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Greater New Orleans
Annual Events

Greater New Orleans, famous for its spectacular Mardi Gras, while known as both the "Crescent City" and the "Big Easy, " also hosts a diverse line-up of annual extravaganzas, from festivals and fairs to sports and cultural happenings.

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Below is an overview of major annual events, some with links to more information on venues and related activity.

January: College Baseball; From the crack of the bat to the slide on into home, NCAA baseball packs a wallop of home run frenzy for what’s oft called America’s favorite pastime. Diamond action starts in January, continuing through most of June.; LSU Tigers, Loyola Wolfpack, New Orleans Privateers, Nicholls State Colonels, Southeastern University Lions, Southern University Jaguars, Tulane Green Wave; Battle of New Orleans Celebration; Re-enactment of the famous 1812 battle at Chalmette National Park features military drills, musket firings and cooking demonstrations with period costumes. On Saturday night, guided lantern tours illuminate the “night before the battle” within warring encampments. Call (504) 589-4428 for more information.; Celebration in the Oaks; From late November to early January, this historic city park becomes a holiday wonderland with walks through the botanical gardens and a two-mile driving route showcasing thousands of lights. Santa appears nightly, with miniature train rides and horse-drawn carriages. Call (800) 672-6124 for more information.; Sugar Bowl Classic; Originated in 1935, this gridiron classic unfolds at the Louisiana Superdome. Call (877) 99-SUGAR for packages or (800) 672-6124 for information.
February: Mardi Gras; Depending on the Gregorian calendar, Mardi Gras falling on Tuesday from Feb. 3 through March 9, is legendary in New Orleans with freewheeling street parties, formal masquerade balls, parades and more. Call (800) 672-6124 for more information.; O’Houligan’s Ball; Legend has it that the Irish were not invited to any of the New Orleans society Mardi Gras celebrations. So in the early 1800’s, they created their own O’Houligan’s Ball where outrageous costumes mocked popular society gatherings. Call (504) 529-1317 for more information.; New Orleans International Boat Show; Louisiana Superdome hosts a wide selection of new boats, engines and accessories for fun on the water. Call (504) 780-1818 for more information.; Nokia Sugar Bowl / Mardi Gras Marathon; This 5K marathon starts on Sugar Bowl Drive outside of the Louisiana Superdome and winds through streets of the historical city. Call (504) 454-8687 for more information.
March: Children’s World Fair; International exhibition at the Children’s Museum features music, literature, crafts, and food from 16 countries. Call (800) 672-6124 for more information.; Tennessee Williams / New Orleans Literary Festival; Five days of theatrical and musical events, lectures, panel discussions and literary tours -- some free -- are part of a salute to the great playwright. Call (504) 581-1144 for more information.; Louisiana Crawfish Festival; The Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center in Chalmette is the scene for this crawfish extravaganza featuring some 25 ways to cook crawfish along with non-crawfish dishes, plus rides, games and live entertainment. Call (504) 874-1921 for more information.; St. Joseph's Day Parade; In mid-March, the Italian American Marching Club celebrates St. Joseph's Day with culinary events, live music and a parade, blending Italian culture with New Orleans revelry. Call (504) 421-0955 for more information.
April: Crescent City Classic; The 10K Crescent City Classic road race starts at the Quarter’s Jackson Square, heads downtown and to Esplanade Ridge on a tree-shaded route winding up at historic City Park. Call (504) 636-1020 for more information.; Louisiana Swamp Romp; Crawfish and other Cajun favorites star at the Louisiana food festival unfolding for more than a decade featuring bands, beads and Mardi Gras dancers. Call (512) 441-9015 for more information.; French Quarter Festival; Committed to a pivotal role in rebuilding of New Orleans, the nearly quarter-century old French Quarter Festival provides economic impact of some $75 million over three days of family fun, with the World’s Largest Jazz brunch, 10 music stages, kid’s activities, an art show and more. Call (504) 522-5730 for more information.; MO Fest; On the Monday and Tuesday between Jazzfest weekends the Mayor’s Office Festival showcases new music talent. Call (504) 636-1020 for more information.; New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival; Musicians, crafters and cooks share their heritage and culture at this 35-year-old celebration often called Jazzfest at assorted venues. Call (800) 672-6124 for more information.
May: Greek Festival; Greek music, food, crafts and entertainment reign at the Hellenic Cultural Center. Call (504) 282-0259 for more information.; New Orleans Wine & Food Experience; Featuring wines from more than 100 wineries worldwide, the festival also showcases New Orleans restaurant excellence. Call (504) 529-WINE for more information.
June: Great French Market Tomato Festival; Cooking demonstrations, tomato tasting and musical entertainment. Call (504) 636-1020 for more information.; International Arts Festival; The Big Easy’s third oldest festival takes over Marconi Meadows Park for a family-oriented fusion of arts, crafts, jazz, reggae, salsa, zouk and R&B. Cajun, Caribbean and African cuisine. Call (888) 767-1317 or (504) 367-1313 for more information.; Mayor’s Arts Awards; The Arts Council of New Orleans underscores the city’s unsinkable spirit with honors to recipients during a festive luncheon gala and patron party. Call (504) 523-1465 for more information.; Milk Mustache Mobile Tour; Towards the end of June, the national Got Milk? campaign hosts a number of events, including 'milk mustache' photo booths and presentations by dairy companies, kicking off around the River Walk Mall on Poydras Street in downtown New Orleans, with additional events at the Lakeside Shopping Center, 3301 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Metairie. Call (312) 988-2026 for more information.
July: Essence Music Festival; Essence Magazine hosts a music festival in and around the Louisiana Superdome and the French Quarter over the 4th of July weekend, featuring food, music, seminars and presentations by famous authors. Call (800) 274-9398 for more information.; Go Fourth on the River; Featuring food, music, attractions and a spectacular fireworks display over the Mississippi River. Call (504) 636-1020 for more information.; Red River Western Festival; At the Louisiana State Fairgrounds in Shreveport, the Red River Western Festival (part of Ark-La-Tex) celebrates heritage of the Old West with chuckwagons, music jamborees, costume competition and barn dancing. Call (318) 798-3014 for more information.
August: Satchmo Summerfest; Music and food combine within the French Quarter to honor native son Louis Armstrong. Call (504) 636-1020 for more information.; Tales of the Cocktail; Southern Comfort's Tales of the Coctail in the French Quarter provides a three-day opportunity to celebrate the history and culture of New Orleans dining and drinking. Call (504) 636-1020 for more information.; White Linen Night; This open-air event features gallery exhibit openings throughout the city's Warehouse Arts District. Call (800) 672-6124 for more information.
September: National Football League; If it’s fall and you’re ready for some football, count on the National Football League to deliver non-stop grid action, leading to playoffs, and the incomparable Super Bowl. The NFL has come a long way since its 1920 founding in Canton, Ohio at Ralph Hay’s Hupmobile dealership. NFL action was first televised in 1939 when NBC broadcast within New York City. The NFL’s Longest Day was on Christmas, 1971, in a playoff between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins, and Miami’s 17-0 Perfect Season unfolded the following year. But that’s history, and prospects for new milestones start in September.; New Orleans Saints - To book seats for cheering on your New Orleans Saints, click here.; College Football; NCAA Football, created in 1997 to promote college football ideals, makes no bones about the importance of each game. Losing at any time during the season can thwart a team's chances for postseason action or an NCAA Championship. No wonder NCAA Football marketers have adopted a tagline of "NCAA Football: Every Game Counts."; LSU Tigers, Tulane Green Wave, Nicholls State Colonels, Southeastern University Lions, Southern University Jaguars; LSU Tigers - To cheer on your favorites and book seats for the LSU Tigers, click here.; Tulane Green Wave - To book seats for the Tulane Green Wave, click here.; Southern Decadence; Labor Day weekend brings on New Orleans Southern Decadence like no other, with celebrants converging on the French Quarter to party at what’s often called the Gay Mardi Gras. Call (504) 636-1020 for more information.
October: Art for Arts’ Sake; Galleries throughout the city open the season with evening activity culminating in music, food and dancing at the Contemporary Arts Center. Call (800) 672-6124 for more information.; Gretna Heritage Festival; The Gretna Heritage Festival promotes organizations in the City Of Gretna, celebrating from the Mississippi’s west bank with music, food and crafts. Call (504) 361-7748 for more information.; International Arts Festival; In mid-October, New Orleans City Park hosts a celebration of 20 years of world music and entertainment, featuring musicians of all nationalities and musical genres performing live. Call (212) 239-1732 for more information.; Bridge City Gumbo Festival; Gallon upon gallon of Louisiana's favorite chicken / sausage stew mixes with entertainment, food and a 5K run over the Mississippi River Bridge. Call (504) 436-4881 for more information.; Halloween in New Orleans; In a city ripe with voodoo legend, Halloween gets special treatment with haunted house tours, costume parties and a Moonlight Witches Run. Call (800) 672-6124 for more information.; Oktoberfest; German food, drinks and polka are in plentiful supply at Deutsches Haus on South Galvez. Call (800) 672-6124 for more information.
November: National Basketball Association; Toronto, Canada was the site of the National Basketball League's first game on Nov. 1, 1946, with the Huskies hosting the New York Knickerbockers at Maple Leaf Gardens. Thirteen original rules were drafted by Dr. James Naismith, creator of basketball. Pro basketball suffered in popularity in the early 1950's, but one rule change -- that of the 24-second clock -- transformed the sport from a dull, stalling game to an exciting, offensive showcase. Icons along the way, from Bob Cousy and Wilt Chamberlain to Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, have immortalized what's now the National Basketball Association's game, creating long-standing rivalries from coast to coast.; New Orleans Hornets - To book seats to root for your New Orleans Hornets, click here.; College Basketball; First devised by James Naismith in 1891, with the first recorded collegiate game in 1893, legions testify there’s no sound so soothing as a basketball whooshing through the net after a flick of the wrist. NCAA basketball brings grass roots hoop dreams to an entirely new level each fall, building toward March Madness, the NCAA Division Basketball Championships.; Loyola Wolfpack, New Orleans Privateers, Nicholls State Colonels, Southeastern Louisiana Lions, Southern University Jaguars, Tulane Green Wave; Loyola Wolfpack - To book seats for the Loyola Wolfpack, click here. To book seats for the Tulane Green Wave, click here.; National Night Out - Shreveport; During the first week in November, Remington College - Shreveport, 2106 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, hosts an event to focus on family fun and safety featuring a blood drive, ID kits provided by the Caddo Parish Sheriff, face painting and other kids' activities, fire safety and teen driving programs sponsored by Allstate, and more. Call (318) 671-4000 for more information.; Bayou Bacchanal; On the first Saturday of November, Bayou Bacchanal brings the city to life with amazing costumes, steel band drums and the delightful cuisine. Bayou Bacchanal brings its party to the streets, known as a walking party. The parade starts at Harrah's casino, down Canal Street, and then takes the party down the streets of downtown to Louis Armstrong Park for more dancing and fun. After the parade, a variety of Caribbean musicians perform before thousands at the park. Call (504) 421-0461 for more information.; Bayou Classic; Bayou Classic action marks the traditional end of the football season with a game between Southern University and Grambling University at the Louisiana Superdome. Call (800) 672-6124 for more information.; Swamp Festival; Early in November, Louisiana's bayou country comes to Audubon Zoo with Cajun food, music and crafts. Call (504) 212-5417 for more information.; Bucktown Seafood Festival; Authentic Bucktown seafood is accompanied by live entertainment, cultural crafts, festival posters, games, raffles and more. Call (504) 833-8224 for more information.
December: DesCours; Held during the second week in December, the Center for Design in downtown New Orleans hosts a week-long exhibition of architecture and art which highlights the cultural diversity of New Orleans. Call (504) 525-8320 for more information.; All Holladay Hop and LP Release Celebration; In mid-December, Dubla Music hosts a free concert with local independent Hip Hop artists and DJs to celebrate the holidays and their newest album release, at The Big Top on Clio. Call (504) 638-3014 for more information.; Christmas New Orleans Style; City-wide events include candlelight caroling in Jackson Square, tours of historic homes decorated in 19th century holiday style, cooking demonstrations, and more. Call (800) 672-6124 for more information.; New Year’s Eve; Jackson Square, in the heart of the French Quarter, features fireworks and a lighted ball dropping from atop Jackson Brewery to welcome the new year. Call (800) 672-6124 for more information.; Words & Music Literary Festival; Aspiring authors gather in the French Quarter for a literary conference and workshop. Call (504) 636-1020 for more information.

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Greater New Orleans Annual Events

Greater New Orleans
Annual Events