NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Fall festival season is underway across metro New Orleans, bringing dozens of events to Southeast Louisiana.
The packed calendar kicked off with the first full weekend of celebrations, including the 11-day NOLAxNOLA music showcase, which runs through Oct. 4. Now in its sixth year, the event features 300 live performances across more than 50 local venues, including The Broadside in New Orleans.
Sari Jordan with Art Camp 504 helping children create Mardi Gras masks at The Broadside, which featured performances, arts and crafts and local vendors.
“They get really focused on their masks, and they start doing really detailed stuff, so it’s really fun to watch them make things,” Jordan said.
Malissa White showed up for the musicians. “First and foremost, the music, right? Live music hits differently,” White said. “It’s just wonderful.”
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In St. Charles Parish, the annual Alligator Festival continues through Sept. 27, raising scholarship funds for local graduates. What started as a $250 Rotary Club award has grown to more than $50,000 annually, totaling more than $1 million in educational opportunities, according to festival organizers.
On the Northshore, the Village of Folsom hosted its Fall Festival & Chili Cook-off on Sept. 26 with an antique tractor exhibit, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, food trucks and family activities. St. Tammany Parish Fair will celebrate its 116th year Sept. 30-Oct. 4. The fair brings carnival rides, livestock shows, rodeos, gospel music, horticulture exhibits and fair food to Covington.
Major Changes for Established Favorites
Several legacy events return with major format and venue updates:
- National Fried Chicken Festival (Oct. 2–4): Marking its 10th anniversary, the festival expands for the first time to a full three-day weekend and moves to the Lakefront Arena Festival Grounds. “We felt like the 10th anniversary was a good opportunity to take the next step,” said Cleveland Spears III, founder and executive producer. “We want to be a major destination festival. We want to attract folks to come into New Orleans and celebrate a weekend here and spend their money here and support our restaurants and this local economy.”
- Gretna Festin’ (Saturdays in October): The traditional three-day Gretna Fest shifts to a free concert series dubbed “Gretna Festin’.” Starting Oct. 3, the event brings food, live music and family activities to the batture across four consecutive Saturdays. “Our businesses need that opportunity this year,” Gretna Mayor Belinda Constant said. “They will be visible on the batture with specialty drinks and great food from all of the restaurants here in the city of Gretna.”
October Highlights
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October features a dense lineup of neighborhood gatherings, culinary showcases and seasonal celebrations:
- Abita Fall Fest (Oct. 2): Abita Brewing Company hosts the event at the Abita Springs Trailhead Park, featuring two stages of live music, art and food trucks.
- Fall Garden Festival (Oct. 3): City Park Conservancy and the LSU AgCenter host the annual horticultural event at the New Orleans Botanical Garden, featuring more than 50 plant vendors, educational exhibits and live music. “The Fall Garden Festival is one of the region’s premier gardening events, and we are honored to host it each season,” said Rebecca Dietz, president and CEO of City Park Conservancy. “This day of beauty, bonding and botanicals is special not just for the Park, but for the community as a whole. We invite plant fans far and wide to join us in the Heart of the City.
- Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival and Gentilly Fest (Oct. 9–11): Weekend celebrations highlight regional music and local food.
- Deutsches Haus Oktoberfest (Oct. 9–10, 16-17, 23-24): Traditional German food, music and beer in New Orleans.
- Northshore Beer Festival (Oct. 11): The third annual festival runs from noon to 3 p.m. at the Mandeville Trailhead, offering tastings from Louisiana craft breweries, food trucks and entertainment.
- NOLA Funk Fest and Praise Fest (Oct. 16–18): The separate events celebrate New Orleans funk heritage and gospel music.
- New Orleans Film Festival (Oct. 22–27 - in person, virtually until Nov. 1): The New Orleans Film Society presents its annual showcase of independent cinema across local venues.
- Olde Towne Slidell Zombie Crawl (Oct. 23): The 12th annual free block party on Carey Street runs from 5 to 10 p.m. with trunk-or-treating, crafters, live entertainment and fall activities, complemented by the six-block Slidell Street Fair antiques and craft market.
- Krewe of BOO! (Oct. 24): The official New Orleans Halloween parade rolls through downtown, alongside family favorites such as Ghosts in the Oaks at City Park on Oct. 15 and Boo at the Zoo Oct. 16-18.
- Freaky Deaky NOLA (Halloween Weekend): A new festival takes over Mardi Gras World.
November Highlights
- Beignet Fest (Nov. 7) & Oak Street Po’Boy Festival (Nov. 8): Dedicated food festivals honoring signature culinary staples.
- Fit Fête (Nov. 13–14): Debuting at City Park, the health and wellness weekend includes the New Orleans Community Games, the free WellNXT Wellness Festival, and the return of the New Orleans Marathon and Half-Marathon. Tourism leaders note that autumn expansion targets diverse audiences. “We have such a diverse offering of events and festivals, but there are some visitors who may not consider coming to New Orleans for a music festival. But they would come here to run a marathon,” said Kelly Schulz, senior vice president of communications and public relations at New Orleans & Company.
- We Belong Here (Nov. 13–15): The electronic music festival debuts in New Orleans at the newly expanded Goldring Woldenberg Park along the riverfront, featuring a signature 360-degree stage.
- LUNA Fête (Nov. 13–15): The annual festival of light, art and technology.
- Wings Over the Delta (Nov. 21): Plaquemines Parish hosts its first-ever birding festival at the Woodlands Conservancy in Belle Chasse.
- Bayou Classic (Nov. 26–28): Thanksgiving weekend welcomes the traditional rivalry between Grambling State University and Southern University, featuring the Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 26, the Greek Show and Battle of the Bands on Nov. 27, and the fan festival and 53rd annual football game on Nov. 28 at the Caesars Superdome.
- Holiday New Orleans Style (Beginning Nov. 27): Celebration in the Oaks opens at City Park, kicking off the winter holiday lineup including NOLA ChristmasFest, Réveillon dining, Jackson Square caroling and Mississippi River bonfires.
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