Jazz stars, drum circles, Big Chiefs, brass bands, African dance and more fill Armstrong Park’s historic Congo Square March 26 and 27 when two classic New Orleans festivals team up.
The Tremė Creole Gumbo and Congo Square Rhythms festivals celebrate the city’s beloved jazz heritage and the African musical traditions that gave birth to it.
And best of all, the family-friendly party is FREE to the public!
The folks who bring you Jazz Fest every year have stacked the fests’ two-day lineups. Headliners on two stages include Cyril Neville, Rebirth, Cha Wa and the Hot 8 Brass Band, among many other acts.
(A Friday night festival kickoff featuring John Boutté is sold out, but live streamable starting at 8 p.m. here.
Don’t miss the African drum and dance ensembles, which take the stage Sunday at noon. Later that day, Mardi Gras Indian tribes battle it out in their colorful (and fabulous!) bead-and-feathered suits.
And since this is New Orleans, you gotta come hungry.
Food vendors sling Crescent City faves like dark-rouxed gumbos and po’boys, as well as creative combos like candied chicken wings and crawfish mac-and-cheese. Seriously, the mouth-watering menu is as tempting as the entertainment lineup.
Plan to shop the fests’ art market, where dozens of artisans showcase jewelry, artwork, clothing and decor. You can preview all the vendors here and make your shopping list.
Not a bad day in the park, right?
Pets, outside food and recordings are prohibited. Find more details at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation website.
While the event is free and open to the public, donations are welcome and help keep the foundation’s festivals free for others. Donation boxes will be set up at park entrances.
Check out the full music schedule here:
*This is a paid advertisement for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation.