NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Jazz Fest is here.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival opens Thursday for the first of two four-day weekends at the Fair Grounds, with gates opening at 11 a.m. and music fans already pouring into the city. The festival closes each day at 7 p.m., but the live music will continue long after that at clubs and venues across New Orleans.
This opening weekend features some of the festival’s biggest names, but Jon Batiste is expected to be one of the central draws. The Kenner native is scheduled to appear three times during the weekend, including a Friday headlining set on the Festival Stage and a Sunday performance in the Blues Tent.
Other major names on the opening-weekend lineup include Kings of Leon, Raye, Lorde, Nas, the Isley Brothers, Stevie Nicks, Tyler Childers, Rod Stewart, St. Vincent and David Byrne. Local acts remain a major part of the festival’s identity, with the vast majority of performers coming from Louisiana.
Festivalgoers can also expect tributes and emotional moments across the weekend. The late Michael Skinkus and Michael Ward will be honored Thursday. Little Freddie King is expected to perform Saturday in what could be his final Jazz Fest appearance. Singer Lillian Boutte will be memorialized Saturday, and Marcia Ball’s music will be celebrated Sunday after her retirement announcement last year.
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This year’s spotlight country is Jamaica, with dozens of performances and cultural events tied to the theme throughout the festival grounds, including headlining appearances at Congo Square.
By Wednesday night, visitors were already arriving across New Orleans, with crowds building on Frenchmen Street and festivalgoers counting down the hours until the Fair Grounds opened.
Read more: Early Jazz Fest crowds enjoy New Orleans’ music scene
The buildup was already visible well before the first act took the stage. Visitors flew in early, packed music spots across the city and filled bars and clubs ahead of the festival’s opening day.
One out-of-town visitor said arriving early was part of the plan, while others said they came to soak up the city before heading to the Fair Grounds.
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Behind the scenes, a large crew spent the final days transforming the Fair Grounds into the festival site, while vendors stocked up for what is expected to be another busy run. One longtime vendor said Jazz Fest is a family tradition, and for many workers and performers, it is more than a job.
The city is also warning people to prepare for traffic and parking headaches around the Fair Grounds.
Parking on site is limited to certain VIP pass holders and a limited number of people with disabilities. Everyone else will be competing for neighborhood spots outside the road closure zone. Officials are urging people to walk, bike, use public transit or take festival shuttles from downtown near the Hyatt on Loyola or from City Park. Taxi and rideshare drop-off and pick-up zones are also set near the Esplanade and Gentilly gates.
Beyond the music, organizers are reminding people to plan ahead. Allowed items include snacks and factory-sealed bottles of water. Louisiana residents with a credit card billed to a Louisiana ZIP code can buy discounted tickets on any day, not just Thursday.
City leaders said parking enforcement is being increased for the festival, with neighborhood residents once again preparing for packed streets around the Fair Grounds. New Orleans & Company projects hotel occupancy will rise through the weekend, peaking at 95% booked on Saturday.
Read more: New Orleans ramps up parking enforcement for Jazz Fest
And once the gates close, Jazz Fest does not really end. Clubs and venues across the city will host late-night shows, keeping the festival atmosphere going well into the evening. For many in New Orleans, that is the point. Jazz Fest is not just what happens at the Fair Grounds. It is what takes over the city.
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