FAQ’s

What is French Quarter Festival?

The award-winning French Quarter Festival is a four-day local music showcase scattered throughout the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana— the largest free music event in the United States. French Quarter Festival features 1,700 musicians playing 400 hours of free, local music from a variety of musical genres on 25 stages throughout the French Quarter. The community festival also features the ‘Culinary Lineup,’ festival food booths operated by some of New Orleans finest restaurants, open throughout the festival weekend.

What are the hours?
Festival is open each day from 11am – 8pm

    • Note: Our Festival has a progressive opening. 
      • 7 stages open Thursday
      • 14 stages open Friday
      • 22 stages open Saturday & Sunday

    The French Quarter Festival Annual Kick-off Parade begins at 10am on Thursday at the 200 Block of Bourbon and Bienville St. 

Does the Festival conduct bag checks?

To provide a safer environment for the public, festival organizers implement bag checks. Attendees should anticipate bag checks at all major sites and stages. 

  1. Spanish Plaza
  2. Woldenberg Riverfront Park
  3. JAX Lot
  4. Jackson Square
  5. U.S. Mint

FQFI will enforce a ban on weapons, drugs, pets, glass bottles and outside beverages. Festival organizers strongly encourage festival-goers to not bring these items in order to access all areas of the event.

When is the festival?

Fench Quarter Festival 2023 will take place Apr 11-14, 2024!  

 

What items are prohibited?
  • Glass bottles and containers
  • Fireworks
  • Professional radios or walkie-talkies
  • Bicycles inside of festival grounds (bike parking and bike valet opportunities are found outside of the entrances to Woldenberg Riverfront Park and The Old U.S. Mint)
  • Soliciting or vending unless previously authorized
  • Tents or sun shades

 

What about prescription medications, baby formula, or milk?

These substances are exempt from the rules above, pending inspection.

Can I bring my cooler or ice chest?

French Quarter Festival does not allow coolers, ice chests, or large containers in major festival areas. The free event receives no public funding, and its success and continuation relies solely upon beverage/merchandise revenues. Help keep the festival free by purchasing your beverages at the festival!

How much does it cost to attend French Quarter Festival?

The four-day weekend festival is FREE and there is no cost to attend any of the performances. The only costs are for food, beverage, and merchandise purchases on festival grounds, and off-site special events such as the FQF AFter Dark Series. In addition, Fest attendees looking to elevate their experience can purchase VIP Passes.

In order to keep this festival free and open to the public, outside food and beverages are prohibited.

Where is French Quarter Festival held?

French Quarter Festival is held throughout the historic French Quarter (Vieux Carre) neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana. Music stages are located at Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, Bourbon Street, Royal Street, Bienville Triangle, Preservation Hall, the French Market, St. Mary’s at the Ursuline Convent, and New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Mint. “Culinary Lineup’ booths can be found in Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, the Jax Brewery parking lot, and New Orleans Jazz Museum. Special events take place at various locations throughout the French Quarter; see listings for details. Also see our map.

Where do I park?

Getting to Festival is easy, but parking is challenging. Arrive early to park in these lots located in the heart of the festival: French Market500 Decatur Street300 North Peters Street211 Conti StreetCanal Place and various locations within walking distance.

Attendees are also encouraged to take advantage of public transportation, including the streetcar and RTA buses. The Riverfront/UPT line conveniently has stops near several parking lots in the CBD and drops off steps away from the French Quarter. Premium Parking has thousands of spaces along O’Keefe Avenue in the Central Business District, just a block away from RTA streetcars and buses. The following are easy access routes to downtown and the areas surrounding the French Quarter: #11 Magazine, #51 St. Bernard-Claiborne, #52 Paris-Broadmoor, #55 Elysian Fields, #57 Franklin/Freret, #91 Jackson/Esplanade, #12 St. Charles, #47 Canal/Cemeteries, #48 Canal/City Park Streetcar, #49 Riverfront/UPT. You can also ride the RTA’s ferry from Algiers Point straight to the festival. For updates on all RTA service alerts and detours, please visit norta.com/servicealerts, call the Rideline at (504) 248-3900, check the Le Pass app, and follow alerts on X (formerly Twitter) at @neworleansrta.

  • Bike Easy Valet Bike Parking is available Friday-Sunday. The service is located at the Canal Street entrance to Woldenberg Riverfront Park. “Do it yourself” bike parking is also available at several locations: along the Mississippi floodwall at the Conti Street and Bienville Street entrances, and at Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Avenue, on the neutral ground.
  • New Orleans has many cab companies servicing the areaView all the options here.
What happens if festival-goers show up at the gate with a prohibited item?

The attendee will have the option of discarding or surrendering the prohibited item or the attendee can secure the item at a location of their choosing (car, hotel room, etc.). Surrendered items cannot be returned, items will be forfeited.

 

What else is prohibited?
  • Drones
  • Pets, with the exception of service animals
Does the Festival provide ADA resources?

Accessibility/ADA

French Quarter Festival is making strides to be MORE accessible to include, accept, support and celebrate all attendees. 

    • Accessibility Viewing Areas Near Stages: 
      • Jack Daniel’s Stage Spanish Plaza (Spanish Plaza) – reserved section 
      • PosiGen Solar DJ Stage (Aquarium Plaza)  – reserved section 
      • Abita Beer Stage (Berger Lawn) – viewing platform 
      • Tropical Isle Hand Grenade Stage (Palm Lawn) – reserved section 
      • Chevron Stage Jax Lot (Jax Lot) – reserved section
      • NewOrleans.com Stage (Jackson Sq) – reserved section
      • Louisiana Fish Fry Stage (Jazz Museum – Barracks St. ) – reserved section
      • Loyola University Esplanade in the Shade Stage Mint Esplanade (Jazz Museum – Esplanade Ave.) – reserved section

Note: While all stages are accessible throughout the Festival grounds, we have made additional accommodations at our 8 most high-traffic stages

      • Sensory Supportive Space
        • Benny’s Sensory Activation Vehicle powered by Beignet Festival Foundation makes events more inclusive for individuals with sensory processing disorders often associated with autism and other conditions. The fully equipped, tow-along trailer provides a safe space of respite and decompression for those who may become overwhelmed from the sights, sounds and crowds at many of the city’s beloved, local events.
      • Service Animals
        • Service Animals are welcome – verification conducted by NOPD at all entrance gates. Pets, Comfort, and Emotional Support animals will not be allowed. Service animals must be under control and with their handler at all times. If they are not, the handler will be asked to remove the animal from the festival grounds.
      • For more information visit Info Booths in:
        • Spanish Plaza
        • JAX Lot
        • Woldenberg Riverfront Park: Berger Lawn
        • New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint (Barracks St.)
        • Jackson Square