New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Name: New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
Start: 2025-04-24
End: 2025-05-03
Location: New Orleans

A Feast of Music and Food in the Birthplace of Jazz

2026/04/23 - 2026/05/02

As the sun rises over the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana, the air trembles with anticipation. For two weeks from late April to early May each year, this city comes alive with one of the world's largest jazz celebrations. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (commonly known as Jazz Fest) is truly a musical extravaganza, featuring over 700 performances and attracting about 450,000 music fans from around the world. This festival, which showcases not only jazz but also a wide range of genres including blues, R&B, gospel, country, and rock, is a unique event where you can experience the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans.

Main Attractions

Diverse Music Stages

The heart of Jazz Fest is, of course, the music. The main Acura Stage has hosted performances by maestros such as Paul Simon, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder in the past. In 2025, the stage of local-born trumpet genius Wynton Marsalis is drawing attention. The Blues Tent recreates the legendary stage where 82-year-old B.B. King gave his final performance. At the Congo Square Stage, you can enjoy African-rooted music and dance, with the local brass band "Hot 8 Brass Band" delivering a spectacular performance that engages the audience. In the Gospel Tent, a choir of about 100 people resonates with soul-stirring voices, creating emotional moments that bring many spectators to tears.

Experiencing Traditional Culture

Beyond music, you can also immerse yourself in the rich culture of New Orleans. At the Folklife Village, local artisans demonstrate traditional crafts live. The costume making of the Mardi Gras Indians is a must-see. You can witness up close the process of creating costumes using over a million beads and more than 1,000 feathers for giant feathered headdresses up to 2 meters in diameter. Also, the Mardi Gras Indians parade, held daily from 2 PM, is a spectacular sight as they walk through the venue in colorful costumes, singing their unique chants. Furthermore, at Heritage Square, there are exhibitions of valuable materials and instruments related to the birth of jazz, allowing you to delve deep into jazz history.

Enjoying Local Flavors

Jazz Fest is not only a music festival but also a culinary celebration. Over 70 food booths line the venue, offering New Orleans' specialty dishes. Particularly popular is the Jazz Fest specialty "Fried Chicken & Waffles." The combination of crispy fried chicken and sweet waffles draws long lines every year. Also, the quintessential Cajun dish "Jambalaya" is authentically prepared by local chefs in special large pots. The spicy aroma wafts through the venue, stimulating appetites. For dessert, it's recommended to refresh yourself with "Strawberry Lemonade" made with local fruits. At the Food Heritage Stage, Michelin-starred chef Emeril Lagasse gives cooking demonstrations, allowing you to learn about the depth of New Orleans cuisine.

Cultural and Historical Background

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest) was born on April 22, 1970. Despite being the birthplace of jazz, the city lacked a large-scale event celebrating this culture. George Wein, the producer of the Newport Jazz Festival, planned the event. The first festival was held in Congo Square, featuring jazz giants like Mahalia Jackson and Duke Ellington. Although it attracted only about 350 spectators, it laid the foundation for a celebration honoring New Orleans' rich musical heritage.

A characteristic of Jazz Fest is that it reflects not just jazz, but the diverse cultural background of New Orleans. You can enjoy music that fuses various cultures unique to a port city, including African, Caribbean, European, and Hispanic. Moreover, it introduces not only music but also local cuisine, art, and crafts, providing a venue to experience the rich cultural heritage of Louisiana.

Even after the devastating damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Jazz Fest was held as scheduled in 2006. At this time, the festival became a symbol of New Orleans' resilience and culture, showing hope for the city's recovery. Currently, while attracting about 450,000 visitors annually and generating over $350 million in economic impact, more than 4,000 musicians and over 5,000 volunteers participate, playing a crucial role in preserving New Orleans' cultural identity and passing it on to the next generation. Jazz Fest can be described as a "living cultural heritage" embodying the cultural mosaic of New Orleans' music, cuisine, and art.

Participants Voices

It was my first time at Jazz Fest, and the experience exceeded my expectations. What particularly impressed me was the experience in the Gospel Tent, where over 200 choir members singing 'Oh Happy Day' brought tears to my eyes. An elderly lady sitting next to me took my hand and invited me to sing along, and I felt a moment of connection that transcended the language barrier. In the Food Area, a local recommended I try alligator sausage. I hesitated at first, but it was surprisingly delicious and spicy. Through music and food, I felt like I touched the soul of New Orleans.

Jazz Fest holds a special meaning for our family. My grandfather performed as a trombone player in the festival years ago, and my father has been selling jambalaya at a food booth for many years. This year, my son played the trumpet in the Kids Tent. Seeing him on stage made me realize that our family history is right here. After the festival, it's become our tradition for the whole family to go to Café du Monde, eat beignets (fried doughnuts), and share the memories of the day. Jazz Fest is an irreplaceable opportunity for us to pass on our culture and family bonds to the next generation.

Fun Facts

At the 1974 festival, Bob Dylan, then unknown, made a surprise appearance and gave a legendary performance. It's said that this stage was the catalyst for Dylan's big break.
About 60,000 mango freezes are sold at Jazz Fest every year. If you lined up this popular dessert, it would match the length of the French Quarter (about 13 km).
At the 2001 festival, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel reunited for a live performance after 16 years, thrilling 55,000 spectators.
At the 2006 festival following Hurricane Katrina, Bruce Springsteen sang "My City of Ruins," moving many in the audience to tears. This song later became New Orleans' unofficial recovery theme song.
During the festival period, about 50 tons of ice are used daily at the venue.