Weekend Picks

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, enjoy the Jazz & Heritage Center Concert Series, Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend, and more. See our picks for the weekend below. 

Fleur du Coeur 

Fleur du Coeur: A Culinary Tribute is a heartfelt initiative bringing together Bourbon Street restaurants and bars to support the victims and families impacted by the New Year’s Day tragedy. From January 13-19, 2025, participating restaurants and bars will feature a special dish or drink, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Greater New Orleans Foundation New Year’s Day Tragedy Fund. Indulge in charbroiled oysters from Bourbon House, lobster dumplings from GW Fins, signature crabmeat cheesecake from Palace Café, and much more. Find more information here. 

MLK Weekend 

January 20, 2025, is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. New Orleans has plenty of community gatherings and volunteer opportunities to commemorate the day. Spend the day at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, which offers free admission plus art, crafts, and music in celebration of MLK Day. New Orleans City Park hosts an annual day of service on MLK Day. There is also a National Juried MLK Exhibition Opening Reception at Ashé Cultural Arts Center on January 18 at noon. 

Teaser Fest 

Featuring over 130 performances across 10 showcases, Teaser Festival is a four-day celebration of burlesque in the city of New Orleans. This weekend from January 16-19, enjoy a variety of shows and competitions including the crowning of “Queen of the Striptease.” Choose from individual show tickets to weekend passes here. 

Jazz & Heritage Concert Series 

Kick off the new year at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center at 1225 N. Rampart St. This January, catch a different artist on Friday and Saturday nights. This week’s lineup includes Mikhala "Jazz Muffin" Iversen (Jan. 17) and Jason Marsalis (Jan. 18). Tickets are $10 each, plus fees.  

Adonis Rose and NOJO Frankie Beverly Tribute 

Head to the New Orleans Jazz Market on Friday, Jan. 17 for this special musical tribute to the late Frankie Beverly. The event will also celebrate Adonis Rose's birthday, which has become an annual celebration and fundraiser for New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. Tickets start at $30. 

"A Tale of God’s Will: A Requiem for Katrina" 

Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans native son Terence Blanchard will join the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at the Orpheum Theater on January 18 for an impassioned, GRAMMY-award winning work— “A Tale of God's Will: A Requiem for Katrina.” This evening-length emotional tour-de-force of anger, rage, compassion, melancholy, and beauty features Blanchard's SEXTET, and the LPO. Blanchard's visual arts collaborator Andrew F. Scott created a tapestry from still photos taken in the aftermath of the hurricane to accompany the piece. Tickets start at $40.  

Hues & Brews 

Beer Bus is teaming up with Shalanda Jackson, Brewer at Urban South, to bring this one-time experience to New Orleans. An eye-opening beer experience for Queens, Shalanda will highlight fellow women of color in the fermentation field while sharing the little-known history of women of color in brewing. The event is at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19. Purchase tickets here. 

“&Juliet” 

"& Juliet" asks: what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as she ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love—her way. Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems as iconic as her name, including “Since U Been Gone‚” “Roar,” “Baby One More Time,” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”— all from the songwriter/producer behind more #1 hits than any other artist this century. See the show at the Saenger Theatre this January 14-19; tickets start at $40. 

“Good Night, Oscar” 

It's 1958, and Jack Paar hosts the hottest late-night talk-show on television. His favorite guest? Character-actor, pianist, and wildcard Oscar Levant. “Good Night, Oscar” explores the nexus of humor and heartbreak, the ever-dwindling distinction between exploitation and entertainment, and the high cost of baring one's soul for public consumption. Catch is at Le Petit Theatre on select nights from January 9-26. Tickets start at $47, plus fees. 

King Cake  

Whether you like it traditional or unconventional, king cake season is here in abundance starting on January 6. This cinnamon roll-like pastry takes over town at the King Cake Hub (open daily thru Lundi Gras), where you can browse over 100 varieties of king cake throughout the season. Many restaurants and businesses also create their own. Check out some of our favorite king cakes here. 

Pelicans vs. Utah Jazz  

This weekend is the Western Conference double-header you’ve been waiting for. The #14 Utah Jazz take on the #15 New Orleans Pelicans right here in the Blender. The stakes are high, folks, since the Pels are virtually neck in neck with the Jazz for the title of ‘worst team in the NBA.’ Though the Pels have this going for them: no team has lost more games this season. The first game is Friday, Jan. 17 with the theme “HBCU + Divine 9 Night” and a special edition rally towel giveaway. Then on Monday, Jan. 20, it’ll be a vengeful rematch–same teams, same game. Same mistakes? Tickets start at $2 per game on SeatGeek. 

For more on what to do, check out our event calendar here.