French Quarter Festivals, Inc

French Quarter Festivals, Inc are located at 400 North Peters Street in New Orleans, above the shopping mall. These guys produce the French Quarter Festival, which is arguably the best festival in New Orleans. A celebration of local talent and music, it is extremely popular with the residents of the French Quarter and attracts international attention. More of a local flare than Jazz Fest and free to attend. A great annual event.

Always fun. Always free. Great food and music to be found. Favorite is to grab some incredible food at booths in Jackson Square with daughter, grab a spot in the grass to enjoy it with the stage keeping the music going.

So much fun and excitement; great live Music , and scenery..

This place was my favorite visit! It's so alive and a really great atmosphere. Can't wait to come back. ❤

French Quarter Fest is a great, free-to-attend music festival with lots of great food vendors.

I think anyone would really enjoy this fun festival done every year! Great food, drink, and of course music! If you're lucky enough to visit during this time, I really would recommend coming down

It is the largest free annual musical event in the south. Lots of people, tons of musicians and plenty of food.

Probably the best of all NOLA festivals. But, I'm perhaps jaded as I live in the FQ and so all of this amazing, beautiful, and wonderful stuff is just outside my door. If you haven't done FQF you MUST!

Judging by the crowd this year, most have caught on. It's a gem. Four days of FREE music throughout the FQ. This year, there were over 270 acts. You can bring your own chair if you will likely stay in one place or wear comfy shoes if you prefer to roam like me. There are small bites for every palate. It's also the perfect way to try different renown restaurants or dishes without breaking the bank. The musical acts in Jackson Square wrap up around 6p because the park closes, but the other stages have performances until 8p. If that isn't enough for you, there is a jazz after dark series, and other venues around the city, that bring in artists for live performances during this festival. Meaning there's no shortage of live music during French quarter fast. If you're not a fan of crowds, this isn't the festival for you. While you can certainly find spots with ample space, if it's in the shade on a sunny day. you will have close company. The only other items note is that while every vendor accepts a credit card or Apple Pay, there was typically an an additional charge for processing fees. Therefore, bringing cash will save you some $$$ on purchases.

I'd been looking at the French Quarter Fest musical lineups for years but couldn't find the time until 2024. I saw the incredible performers scheduled and decided this was the year. Fortunately the weather cooperated and only had thunderstorms the day before FQF opened so I saw John Boutte, Corey Ledet & His Zydeco Band, Bonerama, Ivan Neville, George Porter, Jr. & The Runnin' Pardners, Irma Thomas, The Dixie Cups, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Bucktown All-Stars, Erica Falls, Rosie Ledet & The Zydeco Playboys, and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. While I ran out of energy on a couple of days, I saw musicians I'd been interested in seeing for years, and while large crowds the last two days made it difficult to see from where I was able to sit or stand, the sound systems were good enough to hear the music without sight lines. I also met some very nice music lovers at every performance I went to. As a bonus, WWOZ had live broadcasts each day of selected acts have been available for streaming on WWOZ's 2-week archive from the broadcast date.

Ten out of ten!!! first time NOLA traveler here and I just thing this city is so diverse, cultured and so much art!! an amazing array of food choices, beverages were indulgently enjoyed. music was amazing right along the Mississippi River. the artists here are so incredibly talented. so much to see, eat, buy, drink. the list is endless.

Had a really great time at the festival. I remember when it was still a somewhat small festival at Waldenburg park. I love the way the organizers have expanded it throughout the French quarters. The food vendors are top notch and the performers are as well!

22 stages of live music and so much great food and drink that it's hard to believe. Best of all is free admission and everything spread out throughout the French Quarter. We are from California and would love to return in the future. We really appreciated how friendly festival workers and the locals were.

This was a total blast. There was good music, good entertainment, good food & good booze, everything you ever want to find on Jackson Square.

If you love jazz music, creole cuisine, or New Orleans, the French Quarter Festival is a must experience. Music, food and art make this the perfect trifecta for a free four day festival spread out on over 20 stages throughout the Quarter. Celebrating the 35th year, music ranges from traditional jazz like the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to funk, gospel, zydeco, R&B and even Klezmer. Interesting to see and hear family traditions continue. Amazing to watch Lena Prima singing her dad's hits, listen to the talented Marsalis "first family of jazz" perform, hear the Neville Brothers play a set, or experience the magic of Irma Thomas, the Soul Queen of New Orleans. The music starts at 11 and continues until late into the night. You can literally meander from stage to stage listening to the different genres. Great way to sample tasty treats from across New Orleans. Favorites include chicken grillades and cheddar cheese grits from K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen, Duck Debris PoBoys from Jacque-Imo's Cafe, and Gulf Fish Beignets from Royal House. Sweet treats on our menu over the past decade include Buttermilk Drops from Wink's Original Buttermilk Drop Cafe, Praline Beignets from Loretta's and Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding from Boucherie. (Cooking Tip-Day old donuts make the best bread pudding. Add pecans and raisins and skip the added sugar.) Of course, Plum Street Snoballs are perfect on a hot and humid festival day. Try the nectar cream for added decadence. Bring cash, although more and more vendors accept credit cards or Venmo today. Local artist Ayo Scott designed the 2019 French Quarter Festival poster. Featuring Irma Thomas with the Mississippi River in the background, it was so interesting to meet him at the festival and hear about his journey to craft his artworks and also to help rebuild New Orleans Post Katrina. Such an amazing painter. Insiders tip: If you have reciprocity museum passes, you can use them to avoid the portopotties throughout the festival or just cool off during the day. You can park in the local neighborhoods, such as Marigny, for a couple of hours during the week, but the weekends are much more crowded.

My second time ever to the French Quarter Festival was 2021, and this time it was with family. And let me tell you, it was so much better. My first time was right after I moved to New Orleans, and it was with people I barely knew and ended up having the absolute worst time ever. It is a free festival with stages all over the Quarter. All sorts of people watching. Amazing food. I would suggest wearing sturdy shoes and bringing a folding chair of some sort. There will be plenty of walking, a lot of stepping over drunk people passed out on the sidewalk, some people getting sick, some urinating on themselves, but hey, that's a typical Friday in the Quarter, though usually its confined more to Bourbon Street. But, the food is good, the beer gets warm quickly, so drink it fast and the food will cool off quickly so you can eat it.

I live in New Orleans and this is my most favorite festival out of all of them. Excellent local music. The fest is free however no outside food or drinks are allowed, to it's pretty easy to blow through some cash quickly. Concessions all benefit the festival to help keep it free, but the prices are pretty high this year. We also did VIP for just one day. First part of that day (Saturday) was great at the Abita stage, great view and private bathrooms. Problem was at the Chevron stage, the crowds outside VIP were so thick it was hard to get to the tent and no way to get to any food vendors. We were starving and the only snack was 2 flavors of Zapps chips and that's not sustainable so we ended up leaving the fest to get food. Last time we did VIP there was a better selection of snacks, things like pretzels and peanut butter crackers. So yeah I was a little disappointed. We still had fun though and of course will be back. Just not so sure I'd pay for a day of VIP again.

4-day (Thursday thru Sunday) music & food festival in the heart of NOLA, that stretches from the French Quarter to Canal Street, by the convention center. It kicks off with a small parade on the morning of the first day, with sponsoring companies & local marching bands & musicians. It's chill during the day & earlier in the week, but it gets a little more rowdy on the weekends and late night... Pick your poison lol. Awesome way to sample & experience the taste & culture of New Orleans. Multiple performance stages and several food & drink tents - - You'll hear sounds of old country to jazz to zydeco to covers to popular hits. You'll get to taste & sip local beers, frozen drinks, spicy cocktails, and NOLA favorites from poboys, gator, southern plates, and seafood. It's FREE admission; you just pay individual vendors for food & drinks (*bring cash)! You'll also find special menus all around town in celebration of the event. Along the street line & public park areas, it's family-friendly and pet-friendly, too. Absolutely a must-see & do if you're in New Orleans during festival time!!!

Fun , Fun , Fun . Hubby , I and Fam had a wonderful time !!!!! We wanted to exhale and it definitely happened. It was great to be at a City event. We missed going to them over 2 years . However, this was a starter.

Don't judge me.. I'm in Nawlins and we come to eat. The Poboy was really good. I was mad I didn't order the brussels sprouts and potatoes after I saw it served to another customer cause it looked delish! Don't get me wrong, I wanted both!!! Music was awesome and weather was perfect.

The part we caught was terrific. Teeming with anticipation and seemingly reserved for a crowd that was more local. Described by one of our band leaders as "the rehearsal" before "the" jazz fest. Great music and none of the pretense. Just honest to goodness great jazz from the birthplace of jazz itself.

Amazing free-ish event!! Great music, great food, great location....eat, drink and be merry.

Music spread out over 22 stages, food booths galore, perfect weather, arguably the most unique and beautiful setting for a music festival, and multitudes of happy people. How can you not enjoy this festival each year? This year I saw Papa Grows Funk on Thursday at the river. Saturday I listened to Riccardo Crespo and Sol Brasil at the US Mint, Kristin Diable on Royal Street, and Irvin Mayfield at Jackson Square. Sooo much fun! Food and drink lines were reasonable even in congested Jackson Square. Lines were no more than 12-15 ppl deep. Food prices ranged from $4-$8 with most items being $5. I had an incredible Bourbon BBQ Shrimp Po-Boy from the Bourbon House. So hoping they serve that again next year. All of the bands are local. How awesome is that!? Count the number of brass bands that play every yr at FQF. It's ridiculous! There is also kid's activities and dance lessons given at the fest. The best place, though, to listen to music is on the river at Woldenberg Park. 4 stages of great music all day long. If you want a more intimate music venue they had bands at Irvin Mayfield's jazz club inside the Royal Sonesta Hotel as well as at very intimate Preservation Hall. This festival is not to be missed. It is truly a testament to our wonderful city. This festival represents a lot of who we are: a smorgasbord of people all coming together for a common cause. NOLA comes together each year and makes this festival one of the best festivals in the world.

Super fun and lively festival! The music was fantastic, everyone was in a good mood, and the food was awesome. I got a praline beignet from Loretta's, King Cake bread pudding from Haydel's, and mango spring rolls from the daily beet. The praline beignet from Loretta's is, hands down, my new favorite Nola treat. I was blown away. The king cake bread pudding was also incredible, so between that and the beignet I was in dessert heaven. Since it was our first festival in New Orleans, we kind of just wandered around different stages instead of settling near one. Next year, I'll probably come prepared with a chair and just chill by one of the stages now that I have a better idea of the layout of everything. The only reason I didn't give it five stars was because it was a bit too crowded for me-I didn't really feel like I could move. I was totally expecting large crowds, but it was quite uncomfortable at times. With that said, since it was cancelled yesterday that could be why it was so crazy crowded. Overall though, I had so much fun and am already looking forward to 2019!

I really love the idea of the French Quarter Festival. The problem I had is that the crowds were so large that it was nearly impossible to enjoy it. The festival runs from Thursday through Sunday. Thursday and Friday are the days to go, as they are significantly less crowded. I had to work both Thursday and Friday this year so I couldn't enjoy the full festival those days. What I did do was check out Zydeco/Cajun music stage near the aquarium during lunch both days. It was great. With great local artists playing almost continuously, the small crowd was able to sit back and watch or two step to their heart's content. Then came Saturday. I parked on the westbank and took the quick ride across the ferry. Upon arrival on the east bank I was a bit worried. There were people everywhere. Once I entered the actual festival grounds by the aquarium, I realized I had made a mistake. There were chairs and blankets taking up nearly every piece of ground around the stages. Food and beverage booths had lines of at least 30 people. I tried moving towards other areas of the festival, but encountered the same issue. Because it was so crowded, the quarter took on an almost street party like atmosphere (more than normal). It was very cool to stroll down Decatur with thousands of people and no cars. In summary, the French Quarter Festival is awesome on Thursday and Friday. Saturday and Sunday are too crowded.

Since I've been to the Jazz & Heritage Festival, I was expecting this smaller local music Festival to be kinda lame. But as in Nashville, local talent runs really strong in New Orleans. The French Quarter Fest is a free festival at a few different stages in the FQ (my fave was the Riverfront). Food portions are small, I think Jambalaya ran me $5 and I could've eaten two and still been hungry. Abita is served everywhere! And I loved that Hurricanes and other mixed drinks were available- only in NOLA. I went on the Sunday only, so I'm sure crowds weren't as bad. People were friendly, and I enjoyed Bucktown All Stars, which included an 89 year old lady killing it on tambourine. I was able to shake her hand later, and I'm never washing it, for the tambourine mojo! Anyway, great festival- highly recommended.

This was our 4th time attending this Festival, because it's that good! We have found our favorite stage is the Chevron stage at the Decatur Street triangle, featuring mostly Zydeco music, and my all time favorite Waylon Thibodeaux on the electric violin and singer, and his band, including his brother Jimmy on the squeeze box. There is no way you don't dance or move to this music, and they performed 75 minutes nonstop. He did many favorites from his 12 albums. The local art around the perimeter of Jackson Square shows alot of talent, and at every venue are so many food choices of local restaurant fare, it truly is hard to pick. My favorite, which I had 2 days in a row, was from 'Tail to Geaux', 2 1/2 pounds of the freshest tastiest ever Creole crawfish boil, potatoes, and corn, for $12. Also very good was a crawfish pie from Lasyone's Meat Pie Co, (excellent) shrimp and crab cheesecake from Jaques Imo's, (more quiche like than cheesecake) K-Paul's butter beans and Andouille with rice, (always delicious) Boucherie's roast beef debris poboy, (more shredded than sliced beef) and the Nuernberger grilled bratwurst on pretzel bun with sauerkraut and carmelized onion. The soft shell crab po boy from Dempsey's disappointed this year, as I found it overcooked and dry. This was 2 days of eating through the festival! Looking forward to next year, and the Festival is FREE!

It was our first FQ festival and it was great. The music is all free and you just pay for food. Jazz Fest is too expensive now. When we arrived in New Orleans, we purchased chairs at CVS and we were all set. Bring sunscreen and a hat. The best strategy is to pick a stage and stay there for the day. We saw Aaron Neville at his first FQ festival this year. He was exceptional. The music was all good. We liked Cha Wa and when you purchase their CD they also give you a card for a free download. If you want to dine at FQ restaurants make your reservations well in advance.

One of my more favorite festivals in New Orleans in spring time, French Quarter Festival delivers in spades! Product: There are a ton of food stands, food trucks, refreshment stations, and the like at this fest, more than I could easily go over in a short review such as this. Although the selection is excellent, expect to pay festival prices for what you buy, though many of the stops for eats and drinks have some really good choices. (3 stars) Service: Tons of live New Orleans-centric music to be heard at this festival. You won't be disappointed. From classic jazz, to brass bands, to some European-style ensembles, there's a little bit of everything for jazz enthusiasts of all stripes! (5 stars) Facilities: This event occurs all along the river in the French Quarter, with the bookends being the old US Mint and Spanish Plaza. There really isn't much in the way of seating, so bringing your own if you're looking to take a rest or relax while listening to a musician is suggested. The venues are quite nice, though outside, so at the depredations of the weather, which is thankfully usually really good in New Orleans in late spring. Bathroom access is readily available all along the river for this, so don't worry about that. (4 stars) Bonus: THIS IS STILL A FREE EVENT!! That being said, frequent the merchants working the fest to keep it that way. Overall: An excellent choice for a local or tourist alike for a weekend of entertainment who just doesn't want to deal with the massive crowds of Jazz Fest or a massive hit in the pocketbook. This one is no longer a local secret, though--so many people come out to FQF now, but at least one can still stroll and listen to music without becoming claustrophobic. (4 stars)

The festivals here in orleans are huge with a large turnout. The event is Adult, kid, toddler, and elderly friendly. Love the fact that you can walk to any block and experience different adventures in every corner. One minute you can find your self shopping for goodies, eating food, at a bar, watching bands, seeing street performances, and much more. What I hear about NOLA is they love to have Festivals and they take a lot of pride in it. From my experience I wish I could come back and experience all the events put together by the city and community like Mardi Gras, Jazz festival, and the list goes on. Anyways I would highly recommend checking out the festivals here in NOLA as it gives you a feel for the colture of it.

This was my first year to FQF (French Quarter Fest). I love that it is a free festival but it was WAY too crowded on Saturday and Sunday. I did get to try the Mango Freeze and Crawfish pie. But there was limited seating areas. I know you have to bring your own chairs and such but there were so many people that if you sat down you would get trampled. I would go again but probably just for a few minutes. We thought Sunday would be less people but it was the busiest day out of the two.

A free music festival in the heart of the French Quarter...How can anyone not rate this fest anything but 5 stars?! Friday night we watched some fantastic bands in Jackson Square and Riverwalk. On Saturday, there were stages set up all along Bourbon Street and the bands were incredible. In Jackson Square, there were vendors set up selling Abita on draft, Jack Daniels concoctions, entrees, light bites, desserts and everything in between. The atmosphere goes unmatched. The passion from the musicians trickles into the crowd, as fans dance like no one's watching. Would recommend to anyone with a soul!

Yes, it feels amazing to be in my favorite place with my favorite folks! If you have to pick the ultimate food fest experience, this is it! Second to this would be the NOLA jazz and heritage fest. What makes this fest so spectacular????? Thought you'd never ask It is a family fest It is a foodie fest It is held in the middle of NOLA It is free!!!! Filled with local music Flooded with local food and drinks Let's face it, it's just an all around do whatcha wanna kinda good time A few food must haves: trey Yen's crawfish and lobster sauce, Haydel's king cake bread pudding, walker's Cochon de lait po boy, and loretta's praline beignets Acts: Irma Thomas, brass a holics and the rouzan's... and I couldn't forget Wolfman In short, get here and have an amazing time!

I went on a Thursday and it was super busy as well. I loved all the different restaurants that were set up all over for us to purchase. From Jambalaya to crab cakes to random pies of all sorts. I'm not min of a drinker but if you like to drink beer, this would be the place to be! Abita seems to be the most populated. Different bands play in many different stages all over New Orleans! It was like walking into different cities lol. We parked farther but still paid $25 for parking. I enjoy going to the square where all the artists are. You can get a character done or pick up local artists work. The best part of this festival....it's free to enter! I don't want to pay to enter and then pay for food as well...so I like this festival!

I love the French Quarter, by day and or night! I always want to go and get my beignets first thing and Community Coffee when I first arrive after a long drive here, or flight. I love the street Musicians a lot. The Parking kind of stinks and so do some of the streets, but this is the norm for this area. Every morning, the owners of the businesses hose down and clean the streets everyday. I feel sorry for the vendors who have to deliver products and goods to the businesses. I love to shop in this area for goods and souvenirs. This is also a great are for authentic-good ole Cajun food, but not as good as what my daughter n law! I can't wait to return.

This is probably every native New Orleanian favorite festival... hands down! Not only do you get a chance to experience foods and music you may not otherwise get to experience, but you may literally see everyone you know. His mama, her mama, your auntie, and ya mama nem. French Quarter Festival is always such an amazing vibe. I come every year and every year I feel like the fest is spiced up a little bit more.

The BEST free festival on Earth. Over 20 stages of great music for 3 days straight, not to mention all the street performers who converge on the city, claiming their respective corners to flaunt their stuff. Some of the best acts are those random, nameless brass bands you find set up in an alley playing for tips in their bucket. And the food offerings are more plentiful than that OTHER Spring music fest. Not all better, but more choices. And it's spread out, so dense crowds can be avoided (also found, if that's your thing). Tip: don't drive, or even cab/Uber. Park along Canal St. or St. Charles Ave., and take a scenic streetcar ride. Or better yet, park in Algiers, and take a ferry across the Mississippi!

My first time at the French Quarter Festival. I'd been to Jazz Fest several years in a row and although I like that, I think I prefer the French Quarter Festival. Highlights (why I prefer it to Jazz Fest): - It's located all around the French Quarter: Bourbon and Royal streets, Jackson Square, by the waterfront. and the Mint Building. It's fun that it's in the actual downtown and that it's spread out a bit. - Unlike Jazz Fest which is a big open fairground area, on hot days, you also can also find shade in several areas and a breeze by the water. - Only local bands can play it. I like that it's more New Orleans focused than Jazz Fest which can have everything from Stevie Wonder to Jimmy Buffet to LL Cool J. Lots of brass and zydeco here: more voices and sounds you can't hear just anywhere. - Lots of musical stages all around so you can easily sample a bunch of different bands. - You can walk there from your hotel (Jazz Fest is a cab ride). - If you want to do other things than the festival, there are all the normal Quarter things to do there was well: get a daiquiri, shop, sit down in a bar, etc. - Lots of food booths! Awesome food too represented by several local restaurants. My faves were the sausage pepper and onion sandwich (like an open calzone almost), crawfish sausage, shrimp etoufee, and best bbq turkey leg I've ever had. Yum yum yum! - Food is good prices too: most stuff is $5 and have generous portions and great quality. - Admission is free :-) - It's sponsored by Coca-Cola: my cola of choice. You have to see my Sunnyvale collection of Coke collectibles. ;-) And because it had Coke booths, Vitamin water--my favorite hydration beverage of choice--was readily available on those hot days. Lowlights (my flip side to highlights): - The Mint Building area was way too cramped: very small shallow area with iron gates keeping everyone in. - It's craziest on Sunday: longer lines for food and harder to get around I loved it and would definitely go back again. :-) Jazz Fest is fun when you want to see a bunch of popular bands or your favorite performer is on the bill, but if you want to taste more of the local flavor, I'd come to the French Quarter Festival.

If jazz fest is for tourists, then the French Quarter fest is for the locals. Tons of local bands playing music for free! What could be better than that? Food? Oh yeah, there is plenty of it here. All the food you could possibly want. The best thing to do is go out there with a blanket, get some food, set up a picnic and enjoy the musical sounds of the city. One of the best times you can have in New Orleans.

Alright, I know it seems like everyone is giving 5 stars, but I'm aiming this writeup at parents. If you are going to take a baby in a stroller, GO EARLY. The first 2-3 hours on Saturday (2013) were great, but the crowds really picked up and by early afternoon, there were many places we physically couldn't walk our stroller through. As with any NOLA festival, you'll have to contend with the drunks too. Not an issue if you don't have your family with you, but not ideal when strolling my baby girl around. We will definitely keep going to NOLA festivals, but will go early and leave when things pick up. Sadly, in this case, we found ourselves stranded in a sea of bodies. Almost like being stuck in a flash flood. Before we knew what hit us, it was too late and we were having to move folks out of the way to get our daughter to an open area. This event is good for kids if you stick to the streets and avoid the more crowed areas around Jackson Square and Woldenberg park. This is definitely a 5 star event if you plan on getting a babysitter and going native.

So much great, free music! And food: Two thumbs up for Jack Dempsey's soft shell crab po' boy ($10). WWOZ's mango freeze was delightful & refreshing ($5). Desire Oyster Bar had some truly epic chicken & waffles with cane syrup ($8--with some chicken portions being more generous than others). The hands-down winner, though, was Restaurant R'evolution with their sugarcane glazed pork belly po' boy (the best $9 I ever spent in my life). Pro tip: be aware this thing shuts down at 7pm prompt. Which is nice, but also a little weird for those of us from other cities accustomed to festivals running later.

This is my favorite festival and favorite weekend of the year!! I'm bummed that it was plagued by rain this year, although Thurs-Sat has large time blocks of sunny weather and I took full advantage of that before Sundays washout. It's certainly no longer the "Locals festival". People now fly in from all over the country and fill up the city's hotels for this festival. It's phenomenal for the city so I don't have a problem with it since the festival is so spread out and it gets crowded but still never feels uncomfortably over-crowded or overly commercial at this point. With no entry fee it makes it much easier for me to be willing to spend extra money supporting the local musicians and local restaurants that make up the fest. My favorite part is being able to sample the delicious food from the hundreds of booths all along the riverfront and Jackson Square. I can't always afford to go to all the best restaurants NOLA has to offer and this is my chance to sample as many dishes as I can for about $6-$8 bucks each . This year my favorite was the Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella, and Bacon crepe from Crepes a la Cart!. This was OMG good! In fact, I'm kinda craving another one right now! Also of gold star note were the fish tacos from GW Fins; the combo plate from Muriel's which had Crawfish and Goat Cheese Crepes with shrimp and eggplant stuffing on the side; crab cake sliders from (Broussard's I believe); Shrimp Regua from Antoine's; and the Steak Sliders with Sweet Potato Casserole from Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. The Crawfish Bread from Audubon Nature Instuite is good, but more like a meat pie than traditional crawfish bread that I crave from Jazz Fest. New Orleans Original Daiquiris is out there every year and they do refills of their sports bottles for $8, instead of the original sale price of $11. Here's a BIG TIP for you: once you have a bottle, hang onto it. They'll refill any of their bottles or specialty cups from previous years at ANY festival they are at. I've had the same few insulated sports bottles and tumblers for at least 5 years and used them at numerous festivals around town.

In some ways, the little brother of Jazz fest so much easier in and out so much closer so much less hassles some like THIS one better....i luv em all. Bless y all New Orleans

Ever since my first FQF a few years ago, I always vowed to come back. Since I was going to New Orleans with people that were first-timers, what better time to go then during FQF! It seemed to have gotten better than the last one I went to in '05! 17 musical stages and more than 60 food and alcohol vendors scattered throughout the French Quarter. It doesn't get better than that. We sampled everything: Crawfish Etoufee, Cochon de Lait Po-Boys, Crawfish Pies, Grilled Chicken Livers with Peppers, Boiled Crawfish, and even some Snowballs. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING was just as you would imagine for Cajun/Creole food. The music was entertaining. It had waves of people converged in front of every stage just jammin' to the music. What a great way to introduce the Big Easy to newcomers and an outstanding welcome back to old friends! I heard many locals saying they prefer it over the Jazz Fest. A+++++++

Sadly, I was not able to enjoy all three days of the French Quarter Festival. I was actually only able to experience a glimpse of it being that I had to hop on a plane back home. What I did see, hear and taste was more than satisfactory and enough to make me want to come back for a subsequent visit to NOLA specifically for the French Quarter Festival. During my limited time at the festival I encountered countless street vendors, performers, great live music, and of course great food. In the Jackson Square area I had an amazing crawfish and goat cheese crêpe (goat cheese filled crêpe topped with fresh Louisiana crawfish in a buttery sauce of chardonnay, onions, tomatoes and bell peppers) from the Muriel's Jackson Square bistro booth and some delicious bread pudding with whiskey sauce from the Desire Oyster Bar booth. I was also able to grab one last beer from the local favorite brewery, Abita, which had a booth where they were pouring out their brews and lining them up like Gatorade cups that are put out on tables during long distance races for the runners to grab. The sounds of live music, for the most part, were omnipresent once stepping into the French Quarter during this festival as there were numerous stages and street bands spread throughout the Quarter. Regardless if you go to New Orleans for this festival or not, you shouldn't leave New Orleans without hearing some live local jazz bands or just some live music in general -- the French Quarter is filled with it, even on days when special events aren't occurring. This was particularly cool for me as for all my years playing musical instruments, I had the most fun playing, listening and performing in my high school's jazz ensemble.

Forgive me, I am very behind on writing my reviews. The best part of French Quarter Fest is that it's free! The worst part is that because it's free and there is an amazing lineup with tons of yummy food around it gets packed! I will probably sound like an old person but I can still remember when French Quarter Fest was just a few stages and that was about it. Now it has grown to multiple stages spanning from Woldenberg park to the Mint. In the past when I lived on the Westbank (don't judge) my friends and I would park by the ferry and walk over (back when I was free, geesh I feel old) and that was the easiest way to enjoy the fest! And now that I live on this side of the river carpooling was my savior. I went with two girlfriends and a nephew and we parked and arrived relatively early on a Saturday or Sunday (I forget). We didn't have a specific music itinerary but I was prepared with the food itinerary! I had a list of all of the food being offered and their locations. Then I reviewed the list with my fellow friends and we strategized which booths we wanted to hit. Oh yeah, we take our food seriously! =) So this past year we started from Woldenberg park and went only as far as Jackson Square. The plan was to visit with the official artist who was one of my girlfriend's friend. Another girlfriend and I ended up buying the official print with Dr. John on it and he personalized the signature which was fun. It was a great festival and I got to even see my fellow yelper and buddy, Steve I. and his family! I highly recommend this festival! Happy Festing y'all!

The best free festival in America. Best food, music, weather and location. For my money its better than Jazz Fest.

The French Quarter festival is a foodies' paradise. New Orleans best eateries, drinkeries and bands set up shop throughout the French quarter for a weekend. If you ask me this is the best time to visit the Big Easy!

The idea of French Quarter Fest is great, the Fest itself was once great, the free music is great, the restaurants that participate are great but the Fest itself has become just OK. The FQ Fest as my grandma would say "has gotten to big for it's britches". There are 3 areas of the Fest; The Mint, Jackson Square, and Woldenberg Park. The Mint and Jackson Square are both surrounded by rod iron fences and you feel like you are caged in with a bazillion other people. The food lines are long as hell and the feeling of claustophobia is ever present. The river area at Woldenberg park is no better as it is equally packed and hard to get around. Jackson Square stopped serving food at 6 on Saturday causing the other 2 areas to get even more packed. Don't get me wrong it's a great cheap way to try a few dishes for some of Nola's best eateries. The fest itself is free so free is hard to complain about. So have a few drinks before you get there and be prepared to walk a gazillion miles because parking is a bitch. The fireworks at 9pm are also a nice touch but the girlfriend and I saw them standing on a street corner in the Bywater with a few beers.

I know he has his detractors, but I hope someday soon, the city of New Orleans erects a statue of Quint Davis to commemorate what he brings to the meaning "festival". Easily better than Jazz Fest (both logistically and variety), FQF is open to all and if you're in the GNO there is no legitimate reason why you didn't drop in at least one day. I spent 6 hours wandering around Saturday (2013) and I think I only spent $30 total (poboy from Boucherie, OZ Mango freeze, and beer). I felt guilty coming home with money in my pocket. I will offer this - the only thing I ingested on Saturday was 8 oz of Stoli, 5 Jockimos, 4 bites of the Mango freeze and the Boucherie poboy....the alcohol portion is par for the course for me so I don't think it was that, but I ended up getting ill later in the day (stomach) so I don't know about the cleanliness of the vendors. Crowded? Yes....even more so in the late afternoon. Want to check out a headliner in Woldenberg park (Abita or Louis Louis)? Forget about it, you'll never get close. I guess I don't get the idea of bringing a squadron of lawn chairs and camping out at a festival like this. It isn't really intended to be confined to 30 meters. The good news is that the sound is mixed very well and you're never too far from a concession stand. I love that the Trad Jazz stage in the French Market came complete with a dance floor for the city's lindy hoppers. The bad? Eh, I dunno if its "bad" but a packed environment is only made worse with crippled old folks, baby strollers, and baby momma's drama that impeded any of the traffic flow. I'd recommend FQF to all out-of-towners to experience some of the finer qualities of NOLA without breaking the bank to make it happen. The fact that you can get to FQF from the ferries and by street cars (and shuttles) only heightens the experience. Minor issue, but the fear mongering of "keep FQF free" mantra this year wore on me a little too much. Maybe it is CCC Toll fatigue, but seriously...how would you even think about charging for FQF? It would be impossible to regulate....give it a rest

It's an OK festival, especially given that it's free. This used to be the "locals" festival but these days it's just gotten too big - especially in the Riverfront space which has a lot of the food and the larger music stages. Don't even bother trying to catch some of the larger acts on Saturday - you just can't move and it's way too claustrophobic. The nice thing about French Quarter Fest is that you can actually walk throughout the FQ - and even Bourbon Street - and enjoy great music and food. I know, it's a surprise to me too given the general "touron" focus of many businesses in the French Quarter and especially on Bourbon St. I'll probably go back next year for French Quarter Fest but you really need to plan your schedule and unfortunately avoid the riverfront much of the time.

The festival lasts four days from Thursday-Sunday. We were lucky enough to catch it on its last day. It was a big festival with large crowds of people enjoying the music (supposedly 23 stages), food, and drinks. Best of all, it was free admission.

If you have some time to spend in New Orleans - you might want to just spend all of April & May there - the place is full of awesome music festivals and it's really hard to choose the FQ Festival over Jazz Fest or vice versa. The location & line up are always fantastic - and you don't have to worry about "in and out" privileges or such. Taking away 1 star because they don't allow dogs - and well behaved dogs should be welcome everywhere in public spaces!

French Quarter Fest has all the makings of a 5 star Festival, but this year it was a 4. Really more like 3.5, but I rounded up. This Festival is just too damn popular. Yeah I said it, I wish there were less people. Now I get FQF is a huge money maker for the city, but I'll still be selfish and wish more people didn't go. Friday evening got there about 4ish to catch Dr. John. I think he played, I mean I couldn't see him, but I could hear him...kind of. Holy moly, the crowd! Listened about a 1/2 hr. and booked it down to the Mint. Now, the Mint is where it is at! Not crowded, two great stages featuring Stooges Brass Band and Dash Rip Rock. Good food tents. The French Market also had a small stage that had good bands...especially on Saturday. I caught a set by The Smoking Time Jazz Club, see them when you can. One super problem I had was with the barricades on Decatur. There wasn't much room between the barricade and the buildings. There was a pop up band playing by the brewery on Saturday and foot traffic came to a stand still. No one could move! Those barricades really ticked me off at that point. (rant over) The food as per usual was great! I love that you get the opportunity to try a lot of different things from places all over the city! Crowds or not, I'll continue to go to this Festival. Especially if the weather is as beautiful as it was this weekend!

Thirty years of the best FREE music and food!! I have attended all 30 and can't believe the growth. Planning my day around eating and my husbands music preferences is a fun challenge. Happy to say that the planning was successful. Can't wait till next year.

I would say this is definitely in my top 3 favorite festivals in the world. The event is HUGE. The prices are pretty reasonable for food and drink (get the refills, the drinks are strong, you can order a double shot on top of them, and it will *probably* save you money instead of going to the bars) and it's free to roam around, people watch (WHOA!), listen to a bunch of great music and musicians, see and purchase unique art, and galavant through the Quarter like you own the place. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, and it is so organized that you'd think there must be witchcraft involved. The location of this festival just can't be beat and you can eat from some of the best restaurants in the city all in one spot...without a reservation.

If you are a musician or just a music lover, French quarter festival is by far the best free festival New Orleans has to offer. Tons of food, bands and good times.