Top Music Festivals to Enjoy in New Orleans for 2018

It’s a new year and plenty of festivals are on the schedule all throughout New Orleans. As the Festival Capital of the World, there are dozens of choices to enjoy with plenty of great music, food, heritage, culture and more. Below is a quick look at some of the top music festivals you will want to mark your calendar for in 2018.

Jazz & Heritage Festival – April 7th to May 6th

Known by the locals as simply the Jazz Fest, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival provides a complete celebration of New Orleans and Louisiana culture and heritage. Plenty of music will be on the 12 different stages, along with great arts and crafts, incredible parades and so much more.

This event has been named the Festival of the Year by Pollster magazine four times and has been showcased in the Wall Street Journal. Life Magazine even called the Jazz Fest, “the country’s very best music festival.”

There will be 12 stages of musical entertainment including plenty of jazz, R&B, funk, fold, zydeco, blues, Cajun, rock, Latin, Caribbean, African and many other types of music. Many of the musical acts will be the best in the New Orleans area and the festival always brings well-known stars, such as Mile Davis, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, Al Green, James Brown, The Temptations, LL Cool J and many others to the stage.

French Quarter Festival – April 12th to 15th

You won’t find a more uniquely New Orleans event all year. The French Quarter Festival celebrates the best food, music and fun found throughout the city. It’s a free and very popular event with more than 12 stages of entertainment including all types of music from jazz to funk to swing to classical. Over 100 of the best musical performers in New Orleans will take the stage, along with some of the best international stars and New Orleans legends.

The French Quarter Festival also includes the “world’s largest jazz brunch” held in Woldenberg Riverfront Park and throughout the French Quarter. You’ll have the opportunity to sample jambalaya, Hurricanes, catfish po-boys, Cajun meat pies and many other options at the more than 60 food and beverage booths.

In addition, the festival is known for the free tours of gardens and patios throughout the area. The Pirate’s Alley art show will be back and the world’s largest praline fireworks will be held over the Mississippi River.

ESSENCE Festival – July 5th to 9th

Started in the 1990s, the ESSENCE Festival offers a great music festival held annually in New Orleans. It’s filled with music from all different genres and provides a great way to celebrate July 4th weekend every year. While the festival was once relocated to Houston due to the repairs needed in New Orleans, it has been back since 2007 and never been better.

It’s one of the biggest summer music festivals in the city and offers some of the top names in music. Some of the acts that have performed at the ESSENSE Festival include:

•          Beyoncé
•          Destiny’s Child
•          Jeffrey Osborne
•          Lionel Riche
•          Prince
•          The Dells
•          Mary J. Blige
•          And More!

Just about every year Maze and Frankie Beverly take the stage to close out the final night, as well.

Along with the music, the ESSENCE Festival offers a place for African American artists, craftsmen, businesspeople, writers and culinary artist to show off their talents. The Central Business District is transformed into a huge outdoor market with all kinds of items for sale. In addition, the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center becomes a place for fine art, fine crafts and so much more.

Voodoo Music & Arts Experience – October 26th to 28th

It’s not surprising that a music festival called the Voodoo Festival by locals would be held over Halloween weekend in New Orleans. This festival started in 1999 and has grown every single year since. It takes over City Park every year with two main stages and many smaller stages filled with great musical entertainment.

Along with excellent music, the festival features some of the best local food and beverage options, plenty of clothing, jewelry and art for sale and so much more.

Each day of the Voodoo festival begins with local bands taking the stage, while the days close out with headliners. The festival offers more than just music and it’s truly an event you won’t want to miss. This year marks the 20th anniversary and promised to be extra special!

If you love music festivals, mark your calendars for these top New Orleans music festivals in 2018.