Orleans is a citywide contemporary art triennial and the only exhibition of its kind in the US with a decade-long history. Every three years, artists from all over the world are invited to create projects in a wide variety of venues spread throughout New Orleans. Prospect.6 kicks off this November with a variety of events. See the schedule here.
November 9-10, 2024
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.
November 14-17, 2024, 6-10 p.m.
Presented by Arts New Orleans, LUNA Fête is an annual holiday tradition. This lights festival features an array of interactive exhibits, plus food & drink, and arts market, and more. Held in Lafayette Square, projection mapping illuminates the façade of Gallier Hall in a show, every hour on the hour. LUNA Fête is family-friendly and free to attend.
November 16, 2024
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 the City Park Festival Grounds with live music and fun for the whole family, you are destined to have a sugary sweet Saturday in the park.
Admission is $20 for adults, and children 12 and under get in for FREE!
November 30, 2024
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.
Tickets to the game are $20.