The French Quarter Festival (photo: Rebecca Todd)
April sees the city’s festival season ramping up nicely. All interests are catered for, whether you’re into ragtime jazz, giant puppets or horror movies. Here’s our round-up of the city’s fests this month:
April 4th
New Orleans Ragtime Festival
All day @ Various Locations
Celebrating the history and role of ragtime with performances by Tuba Skinny, The New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra, the Seva Venet & The Storyville Stringband, and more. Through April 7th. More info
The Tenth Annual New Orleans Giant Puppet Festival
All day @ Various locations
A 5 day celebration of the ancient, innovative, and diverse art form of puppetry. Through April 8th. More info
Unraveling: A Cinematic Shadow & Live Animation Festival
All day @ New Orleans Healing Center
Seattle-based projections duo Shadow Girls Cult presents and expansive and captivating series of live animation shorts. Through April 8th. More info
Overlook Film Festival
All day @ Prytania Theatres at Canal Place
Four-day celebration of all things horror held in America’s most haunted city. Through April 7th. More info
NOLA Chamber Fest
Various times @ UNO Performing Arts Center
Festival and competition that celebrates chamber music on all levels. Through April 8th. More info
April 5th
Hogs for the Cause Festival
All day @ UNO Lakefront Arena
Welcoming 85 local and regional BBQ masters and the best backyard chefs to compete in seven categories. More info
April 11th
French Quarter Festival
More than 20 stages throughout the French Quarter celebrate local music and represent every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to R&B, New Orleans funk, brass bands, folk, gospel, Latin, Zydeco, classical, cabaret, and international. Through April 14th. More info
April 12th
The NOLA SpeedTour
Headlined by racing from the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas), Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) and the Ligier JS F4 Series, the event will have something for everyone, with a huge Hagerty Cars & Caffeine Car Show, a variety of food trucks, yard games, fan walks, autograph sessions and more. Through April 14th. More info
April 18th
New Orleans Poetry Festival
More info
April 25th
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
The huge music festival has its first weekend. More info
April 29th
NOLA Crawfish Festival
The city’s favorite seafood plus music stages with big names such as Ivan Neville, Jon Cleary and John Boutté. Through May 1st. More info - See also the event at The Four Seasons Hotel
April 4th
New Orleans Ragtime Festival
All day @ Various Locations
Celebrating the history and role of ragtime with performances by Tuba Skinny, The New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra, the Seva Venet & The Storyville Stringband, and more. Through April 7th. More info
The Tenth Annual New Orleans Giant Puppet Festival
All day @ Various locations
A 5 day celebration of the ancient, innovative, and diverse art form of puppetry. Through April 8th. More info
Unraveling: A Cinematic Shadow & Live Animation Festival
All day @ New Orleans Healing Center
Seattle-based projections duo Shadow Girls Cult presents and expansive and captivating series of live animation shorts. Through April 8th. More info
Overlook Film Festival
All day @ Prytania Theatres at Canal Place
Four-day celebration of all things horror held in America’s most haunted city. Through April 7th. More info
NOLA Chamber Fest
Various times @ UNO Performing Arts Center
Festival and competition that celebrates chamber music on all levels. Through April 8th. More info
April 5th
Hogs for the Cause Festival
All day @ UNO Lakefront Arena
Welcoming 85 local and regional BBQ masters and the best backyard chefs to compete in seven categories. More info
April 11th
French Quarter Festival
More than 20 stages throughout the French Quarter celebrate local music and represent every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to R&B, New Orleans funk, brass bands, folk, gospel, Latin, Zydeco, classical, cabaret, and international. Through April 14th. More info
April 12th
The NOLA SpeedTour
Headlined by racing from the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas), Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) and the Ligier JS F4 Series, the event will have something for everyone, with a huge Hagerty Cars & Caffeine Car Show, a variety of food trucks, yard games, fan walks, autograph sessions and more. Through April 14th. More info
April 18th
New Orleans Poetry Festival
More info
April 25th
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
The huge music festival has its first weekend. More info
April 29th
NOLA Crawfish Festival
The city’s favorite seafood plus music stages with big names such as Ivan Neville, Jon Cleary and John Boutté. Through May 1st. More info - See also the event at The Four Seasons Hotel