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New Orleans Events |
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Mardi Gras "Once Queen, Queen Forever" Mardi Gras would be heaven without the multitudes of half-lit party-goers, but it would also not be Mardi Gras, so those of the “laissez les bon temps roulez” mentality should make a beeline for the United States biggest, funnest, most show stopping party. Months of planning go into the creation of elaborate two and three-story floats and costumes to match, crescendoing to a funky marching-band beat during the 14 days prior to Mardi Gras itself. Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday which ushers in the forty days of the Catholic Lenten season leading up to Easter. This is New Orleans dizzying feast before the famine, melding its centuries-old Caribbean and European cultural traditions. This is New Orleans party, but the world is invited. Flambeau bearers dance with lighted torches for the coins tossed by carnavalistas chanting “throw me something Mister!” the festival mantra. Inestimable tons of throws – doubloons, go-cups emblazoned with each carnival krewe’s logo, moon pies, beads by the thousands – are tossed by float riders in the fifty parades that begin two weeks prior to Fat Tuesday, the biggest and best taking placed day and night beginning the previous Thursday. A movable holiday tied to Easter, Carnival season officially begins on Epiphany, January 6th. There are dozens of masked balls featuring tableau of each Krewe’s reigning royalty leading up to Fat Tuesday, some open to the public. NEW ORLEANS JAZZ AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL The Crescent City’s annual Jazz and Heritage Festival has been giving Mardi Gras a run for it’s money over the last few years. Over a two week period over 4000 musicians perform on eleven stages of splendid dissonance, offering Jazz, Cajun and Zydeco, Latin, Country & Western, Rockabilly, Gospel, and Afro-Caribbean music, with traditional New Orleans brass bands marching tirelessly through it all. Today’s Jazz and Rhythm & Blues luminaries include New Orleans natives such as Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., and the Neville Brothers, who wouldn’t miss this party, and neither should you. The best of Louisiana’s culinary heritage is represented as well, from shrimp po’boys to crawfish monica, alligator piquante, Jambalay and Crawfish Pie. Two weeks, normally beginning the last week of April. African Diaspora and a Gospel stages located at Congo Square adjacent to the French Quarter with the main event located at the Fair Grounds. Tickets are $18.00 in advance, $25.00 at the gate for all-day Fest admission. Prices for Evening concerts vary. OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS: Voodoo Music Experience/Halloween New Years Eve/Sugar Bowl French Quarter Festival Tennessee Williams Festival St. Patrick’s Day New Orleans Food & Wine Experience Satchmo Summer Fest Candle Light Tour Of Historic Homes
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