Festivals in New Orleans -2011-2012   PROSPECT.1.5 New Orleans November 6, 2010-February 19, 2011 As part of its mission to present and promote the art and artists of New Orleans, U.S. Biennial will present Prospect.1.5 New Orleans, a fifteen-week program of exhibitions, symposiums, and public events. more... Rock N' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon February 13, 2011 Get ready to ROCK New Orleans! The Mardi Gras Rock 'n' Roll Marathon course offers runners a virtual guided tour of the most historic and scenic high points of New Orleans. more... Mardi Gras January 6-March 8, 2011  Throw me something, Mister! Everyone should experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans at least once. There’s a reason it’s called the “Greatest Free Show on Earth.”  more... Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Fest March 23-27, 2011 The annual Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival takes place each spring in New Orleans and is named after the world-famous playwright who made New Orleans his home during one of the most creative periods in his life. more... Old Algiers Riverfest April 2-3, 2011 At Mardi Gras World, West Bank, Old Algiers RiverFest™ is presented annually and is dedicated to preserving and promoting the traditional jazz and other indigenous sounds that came of age along the banks of the Mississippi River. more... French Quarter Festival April 7-10, 2011 Looking for a uniquely New Orleans event where some of this city's finest food, music and fun celebrate life in the French Quarter? Then come to French Quarter Festival this Spring and enjoy Louisiana's largest FREE music festival. more... Crescent City Classic April 23, 2011 With top runners from throughout the world participating in previous years, the annual Crescent City Classic 10K has grown to become one of New Orleans’ largest 10K races.  more... Zurich Classic April 25 – May 1, 2011 Golf fans will have a chance to support regional children’s charities while watching top PGA TOUR professionals at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC of Louisiana. more... New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival April 29 – May 8, 2011 Jazz Fest, is the celebration of the unique culture and heritage of New Orleans and Louisiana. Featuring an endless amount of music, succulent local and regional delicacies, one-of-a-kind handmade arts and crafts, second line parades and so much more... New Orleans Wine & Food Experience May 24-28, 2011 Thousands of wine and food lovers gather each spring in New Orleans for one of this city's most extravagant rites of passage, the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience. The event spotlights the city's legendary restaurants along with fine wines from around the globe. more... Greek Festival May 27-29, 211 Every year descendents of one of the Western world’s oldest cultures celebrate their heritage on Bayou St. John with a festival celebrating all  things pan-Hellenic. more... Vieux To Do June 10-12, 2011 In early June, the New Orleans Seafood Festival, Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival and Creole Tomato Festival all come together to serve great local food and live music in one action-packed event. ESSENCE Music Festival July 1-3, 2011 The ultimate party weekend is highlighted by performances from a variety of today's greatest African-American artists and three full days of empowerment seminars featuring the biggest names in music and the nation’s most influential speakers, entertainers, artists, authors and leaders. more... San Fermin in Nueva Orleans 2011 July 8-10, 2011 This annual festival in New Orleans features an Encierro (bull run), which replicates and pays homage to the world famous Encierro of Pamplona, Spain, or “The Running of the Bulls.” more... Tales of the Cocktail July 20-24, 2011 Have a highball, y'all. Sip and sup at this four-day-long mixer in the city that invented the cocktail. Enjoy lectures, book signings, dinner pairings, cooking and mixing demonstrations. more... COOLinary New Orleans August & September, 2011 Every summer, famous New Orleans restaurants all over the city offer summer menus featuring special prix fixe three-course meals. It’s a great way to experience New Orleans’ legendary restaurants for less. more... Satchmo SummerFest August 4-7, 2011 Celebrate our native son, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, at this free festival featuring live music, second line parades, a jazz Mass at St. Augustine Church, Satchmo’s birthday party and so much more. Whitney White Linen Night August 6, 2011 Drape yourself in cool white linen and join 16,000 art aficionados in the Arts District for the artiest night of the summer. Stroll through the galleries, sip wine and hear some of the city’s most exciting bands. more... Red Dress Run August 13, 2011 Run, walk or crawl through French Quarter watering holes and celebrate with a party in the park featuring music and food to benefit local charities. more... Southern Decadence Festival August 31-September 5, 2011 Nicknamed “Gay Mardi Gras,” this annual celebration attracts as many as 100,000 participants from all over the world. more... New Orleans Seafood Festival September TBD New Orleans is world-renowned for the taste and quality of its seafood, much of which comes from the nearby Gulf of Mexico. Given that reputation, organizers of the New Orleans Seafood Festival felt there was no better place to hold such a festival and they turned it into a three-day event. more... Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival October 14-16, 2011 Two stages of the best in blues from New Orleans and beyond. The festival is dedicated to the men and women in blue-the NOPD. Includes “Walk the Beat,” a fundraising event on Saturday. more... Voodoo Music Experience October 28-30, 2011 Only the coolest take to the stage at this Halloween-themed festival in City Park, known for its blending of high-profile national artists with local Louisiana musicians. more... Halloween New Orleans October 28-Novemnber 1, 2011 It’s Mardi Gras in October! New Orleans knows how to do Halloween right. Haunted houses, voodoo history, above-ground cemetery tours and Halloween on Frenchmen and Bourbon streets. New World Rhythms Festival November 12-13, 2011 Everybody knows that New Orleans has some of the best music in the entire world. Not only is this music found in your own backyard, but a lot of times, it’s free!  more... State Farm Bayou Classic November 26, 2011 Everyone loves a grudge match. And that's what football fans can expect at the Bayou Classic sponsored by State Farm Insurance Companies. Watch as the Grambling State University Tigers and Southern University Jaguars football teams line up on the field to battle it out! more... Words & Music Festival November TBD Join well-known authors, editors, agents and entertainers in celebrating William Faulkner, who honed his craft in a Pirate’s Alley apartment in the French Quarter. more... Christmas New Orleans Style December 1- 31, 2011 Get in the holiday spirit at Christmas New Orleans Style, a month-long celebration with concerts in St. Louis Cathedral, holiday cooking demonstrations, historic home tours and French Quarter fun. more... R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl December TBD The Louisiana Superdome hosts the New Orleans Bowl, a post-season college bowl game played between the Sun Belt conference champions and a team from Conference USA. more... Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival & Holiday Bazaar December 10-11, 2011 This free festival celebrates the history of Faubourg Treme as a hotbed of New Orleans musical and culinary culture. more... Christmas New Orleans Style December 2011 A month-long celebration featuring free evening concerts, candlelight caroling in Jackson Square, cooking demonstrations, Papa Noel hotel rates and Reveillon dinners. more... Allstate Sugar Bowl January TBD One of the great college football traditions takes place in New Orleans each year when the Allstate Sugar Bowl comes to the Superdome in early January to play host to some of the nation’s top teams. more... Rock N' Roll Mardi Gras Marathon March 4, 2012 Get ready to ROCK New Orleans! The Mardi Gras Rock 'n' Roll Marathon course offers runners a virtual guided tour of the most historic and scenic high points of New Orleans. more... Mardi Gras January 6-February 21, 2012 Throw me something, Mister! Everyone should experience Mardi Gras in New Orleans at least once. There’s a reason it’s called the “Greatest Free Show on Earth.” Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival March 24-25, 2012 This free festival celebrates the history of Faubourg Treme as a hotbed of New Orleans musical and culinary culture. more... Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Fest March 28-April 4, 2012 The annual Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival takes place each spring in New Orleans and is named after the world-famous playwright who made New Orleans his home during one of the most creative periods in his life. more... New Orleans Roadfood Festival March 2012 The 4th annual New Orleans Roadfood Festival: Honoring Legendary Eats From All Across America takes place in the heart of the French Quarter. During the weekend event, four blocks of Royal Street will be transformed into a food-lovers paradise. more... Old Algiers Riverfest April 2012 At Mardi Gras World, West Bank, Old Algiers RiverFest™ is presented annually and is dedicated to preserving and promoting the traditional jazz and other indigenous sounds that came of age along the banks of the Mississippi River. more... French Quarter Fest, Presented by Capital One April 13-15, 2012 Looking for a uniquely New Orleans event where some of this city's finest food, music and fun celebrate life in the French Quarter? Then come to French Quarter Festival this Spring and enjoy Louisiana's largest FREE music festival. more... Crescent City Classic April 7, 2012 With top runners from throughout the world participating in previous years, the annual Crescent City Classic 10K has grown to become one of New Orleans’ largest 10K races. more... Zurich Classic April 2012 Golf fans will have a chance to support regional children’s charities while watching top PGA TOUR professionals at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC of Louisiana. more... N. O. Jazz & Heritage Festival, Presented by Shell Last weekend of April, first weekend of May 2012 Jazz Fest is the celebration of the unique culture and heritage of New Orleans and Louisiana. Featuring an endless amount of music, succulent local and regional delicacies, one-of-a-kind handmade arts and crafts, second line parades and so much more... The New Orleans Classic Auto Festival May 2012 Vicari Auction unveils the 1st annual New Orleans Classic Auto Festival. This unique festival will encompass a Friday evening preview of auction cars parading through the French Quarter and then displayed during the “Royal Street Rumble” block party on May 13, 2011. more... Bayou Boogaloo May 2012 Bayou Boogaloo is a free admission music festival in Mid City, held on the banks of the beautiful and historic Bayou St. John. It is a family friendly cultural event that celebrates the heritage of New Orleans music, cuisine, and culture. more... New Orleans Wine & Food Experience May 23-27, 2012 Thousands of wine and food lovers gather each spring in New Orleans for one of this city's most extravagant rites of passage, the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience. The event spotlights the city's legendary restaurants along with fine wines from around the globe. more... Greek Festival May 2012 Every year descendents of one of the Western world’s oldest cultures celebrate their heritage on Bayou St. John with a festival celebrating all  things pan-Hellenic. more... New Orleans Oyster Festival June 2012 The New Orleans Oyster Festival will educate the country about the benefits of the Louisiana Gulf Oyster and will honor and celebrate the restaurateurs and oyster farmers who have solidified the French Quarter's position as the Oyster Capital of America. more... Vieux To Do June 2012 In early June, the Louisiana Seafood Festival, Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival and Creole Tomato Festival all come together to serve great local food and live music in one action-packed event. ESSENCE Music Festival July 6-8, 2012 The ultimate party weekend is highlighted by performances from a variety of today's greatest African-American artists and three full days of empowerment seminars featuring the biggest names in music and the nation’s most influential speakers, entertainers, artists, authors and leaders. more... Go 4th on the River July 4, 2012 Celebrate the 4th of July down by the riverside at the 21st annual Go 4th on the River Dueling Barges Fireworks Extravaganza. Selected as a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society, the 2011 celebration will feature family activities beginning at 2:30 p.m. and special performances. more... San Fermin in Nueva Orleans July 13-15, 2012 This annual festival in New Orleans features an Encierro (bull run), which replicates and pays homage to the world famous Encierro of Pamplona, Spain, or “The Running of the Bulls.” more...