Special Events in New Orleans, Louisiana

Mardi Gras
Feb 21, 2012; Feb 12, 2013 and Mar 4, 2014
Mardi Gras parades usually start in the New Orleans area two Fridays before Mardi Gras Day. 
"The celebration of Mardi Gras came to North America from France where it had been celebrated since the Middle Ages. In 1699, French explorer, Iberville, and his men explored the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico. On a spot 60 miles south of the present location of New Orleans, they set up camp on the river’s West Bank. Knowing that the day, March 3rd, was being celebrated as a major holiday in Paris, they christened the site Point du Mardi Gras.

But, Mardi Gras’ roots predate the French. Many see a relationship to the ancient tribal rituals of fertility that welcomed the arrival of Spring. A possible ancestor of the celebration was the Lupercalia, a circus-like orgy held in mid-February in Rome. The early Church fathers, realizing that it was impossible to divorce their new converts from their pagan customs, decided instead to direct them into Christian channels. Thus Carnival was created as a period of merriment that would serve as a prelude to the penitential season of Lent." Source: Arthur Hardy's Mardi Gras Guide

NCAA Final 4
Mar 29-Apr 2, 2012

French Quarter Festival
Apr 13-15, 2012
French Quarter Festival showcases the finest music, food and culture this uniquely New Orleans event has to offer. The award-winning festival is a favorite of locals and tourists alike and is the largest FREE music festival in the South. Over 18 stages in prime locations throughout the French Quarter present over 250 hours of the best music New Orleans has to offer with 450 musicians representing every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to rhythm & blues and New Orleans funk, to brass bands, folk, gospel, Latin, classical and international music. More than 70 food and beverage booths located in Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park and the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint will feature authentic local cuisine from the area’s finest restaurants.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Apr 27-29, 2012 and May 3-6, 2012
"From the very beginning, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was envisioned as an important event that would have great cultural significance and popular appeal. The Festival was the culmination of years of discussions and efforts by city leaders who wanted to create an event worthy of the city’s legacy as the birthplace of jazz. A couple of other festivals were held in the years leading up to the first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, but those events, different in format, did not take hold as the Jazz & Heritage Festival would." Source: www.nojazzfest.com

Essence Music Festival
July 6-8, 2012
"The Essence Music Festival is the nation's largest annual gathering of African-American musical talent featuring an unprecedented three days of cultural celebrations and ESSENCE Empowerment Seminars and three nights of musical performances. The Festival has featured some of the biggest names in entertainment including Prince, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Lionel Richie, Chris Brown and more! Birthed in New Orleans in 1995, the Essence Music Festival is held every Fourth of July weekend, bringing more than 200,000 attendees to the Crescent City and adding more than $1 billion to Louisiana's local economy. In 2007, presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton made special appearances at the Essence Music Festival. In 2008, CNN reported live on-site throughout the weekend; partnering with ESSENCE to develop and tape a co-branded special presentation "Black in America: Reclaiming the Dream". Source: www.essence.com

Satchmo SummerFest
Aug 2-5, 2012 and Aug 1-4, 2013
"This year's attendance figures indicate that over 26,000 festival-goers gathered together to pay tribute to the life, legacy and music of Louis 'Satchmo' Armstrong as well as to immerse themselves in the culture, food, music and everything that New Orleans has to offer. Even with early afternoon rain on Saturday and Sunday, the attendance numbers mirrored those of the 2008 festival.

Satchmo SummerFest features uniquely New Orleans events that take place during the festival weekend. Beginning with the Satchmo Art show on Wednesday, incredible crowds were seen at all events. Over one hundred attendees gathered in Armstrong Park to celebrate at the Satchmo Birthday Party. On Sunday, patrons packed into St. Augustine Church to participate in the heralded Jazz Mass where, upon conclusion, crowds flocked into the streets to join in the second-line parade to the festival." Source: www.fqfi.org/satchmosummerfest

Bayou Classic
Nov 23-24, 2012
"The State Farm Bayou Classic is more than just a football game; with its colorful and glorified history, the State Farm Bayou Classic is a unique family fellowship that exists within a football game. The State Farm Bayou Classic has become the greatest and most distinguishable sporting event in all of Black America.

Everyone loves a grudge match. And that's what football fans can expect at the Bayou Classic sponsored by State Farm Insurance Companies. Every year, the game is a sell-out, attracting more than 62,000 fans. It'll be another terrific game this year as the Grambling State University Tigers and Southern University Jaguars football teams line up on the field to battle it out!

The gridiron match-up between Grambling State University and Southern University, two great Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) rivals, represents the best that collegiate sports have to offer: teamwork, tradition, passion and fierce competition." Source: statefarmbayouclassic.com 

Sugar Bowl
Jan 2, 2013