I’m looking forward to seeing you in New Orleans! Here’s everything you need — reach out with any questions.

Where to Stay

The festival spans 20+ stages throughout the French Quarter — no registration required, just show up. Staying in or near the French Quarter is most convenient for walking between stages, though it can be pricey.

Great alternatives:

  • Canal Street (specifically along the Quarter’s edge): Wide range of hotels from Courtyard by Marriott Canal Street and Crowne Plaza to The Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans. Very convenient, and the ferry for Cake & Champagne departs where Canal meets the Mississippi.

  • Central Business District (CBD): Adjacent to the Quarter, often better value with great hotel options.

  • Warehouse District: Slightly farther, good deals and great museums such as the National WWII Museum and Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

  • Marigny: Charming options like Hotel Peter & Paul, though some areas can feel dark at night.

Where to Eat

Festival food features top local restaurants serving signature dishes — far from typical festival fare — but you may want sit-down meals too. Helpful resources:

What to Do

Before You Go:
Listen to the Beyond Bourbon Street podcast is highly recommended (Episode #135: first-timer guide and #179: French Quarter Festival vs. Jazz Fest are good ones). 

Also check NewOrleans.com and Where Y’at Magazine for things to do.

In the French Quarter:
Walk Bourbon Street at night at least once — it’s iconic, though there’s much more beyond it. Stroll Royal Street for galleries and a different vibe. Visit Jackson Square and get beignets at Cafe du Monde (open 24 hours; late night is calmer; City Park location is more tranquil). From there, walk over the levee to the Mississippi River.

Explore voodoo shops, fortune tellers (shop readers often require appointments and can be better than street readers), and consider haunted tours with Jonathan Weiss Tours.

City Park (Sunday brunch area):
Visit the Besthoff Sculpture Garden beside New Orleans Museum of Art and find the “Singing Oak.” Coffee, beignets, and a morning stroll here offer a peaceful contrast to the Quarter.

Live Music & Nightlife:
Frenchmen Street (in Marigny) has a bohemian feel, live music, and a night art market — lively but distinct from Bourbon; be aware some stretches can feel sketchy late.

Ride the St. Charles streetcar through the Garden District (catch it where St. Charles begins at Canal; use the Le Pass app).

Day Trips:
Consider plantation or swamp tours. Whitney Plantation centers enslaved narratives; Oak Alley Plantation and Laura Plantation are nearby and often paired for contrasting perspectives.

Museums & Shopping:
The National WWII Museum is expansive and impressive, especially for U.S. history fans. Magazine Street is great for shopping.

Food Experiences:
Highly recommend taking a cooking class with Chef Dee at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum for an intimate, hospitality-focused experience. She has a class on Friday the 17th.

Cocktails:
Historic stops include Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop and Pat O'Brien's (Hurricanes by the flaming fountain). For Sazeracs: Napoleon House, Sazerac Bar at The Roosevelt New Orleans, and the Sazerac House (free tour with samples).

Other favorites: Cane and Table; rooftop bars like Hot Tin at Pontchartrain Hotel, Rosie's on the Roof at Higgins Hotel, and the Ace Hotel rooftop; and the rotating bar at Carousel Bar & Lounge.

For more: See USA Today’s “10 Dos and Don’ts” for New Orleans