Photo Credit: Douglas Mason
Every year, in the birthplace of blues music as we know it today, the city of New Orleans hosts a 10 day festival which accommodates thousands of musicians, cooks and artists who come together to create a cultural event. Also known as “The Louisiana Heritage Fair”, the event is hosted over two weekends and showcases the world famous New Orleans music scene, local cuisine and arts and crafts that celebrate everything that New Orleans and Louisiana represent.
Dates can fluctuate from year to year, however the festival tends to occur around the end of April and the start of May. The event takes place at the Fair Grounds Race Course on Gentilly Boulevard, just an easy ten minutes from the French Quarter.
Although primarily Jazz and Blues music, the festival also hosts a diverse range of talented acts, with past performances from the likes of Maroon 5, Dave Matthews Band, Snoop Dog, Lorde, and even performances from world famous Jazz musicians like Stevie Wonder. Now Orleans music has influenced artists of every genre and all over the world, and the festival likes to represent this as well as the roots of the city. the schedule is usually announced around the end of December for the following year, and tickets go on sale in January.
For those wanting to get involved in the festival in a more intimate and unique way, you can volunteer to work by contacting the human resourced department. This will allow you free access into the festival grounds, but make sure not to get too distracted by the party and to adhere to your responsibilities.
As well as a plethora of diverse performances, the food served at the festival is a major part of the entire celebration. There is a high amount of attention paid on the quality of the food as well as it's local authenticity. There are traditional Cajun and Creole recipes as well as more contemporary ideas based on these, as well as crawfish and alligator that Louisiana is famous for serving, all made, for the most part, with fresh and local ingredients. There are over 200 offerings available, and enough choices to satisfy even the pickiest of taste buds. Vegetarians and vegans are also well catered for.
In the run up to the festival, during the festival, and also in the cooling own period, there are a number of events happening all over the city in bars and nightclubs, that are not directly associated with the festival itself, but are all in the spirit of celebrating the culture of New Orleans. This gives travellers a chance to not only witness the culture at the festival, but to explore the many small and quirky establishments in the city that really enrapture the soul of the music, featuring performances from many local and lesser known artists to some household names.
For any blues or jazz fan, New Orleans is an absolute must visit location, and there is no better way to witness it than by attending the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. More information can be found on the website (www.nola.com).