Things to Do in New Orleans: Year at a Glance
Here’s a medley of annual events to look forward to throughout the year when you’re in New Orleans. And these are just the highlights! Find a hotel and start making plans!
Photo by David Fary
January – March
Twelfth Night
Carnival season officially begins each year on January 6, known as Twelfth Night, or the Epiphany, and kicks off with four parades. Phunny Phorty Phellows board the St. Charles streetcar line Uptown at 7 p.m. and ride it to Canal Street and back, with toasts and revelry along the way.
The Funky Uptown Krewe follows the Phunny Phorty Phellows, also on a streetcar, starting at 1510 S. Carrollton Avenue after Kings of Brass pre-party. The streetcar travels down St. Charles Avenue towards downtown, with a quick stop at Care Forgot Beercraft, then looping around Harmony Circle and returning to St. Charles Avenue. The parade ends around 9 p.m. at Fat Harry’s.
This year’s theme is Intergalactic Funk. Go catch yourself some of the krewe’s signature throws, including hand-decorated, glittery vinyl records!
The beloved walking Krewe of Joan of Arc parade rolls at 8 p.m., starting at the French Market and Barracks Street in the French Quarter, and the Société Des Champs Elysée parade takes place starting at 7:30 p.m. on N. Rampart Street and Esplanade, going to the CBD. Like in previous years, it follows the N. Rampart/St. Claude streetcar route.
Teaser Festival
Teaser Festival, held at different venues on Thursday, January 7 through Sunday, January 10, 2027, brings more than 100 performances to New Orleans over four days, celebrating all things burlesque. The festival showcases internationally acclaimed burlesque performers alongside hometown favorites.
A festival highlight, Queen of the Striptease, takes place at the Civic Theatre on Friday, January 8, 2027, at 6:30 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Accompanied by a live jazz band, some of the world’s finest classic burlesque performers will take the stage for a showcase that culminates in the crowning of the “Queen of the Striptease.”
Krewe Mosaïque
Founded in 2023, this parade features unique troupes such as the Krewe of Conus, Krewe de Mayahuel, The Magical Krewe of Exotique, The Legendary Order of the Casket Girls, The Weather Girls, and more.
This French Quarter parade is on Saturday, January 9, 2027, starting at 6 p.m. at Rampart and St. Ann streets and ending at Chartres and St. Phillip streets. The krewe’s signature throw is hand-decorated mosaic tiles.
Allstate Sugar Bowl
The popular college football tradition has continued for over eight decades, coming back to the Caesars Superdome on Friday, January 15, 2027. The Fan Jam tailgate party is held at Champions Square at the Superdome. The annual Sugar Bowl Parade rolls through the French Quarter the day before the game (Thursday, January 14, 2027).
Here are some more parade details: The extravaganza is done Mardi Gras-style, so expect big floats, marching bands, plenty of throws (trinkets tossed to spectators), and a general overload of glitz and pageantry.
The parade begins at the “bottom” of the Quarter, where it meets Faubourg Marigny, at the intersection of Elysian Fields Avenue and Decatur Street, at 3 p.m. The parade proceeds into the French Quarter and rolls past some of that neighborhood’s most iconic landmarks, including the French Market and Jackson Square.
Eventually, the parade passes the WDSU stage at the Allstate Fan Fest on Decatur Street inside the JAX Brewery parking lot, where all performers will do a two-minute show. The parade ends at Canal Street.
Mardi Gras
Though Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday”) always falls on, well, a Tuesday, the actual date of Mardi Gras Day changes every year. That’s because the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday is tied to the Catholic calendar, which itself incorporated elements of earlier, pre-Christian systems.
Long story short: Fat Tuesday occurs exactly 47 days before Easter Sunday, which always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. This year, Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, February 9, 2027.
Confused? Look up future Mardi Gras dates here. You’ll see Mardi Gras always falls in February and March, specifically between February 3 and March 9. So if you visit during that window, you might arrive in time to catch one of the great spectacles of American folk culture.
We could write a whole trove of separate articles on how to do Mardi Gras — heck, we already did! Check here to get started.
Valentine’s Day
Of course, Valentine’s Day (Sunday, February 14, 2027) isn’t unique to New Orleans, but the restaurants and general vibe of the city make for a uniquely romantic atmosphere. There are plenty of cozy spots to dine with a sweetie in New Orleans, and in the French Quarter in particular.
Tet Fest
New Orleans is home to one of the largest Vietnamese diaspora communities in the country. In Vietnamese culture, the Lunar New Year — Tết Nguyên Đán — is the largest festival of the year. The date of Tet celebrations is based on the lunar calendar, which differs from the contemporary Western calendar. In 2027, the festival is expected to take place on the weekend of February 19-21.
In New Orleans, the Mary Queen of Vietnam church in New Orleans East hosts an enormous public Tet celebration that includes games, lots of firecrackers, traditional dance, and a ridiculous amount of excellent Vietnamese street food.
Wednesday at the Square
Nothing bumps us over the midweek doldrums of hump day quite like a free music concert, which is exactly what’s on tap with Wednesday at the Square. Beginning on the second Wednesday in March, hundreds of revelers will pack into Lafayette Square to enjoy a free outdoor concert series sponsored by the Young Leadership Council of New Orleans.
The 10-concert music series runs through May, so if you miss one, there’s always the next week. Each concert usually features two performers, who start playing at 5 p.m. and wrap up at 8 p.m.
Wednesday at the Square is pet-friendly, as long as your furry friend is on a leash, but no outside food or beverages are allowed. All food and drink are sold via ticketed concessions, which keep Wednesday at the Square free. Concert-goers can also buy cool local art and handmade crafts from on-site vendors.
St. Patrick’s Day
It often comes as a surprise to first-time visitors to New Orleans that this city has a deep Irish heritage. This history is tied to the city’s status as a Catholic port of call, which was one of the main entry points for immigrants coming to the USA.
Because of this heritage, St. Patrick’s Day (Wednesday, March 17, 2027) is an important holiday in New Orleans, both on the holiday itself and the weekends closest to that day. Several parades roll, including the Downtown Irish Club procession from the Ninth Ward to the Quarter.
The king of ‘em all is the Irish Channel Parade, where tipsy Irishmen clad in kilts trade paper carnations for kisses in between floats full of riders tossing beads and passing cabbages to the screaming crowds. For details and this year’s dates, check New Orleans St. Patrick’s Day Parades.
Tennessee Williams Literary Festival
The Tennessee Williams Literary Festival (Wednesday, March 17 – Sunday, March 21, 2027) celebrates the city’s love affair with the written word, as well as writers’ love affair with New Orleans. Notable authors will be in attendance, hosting seminars, workshops, and lectures.
Though only paid registrants can attend those events, anyone can participate in the annual “Stella” and “Stanley” shouting contest, and scream their lungs out recreating the iconic scene from A Streetcar Named Desire to appreciative crowds on Jackson Square.
Hogs for the Cause
Hogs for the Cause is back on Friday-Saturday, March 19-20, 2027, featuring more than 90 teams competing for the coveted BBQ Pork Grand Champion title. This signature festival blends live music, great food, and time with family and friends, all while supporting an extraordinary mission. The event is held at the UNO Lakefront Arena (6801 Franklin Ave.). Expect more than 20 bands (this year’s lineup) and all things BBQ.
In its 19th year, so far Hogs has given back more than $15 million, providing over 2,200 direct grants to families battling pediatric brain cancer and contributing millions more to hospital programs and on-campus housing at children’s hospitals.
Super Sunday
On select days throughout the year (Sunday, March 21, 2027), the city’s Mardi Gras Indian tribes parade through the city, chanting, shouting, and challenging each other to determine who is “the prettiest.” While Mardi Gras Indians have their set routes and parade areas, no one event packs the tribes into one public space like Super Sunday.
On Sunday closest to St. Joseph’s Day (Friday, March 19, 2027), tribes gather at A.L. Davis Park, at the corner of Washington and LaSalle streets, and hit the streets of Central City around 1 p.m.
We can’t stress this enough: Be respectful if you go. Take pictures at a distance, and don’t get in the way of marching Indians or their friends, family, and attached bands.
For visitors not familiar with this tradition: Mardi Gras Indians are African American New Orleanians who dress up (or in local lingo, “mask”) as stylized Native Americans. They take to the streets in fantastic costumes made of hand-stitched beads, feathers, and sequins that cost thousands of dollars, weigh hundreds of pounds, and require months of painstaking labor; no element of costume creation is automated.
There’s more background on this fascinating subject at the Backstreet Cultural Museum in the historic Tremé neighborhood.
Crescent City Classic
This annual 10K run is one of the largest athletic events in New Orleans, partly because the race is open to all, and as a result tends to attract a wide swathe of runners, from casual beginners to world-class runners (many don a costume to run, this being New Orleans). You do have to register to run; the cost is $65 ($45 if you run for a charity).
Crescent City Classic is also notable for its route, which takes in some of the best cityscapes New Orleans has to offer. Runners take off from downtown in front of the Superdome, run through the French Quarter and the Tremé, then up Esplanade Avenue — one of the most beautiful streets in the nation — all the way to City Park.
If you’re around on the day of the run (Saturday, March 27, 2027), you’ll likely see crowds lining the route, but try not to drive anywhere near the running path, as roads will be blocked off.
Easter Parades
New Orleans is one of the most Catholic cities in the country, and it celebrates Easter in a big way, although that celebration isn’t always as traditional as one might guess. Long story short: When the 40-day Lent period of fasting ends, New Orleans says, “OK, that was enough self-denial,” and throws three big parades, which roll this year on Sunday, March 28, 2027.
Photo by Zack Smith Photography. Courtesy of French Quarter Festivals, Inc.
April – May
These months sit in the sweet spot of New Orleans weather. It’s sunny, and you can wear shorts on most days, but it’s (usually) not super hot yet. Come evening, when the thermometer starts to dip into the 70s, the air feels something like perfect.
French Quarter Fest
French Quarter Festival (FQF) is the largest free musical event on the New Orleans calendar, and according to organizers, the largest free music festival in the USA. As its name suggests, the entire festival takes place on stages throughout the French Quarter, where the streets run through one of the world’s great treasures of architectural preservation.
This year’s FQF is scheduled for Thursday, April 8 – Sunday, April 11, 2027, which tends to come with gorgeous weather. For more details, check out our guide to how to get the most out of French Quarter Festival.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
The biggest music festival in the best music city in the USA, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is one of the marquee events on the annual calendar. Every year, on the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May, the city hosts hundreds of bands and thousands of tourists, who stream into the Fairgrounds from around the world.
Dozens of food vendors serve up the best of local cuisine, while artisans create and sell Louisiana crafts. On the days between the two festival weekends, some of the world’s great musicians will be partying (and often, playing) at gigs all around the city.
Jazz Fest is a giant event, but once you find your favorite stage and the preferred food vendor, and sit down with a cold drink and the breeze blowing across the Fairgrounds, it can also be very intimate – a means of annually connecting to New Orleans at a deep level. Be sure to pack a hat, sunscreen, and rain gear, because that warm spring sunshine can get mighty hot, and it’s a rare Jazz Fest that isn’t muddied by at least one shower.
This year’s festival opens on Thursday, April 22, and runs through Sunday, May 2, 2027.
June – August
Summer in New Orleans can be pretty tough to endure, but we’ve got a slate of festivals that will either cool you off, or at least keep your mind off the heat.
New Orleans Wine & Food Experience
The annual New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE), held from Wednesday, June 9 to Sunday, June 13, 2027, provides local and visiting epicureans and hobbyists an extended weekend of libations and culinary indulgence in a style that is uniquely New Orleans. NOWFE is designed to encourage participation in the full gamut of food and wine-centered experiences. The event offerings include package rates, activities, and dinners with something at nearly every price point, with attire ranging from costumed to cocktail depending on the event and venue.
Independence Day
New Orleans celebrates July 4 (Sunday, July 4, 2027) like anywhere else in America, and also with a flavor all her own. Of course, there will be fireworks and loud music, but the pretty lights pop off over the Mississippi River.
There are plenty of great spots to watch the display, but a good French Quarter balcony is one of the most desired viewing spots in the city. You can also grab excellent vantage points along the Mississippi shoreline in the French Quarter, Marigny and Bywater, or across the river in Algiers Point.
San Fermin in Nueva Orleans
Plenty of people know that the Running of the Bulls is a major event in the Spanish tourism calendar, but not as many folks realize New Orleans hosts its own bull run. Except here, the “bulls” are roller derby women who whack the participants — dressed all in white with red scarves and handkerchiefs — with wiffle bats. Good times!
The actual “bull run,” which now features thousands of participants, starts at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 10, 2027. But the folks at NOLA Bulls have a full slate of events lined up throughout the weekend of July 9-11, 2027. Runners must register and buy tickets to participate in the Bull Run, with all proceeds from the event going to charity.
Tales of the Cocktail
Some of the world’s most famous cocktails were invented in this city: the Sazerac, Brandy Milk Punch, and Ramos Gin Fizz, to name a few. Having a drink in New Orleans isn’t just fun — it’s also a celebration of our unique history.
Still, New Orleans can’t just let a cultural touchstone lie without holding a festival: Tales of the Cocktail, a celebration of mixed drinks in all of their vast diversity. With tasting rooms and seminars held throughout the Quarter, Tales draws thousands of bar owners, distillers, mixologists, authors, and tastemakers who are interested in networking, sharing knowledge, and showing off their skills. This year’s event runs from Sunday, July 25, to Friday, July 30, 2027.
COOLinary
COOLinary is simple: Dozens of participating restaurants offer prix fixe menus at a discount during the dog days of summer throughout the month of August. Sometimes, a significant discount. Interested? Just check out the Coolinary website and see what restaurants are participating (and for which meals; some spots, for example, only offer a Coolinary menu during lunch). You don’t have to do anything else but show up and get fed.
Fidelity Bank White Linen Night
Back in the days before air conditioning, New Orleanians kept cool and looked fresh in the face of August swelter by wearing light-colored linen clothing. In order to boost gallery attendance and showcase local summer fashion, White Linen Night was created. Held on the first Saturday of every August (Saturday, August 7, 2027), it’s since become a gala see-and-be-seen party.
This year, art galleries and restaurants in the Warehouse District will throw their doors open for a night of wine, art perusing, dining, and more wine. There’s also a free block party between the 300 and 700 blocks of the gallery-heavy Julia Street, with food and cocktail vendors and several stages of live music.
Satchmo SummerFest
An initiative from the folks at French Quarter Festivals, Satchmo SummerFest is a celebration of the city’s most famous musical son — Louis Armstrong, nicknamed “Satchmo” — and New Orleans music in general. As New Orleans festivals go, this one is pretty beloved; it’s family-friendly, kicks off within the French Quarter, and the lineup is truly local.
More than almost any other festival in this city of festivals, this one feels like a real New Orleans street party, and should definitely not be missed if you’re in town. Held the first weekend of every August, this year’s Satchmo SummerFest runs on Saturday, August 31, through Sunday, August 1, 2027.
Red Dress Run
Probably the last thing any sane human being wants to do in the midst of a New Orleans August is run. Then again, the folks involved with the New Orleans Hash House Harriers (NOH3) have always been a little crazy; they’re a “drinking club with a running problem.”
Held on the second Saturday of August (Saturday, August 14, 2027), the Red Dress Run is your chance to see a bunch of locals of all genders don red frocks and go careening through the city on a madcap 2-3 mile course, kept secret until the day of the event. Registration for this year’s event opens in April, with all proceeds going to local charities.
Dirty Linen Night
The more rebellious sibling to White Linen Night, Dirty Linen is an evening of open galleries, but in this case, the galleries are located in the French Quarter along Royal Street. The vibe is a little looser and more counterculture, especially when Red Dress stragglers hit Dirty Linen to enjoy the wine gallery owners pour freely.
Peruse art, grab a bite from food trucks, hit the bars for a cocktail, and enjoy an unbridled celebration of the creativity of the city. Held on the second Saturday of August, this year’s event falls on Saturday, August 14, 2027.
September – December
Fall and winter bring cooling temperatures and a slate of events closely associated with the New Orleans cultural community.
Southern Decadence
Held over Labor Day weekend, New Orleans’ largest LGBTQ+ event is a citywide party that celebrates the huge impact the local gay and lesbian community has on the city at large. The party kicks off within the Quarter on Thursday, September 2, 2027, and picks up steam throughout the weekend, spreading across New Orleans as more and more guests swoop into town for several days of… well, as the title says, decadence (including block parties and a parade).
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
Presented by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival always sports an eclectic lineup, consistently booking a mix of young talent alongside seasoned blues veterans. And that’s before you even consider the wide variety of BBQ vendors that surround Lafayette Square Park (602 St. Charles Avenue) throughout the weekend of October 8-10, 2027.
Tremé Fall Festival
This is one of our favorite neighborhood parties in a city that knows how to throw a neighborhood party. Held in late October (2027 date TBA), the event takes over the streets of the oldest African American neighborhood in the country.
Centered around the historic St. Augustine Church, the oldest African-American Catholic church in the United States, the festival celebrates a culture that’s produced some of the city’s most talented musicians, many of whom are among the event’s performers.
The family-friendly festival is free, but suggested donations help raise money for church repairs and historic neighborhood landmarks, like the Tomb of the Unknown Slave.
Halloween
Halloween in New Orleans is sort of like Halloween in your home city but multiplied by a few hundred degrees of awesome. We’re a city that likes to costume and make mischief, and if you’re going to miss Mardi Gras, you can get a taste of the chaos and costuming of that holiday — just head to the French Quarter and the Marigny on the Saturday night before Halloween.
Conveniently, this is also the evening of the Krewe of Boo parade (Saturday, October 23, 2027), which rolls from Marigny into the Decatur end of the Quarter and features a fine lineup of spooky floats and excellent throws. In 2027, Halloween falls on Sunday, October 31.
Oak Street Po-Boy Festival
There is a po-boy for every budget and palate in New Orleans at this annual fest, typically held in the fall between the 8100 and 8800 blocks of Oak Street in the Carrollton neighborhood. About 35 vendors will present more food that you could shake your fork at, while competing in several Best Of categories, with over 50 varieties of the delicious sandwich alone. Plus beer, specialty cocktails, and desserts. (The date for 2027 TBA.)
LUNA Fête
During the second weekend of November (Friday, November 12 – Sunday, November 14, 2027), the LUNA Fête light show illuminates part of downtown New Orleans from Gallier Hall to Piazza d’Italia, located a quick walk away from the Quarter. The annual large-scale light and sound installations are breathtaking, and the fest is free and family-friendly.
Bayou Classic
You might wonder what holiday it really is on Thanksgiving weekend, when the Tigers of Grambling State meet the Jaguars of Southern University for the annual Bayou Classic in New Orleans. Each year, football crashes into the holidays for a four-day feast of events, starting with a massive Thanksgiving parade from the Superdome to the French Market, featuring some of the country’s absolute best marching bands.
Christmas in New Orleans
There’s a whole slew of events that accompany Christmastime in the Crescent City, from bonfires on the Algiers levees to City Park’s Celebration in the Oaks to Reveillon menus at some of the city’s classic Creole restaurants. But surely one of the most pleasurable events to be had during a New Orleans December is simply strolling through the French Quarter, marveling at the inevitably awesome light displays that are hung from wrought iron fences and elegant European-style balconies.
NOLA ChristmasFest
The annual NOLA ChristmasFest is the only indoor Christmas festival in the area. It takes place at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center through December and going into early January (2027-2028 dates TBA).
Convention Center Boulevard is draped and dripping in holiday decorations with thousands of lights synced to holiday music, and the Convention Center itself is packed with attractions like giant slides, inflatables, and rides. The focal point of the festival is New Orleans’ only ice-skating rink, which measures a whopping 52 x 140 feet.
Celebration in the Oaks
This beloved New Orleans tradition has been around for over 30 years. It’s a dazzling display of holiday lights scattered throughout the 25 acres of City Park, including the Botanical Garden, Storyland, and Carousel Gardens Amusement Park.
Stroll through the magical grounds swathed in hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights, take a train ride or a holiday picture by the iconic Mr. Bingle, listen to the caroling, do some holiday shopping, or ride the historic carousel.
The event typically opens on Thanksgiving weekend and runs through January 1.
New Year’s Eve
From Dick Clark Rockin’ New Year’s Eve near the historic JAX Brewery, featuring a live fleur-de-lis drop at midnight, to the countdown on Jackson Square (New Orleans’ version of the Times Square NYE party), it’s no surprise that New Orleans celebrates New Year’s Eve in a big way. Top it off with the fireworks over the Mississippi River and quite a few balcony bashes on Bourbon Street, and you’ve got yourself a night of revelry, New Orleans style.
If you’re planning to visit New Orleans anytime throughout the year, be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels!
