How to do Jazz Fest Right
- Mar 2
- 3 min read
Call it a hot take, but in my opinion, there’s no bad time to visit New Orleans (and this is coming from someone who’s been there dozens of times). Jazz Fest, however, is one of my favorite times to be in the Big Easy.
While the festival has the word “jazz” in it, don’t let that fool you into assuming it’s all jazz music. While it has that, it also brings out big names across all genres, from rock, pop, and R&B to blues, gospel, and Zydeco. One of my most memorable Jazz Fest moments was seeing the Rolling Stones on the main stage in 2024. Mick Jagger brought the one-and-only Soul Queen herself, Irma Thomas, up on stage to perform “Time is on my Side.” It may sound cliché, but it's something I’ll never forget.
If you’re thinking about a weekend at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, this is how to plan your visit—and do it right.
What to Expect
The festival takes place over two long weekends, with the first being the last weekend of April and the second the first weekend of May. There’s no wrong weekend to choose. Whichever you make it to, there will be incredible music. From a weather perspective, I’ve seen it all on both weekends. It’s often blazing afternoon sun and heat. But there can also be rainy days. That’s when the racetrack, where the event is held, fills with mud. Be ready for anything, and come equipped with the right gear. That might mean rain boots. It will surely mean comfortable shoes for walking and standing. I also like a sunhat. And don’t forget sunscreen.
If you are there for one of those hot, humid NOLA days, grab some breaks from the heat in one of the covered tents, where there are also usually mist machines that make things feel a bit more refreshing. You’ll find these in the tents dedicated to blues, jazz, and gospel. It’s inevitably a chance to check out some other incredible music—possibly from an artist you’re not even familiar with.
Another tip is to bring a picnic blanket—ideally waterproof, just in case the ground is wet from any earlier rain. This is a great way to have a space to spread out and enjoy music from one of the many outdoor stages. If you’re flying in and don’t want to pack that in your luggage, you can do what I did at my last festival and have one shipped to your hotel from Amazon.
While you’re at the festival, be ready to take in the Mardi Gras Indians or for a Second Line parade to pass by. The brass bands and colorful costumes bring an added element of New Orleans culture to the event. And there’s nothing more uplifting than hearing those sounds and following those performers, dancing along the way and raising umbrellas and handkerchiefs.
What to Eat
You won’t find typical festival food here. It’s one of the reasons this is my favorite music festival—and I’ve been to a lot of them!
Jazz Fest brings together the best in local eats from the city’s top spots. Be sure to try some boiled crawfish (my personal fave). You’ll also find plenty of gumbo, po’boy options, and of course, beignets. If you spot a beignet filled with shrimp, give it a try for the best of sweet and savory.
Another must-have—especially on those hot days—is the mango freeze. The New Orleans radio station, WWOZ, is always on hand with them. And they are worth it!
Getting to the Festival
The Fair Grounds Race Course is about a ten-minute drive from the French Quarter. Jazz Fest typically offers a ticketed shuttle bus service. For convenience, I generally grab a rideshare instead. Just be aware that there are designated pickups and drop-off areas that will require a bit of a walk.
What Else to Do
Get out and enjoy the city! Eat at one of the many fabulous restaurants. Take a cemetery tour. Give a listen to the street performers that you’ll likely encounter in the Quarter or along Frenchmen Street.
And keep an eye out for special performances by various artists at venues across the city. You never know what you may find. During Jazz Fest 2016, a friend convinced me to go to a midnight show featuring The Revivalists. I wasn’t familiar with them before that late-night show, but they became a favorite of mine from that point on.
If you can’t make it to Jazz Fest, tune into WWOZ from wherever you may be, so you can fest in place with plenty of live music sets and artist interviews.
