April 3rd, 2012 
In New Orleans, the French Quarter Festival is the unofficial start of the Spring Festival season. Patrons use this week to pull their sun dresses out of the back of the closet, dust off our wicker hats, prepare to pour back Abita in little plastic cups and eat Gumbo out of cardboard. These are not easy things to do while dancing to Zydeco, but alas spring is here, so we do it with a little humidity and a lot of smiles.
Photo Credit: Times Picayune
The South’s largest free outdoor festival starts next Thursday!
This year French Quarter Festival offers 800 local musicians and 65 local restaurants. Naturally, the lineup includes the Royal Southern Brotherhood with Cyril Neville, Don Vappie and the Creole Jazz Serenaders and Deacon John. Also making an appearance are George Porter, Jr. and his Runnin’ Pardners, Papa Grows Funk, Gina Brown & Anutha Level, the Iguanas, and Bill Summers & Jazalsa. French Quarter Festival will also feature 2012 Grammy winners, Rebirth Brass Brand – along with Jazz Fest favorites like Troy ‘Trombone Shorty’ Andrews and Orleans Avenue, Walter ‘Wolfman’ Washington, Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and Amanda Shaw, just to name a few.
Two new stages will be introduced this year. One on Bourbon St. at Rick’s Cabaret and the other at the famed Hotel Montelone’s carousel bar on Royal Street.
All music stages are free. Proceeds to keep it free are raised by your food and beverage purchases. For a full line up of artists, food and art, click here.
WHEN: April 12th – 15th, 2012
WHERE:
Stages will be throughout the French Quarter, River-walk and Woldenberg Park. Click here for a map.
TICKETS: Free!
