New Orleans Event Calendar

New Orleans Wine & Food Experience

May 21, 2012 - May 25, 2012

The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience features: Vintner Dinners held at over 30 New Orleans restaurants; Royal Street Stroll where guests can savor wine while walking along the main street of the historic French Quarter; Culinary Seminars and Demonstrations; Grand Tastings where over 400 wines will be poured; and a Jazz Brunch served up New Orleans style - all presented by leaders in the New Orleans and National wine and food community. Experience New Orleans through her cuisine, art, and music, all the while enjoying wonderful wines from around the world. For more information visit NOWFE.com.

Back

Greek Festival

May 24, 2012 - May 26, 2012

Come out and Experience "Greece on the Bayou," our annual Hellenic party with a uniquely New Orleans flair! Tireless volunteers have been hard at work preparing old favorites and new additions! There's plenty of room for everyone since the festival has expanded and reconfigured the grounds to better accomodate our guests. Join them for delicious food, delightful drinks, and entertainment the entire family will enjoy. Visit greekfestnola.com for information on new items, event schedules, and a comprehensive list of fabulous Greek cuisine. Opa!

Back

The Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival

Jun 8, 2012 - Jun 9, 2012

The sixth annual Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Fetival takes place Saturday, June 9, and Sunday, June 10, at the Old U.S. Mint in New Orleans. With two stages, a huge crafts fair and great food, the Cajun-Zydeco Fest is a dance-happy celebration of the rockin' music of southwest Louisiana. The amazing Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie will make their Cajun-Zydeco Fest debut. Click here for a full schedule of performances at the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival. For more information on the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival, and to hear music by the performers, please visit jazzandheritage.org.

Back

French Market Creole Tomato Festival

Jun 8, 2012 - Jun 9, 2012

The French Market's Annual Creole Tomato Festival on June 9 and 10th celebrates 26 years in 2012 as well as six years of continued partnerships between the French Market, Louisiana Seafood and Promotions Board (Louisiana Seafood Festival) and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation (Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival). This year festival-goers will be treated to cool misting and children's activities in Dutch Alley, a new shady and breezy French Market stage near the tree-lined and fountain-filled LaTrobe Park (behind the Gazebo Caf) that will feature music programmed by the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival, and a 100 x 40 foot air conditioned food demo tent alongside the Flea Market, sponsored and coordinated by the Louisiana Seafood and Promotion Board. The French Market Creole Tomato Festival will include everything from free tomato tastings and food lectures to circus arts workshops and culinary demos. The festivities begin at the Upper Pontalba Shops on Jackson Square where the air conditioned shops will remain open each festival day. An information tent and intermittent brass bands will be located on St. Peters Street; the festival then picks up across the street at Washington Artillery Park with public restrooms and ATMs, a welcome tent and more music; hits midpoint at Dumaine and Decatur in Dutch Alley with an arts market sponsored by Dutch Alley Artists Co-Op; children's activities, workshops, and music, caf seating and misting stations; and jazz music and culinary talks in the indoor/air conditioned New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. The French Market District encompasses six blocks on the riverside of the Lower French Quarter. The district includes over 20 unique retail shops, performance venues, restaurants, cafes, a flea market and a farmers market. In addition to the recreational shopping opportunities and ongoing free special events, the District boasts historical monuments such as Washington Artillery Park (across from Jackson Square) and New Place de France (home of the Joan of Arc statue), public art, scenic walkways, and convenient riverside parking. The RTA's red streetcars can also be taken to reach various sections of the District. The French Market hosts annual festivals and events like The Creole Tomato Festival, French Market Christmas Tree Lighting, and Boo Carr Halloween and Harvest Festival. The recently renovated farmers market is home to a diversity of food vendors serving prepared foods as well as fresh produce stands.

Back

French Summer Wine Festival

Jun 29, 2012

The French American Chamber of Commerce, Louisiana Chaptercordially invites you to the 13th annual French Summer Wine Festival on Saturday, June 30, 2012 at The Shops at Canal Place, Level 3 from 6-9pm. Dressy casual or French attire (if in doubt, wear red, white and blue). Advance tickets $45 for FACC/LA Members $55 for Non-Members $65 for Everyone at the door For reservations, email info@facc-la.com call 504-458-3528.

Back

July 4th in New Orleans - Go Fourth on the River

Jul 3, 2012

When New Orleans throws a party, everybody shows up! Expect this GO FOURTH ON THE RIVER celebration to be more of the same, as thousands flock annually to the Crescent City to watch a truly spectacular display of fireworks echoing off the man-made canyons of downtown New Orleans and reflecting off the Mighty Mississippi. "Go Fourth" was voted one of Southeast Tourism Society's "Top 20 Events in the Southeast USA" and ranked 5th "must see" fireworks display in the U.S. by American Pyrotechnic Association. New Orleans celebrates our nation's Independence with a full day's worth of events and the entire riverfront gets into the act, with many area businesses hosting special Independence-themed shows. The Annual GO FOURTH ON THE RIVER will feature entertainment and the Dueling barges Fireworks extravaganza! Woldenberg Park is the setting for many of the events associated with July 4th in New Orleans...concerts by local, regional and national acts, festival entertainment and, of course, great food! Enjoy the music, the food, and the kind of fun you'll only find in New Orleans while the night sky fills with explosions of color. The display can be seen from anywhere along the crescent of the river, especially from the Woldenberg Park area. The fireworks begin at 9pm, so head towards the river early. Include New Orleans in your Independence Day plans... after all, this just may be the most "Independent" and free city in America!

Back

Essence Music Festival

Jul 5, 2012 - Jul 7, 2012

When the ESSENCE gets its party on, it's always done in great style. Every year, The Essence Music Festival is the hottest ticket in the nation. This "party with a purpose," has become well-known for its electrifying performances, inspiring seminars, intriguing authors and fabulous food...and each year, fans and music lovers turn out in droves to listen, dance, eat and just generally throw it down! In fact, fans feel so close to the event, they have given it a nickname: The ESSENCE. And why? "The Essence" is more than a festival, it's a celebration of beauty and diversity and many of the seminars are very empowering for men and women alike! It's a great opportunity to hear "professionals" speak about the world as they view it...just as it is. I mean...where else can you find so many A-List music headliners at one venue? You would never find this stellar lineup with any traveling concert tour...the Essence Music Festival is IT! In fact, it's the largest annual gathering of musical talent in the world! The festival offers performances for every musical appetite. Each night on five stages in the Louisiana Superdome, you'll find classic rhythm & blues, hip-hop soul, jazz, and reggae performances from over 50 acts. And there's more: the exclusive Superlounges offer an intimate setting for both up-and-coming entertainers and long-time faves. It won't be the heat that heats up the Essence Festival...no, no...it's the musical artists, young and old! And it never stops for three days and nights... Click here for a full lineup of performances at the Essence Music Festival. Tickets for the evening concerts are on sale immediately at ticketmaster.com or (800) 488-5252. To find performance dates for your favorite artists, hotel accommodations, ticket prices and weekly promotions log on to essencemusicfestival.com. The Essence Music Festival...the biggest and best ever!

Back

San Fermin Running of the Bulls

Jul 13, 2012

San Fermin in Nueva Orleans (SFNO) is an annual festival in New Orleans featuring an Encierro (bull run), which replicates and pays homage to the world famous Encierro of Pamplona, Spain, or "The Running of the Bulls", only our bulls are none other than members of the Big Easy Rollergirls and select participants from other rollerderby leagues across the country! This year, San Fermin in Nueva Orleans will be celebrated from July 12 - July 15, featuring an Encierro on Saturday, July 14, 2012 at precisely 8:00 a.m. At this point you might be asking yourself "Why?", to which we can only respond, "Por qu no?" For more information visit nolabulls.com.

Back

NSU Folk Festival

Jul 19, 2012 - Jul 20, 2012

The Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival, which originated in 1980, is a four-time winner of the prestigious "Top Twenty Events in the Southeast" Award given by the Southeast Tourism Society. In 1980, 1981, and 1982, the Folk Festival was supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Louisiana Division of the Arts. While the Festival attempts to be largely self-supporting, Northwestern State University of Louisiana provides necessary and much appreciated financial support. The Folk Festival, as the inclusion of NSU in its name suggests, is fully integrated into the life of Northwestern and is a full-fledged University event. In addition to grant and university support, financial help from numerous corporate sponsors and hundreds of dedicated individuals is vital to the Festival. Dr. Archie Green served as the national consultant for the 1980 program and suggested that the festival celebrate a specific aspect of Louisiana culture each year. Archie's understanding of "folk" continues to influence our efforts. Each year the festival focuses on a new aspect of Louisiana culture including occupational, ethnic, and regional folklore. This is a list of prior festival themes. Anthropologist Dr. H. F. Gregory coordinates the craft component, which is widely recognized as an authentic and professionally presented traditional crafts program. Forty artists participate each year demonstrating their craft and are encouraged to sell their wares. While the Folk Festival is an attraction in itself, the riverfront town of Natchitoches, settled by the French in 1714 and highlighted in the 1998 Robert Harling film Steel Magnolias, offers many family activities. The architecture, folkways, and cuisine, are monuments to 300 years of different cultures living together --Caddo Indians, French, Spanish, African, Anglo, Italian, Creole, and many others. Click here for a lineup of performances at the NSU Folk Festival. The Festival is held in cool, comfortable air-conditioned Prather Coliseum, on the campus of Northwestern State University of Louisiana in historic Natchitoches. The site is located just east of I-49, provides ample, nearby parking and is handicap-accessible. The festival has an alcohol free environment. For further information regarding the folklife festivals, write to the Louisiana Folklife Center.

Back

Tales of the Cocktail

Jul 24, 2012 - Jul 28, 2012

The internationally acclaimed festival of cocktails, cuisine and culture returns for its 10th anniversary in New Orleans, July 25-29, 2012. Founded by Ann Tuennerman in 2006, the nonprofit organization seeks to preserve New Orleans' dining and drinking history, raise funds for the hospitality industry and produce Tales of the Cocktail annually. Tales of the Cocktail strives to further its mission by generating media attendance and coverage and to encourage a positive image for New Orleans, ultimately attracting visitors and increasing tourism. It's only fitting that New Orleans, the birthplace of the cocktail, serves as the permanent home of Tales of the Cocktail. The narrow French Quarter streets that gave rise to the Sazerac and the Ramos Gin Fizz, provide the perfect backdrop of history and culture for the annual affair. The historic Hotel Monteleone will again be the official headquarters for Tales of the Cocktail 2009 is an especially historic year for the storied establishment as the hotel's famous Carousel Bar celebrates its 60th year of serving up exceptional drinks with dizzying regularity. Other renowned New Orleans establishments that have hosted events in the past include Galatoire's, Antoine's, Arnaud's, The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans, Harrah's New Orleans Casino, the Napoleon House, Brennan's and many more. Book tickets and hotel rooms at: TalesoftheCocktail.com.

Back