Weekend Picks is your source for the best weekend activities in New Orleans. From live music to festivals, there’s plenty to do. 

This weekend in New Orleans, celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with events, plus a Mardi Gras Market and more. See our picks for the weekend below.

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King Cake Mile High Pie
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Elvis King Cake - Boulangerie
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(1) King Cake - Mile High Pie at Jack Rose, (2) King Cake - Elvis King Cake at Cochon Butcher

Saturdays @ NOAAM

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The next day of free museum admission and community at the New Orleans African American Museum is this Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4p.m. Residents with Louisiana ID receive free admission.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

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January 19 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and New Orleans has plenty of community gatherings and volunteer opportunities to commemorate the day. Head to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art for their 8th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration which features free admission plus kids art & crafts, food, and more. New Orleans City Park hosts an annual day of service on MLK Day; sign up here.

Teaser Fest

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Teaser Fest
Chase Stevens (@chasethepicture on IG)
Teaser Fest

Teaser Fest returns from January 15-18 showcasing the best in burlesque. The fest features performers from across the globe as well as hometown heroes. Enjoy shows like the Queen of the Striptease, The Queen’s Tea, and Spooky: Things That Go Bump (And Grind) in the Night. Teaser Fest takes place at various venues across the city; purchase tickets here.

Ogden Museum's Mardi Gras Market

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Ogden Museum’s Mardi Gras Market falls on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Peruse crafts and fashion made by local artisans to get your Carnival costume in tip-top shape. This market is free to attend.

“Blithe Spirit”

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Novelist Charles Condomine arranges a séance in his home with the eccentric and flighty Madame Arcati as research for his upcoming novel and finds himself haunted (literally) by the ghost of his late wife, Elvira. This unexpected reunion causes conflict with Charles’ current wife, Ruth. See “Blithe Spirit” at Le Petit Theatre from January 8-25. Tickets are $42+.

“Fat Ham”

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In James Ijames' (WHITE) modern-day comic reinvention of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” an uproarious family barbecue instigates a compelling examination of love, loss, pain, and joy. See "Fat Ham" at Dillard University's Cook Theater on select nights from January 15 – February 6. Tickets are $35+.

King Cake

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Mardi Gras season has officially begun! This year, king cake season is January 6 - February 17, giving us lots of time to enjoy this sweet treat. Stick to the traditional cinnamon or try a new version, like the Elvis King Cake at Cochon Butcher (filled with peanut butter and roasted banana, topped with house-cured bacon, toasted marshmallow, and Mardi Gras sprinkles). Find our Ultimate Guide to King Cake here for all the traditional, creative, and sippable concoctions. Some bakeries offer national and international shipping so that everyone can enjoy a king cake from New Orleans.