# French Quarter Festival: what to do between sessions in New Orleans

Source: https://eventweekends.com/festival/french-quarter-fest/
Last checked: 2026-11-02

## In short

- **When:** 8 to 11 April 2027 (expected, not yet confirmed by the organiser)
- **Where:** French Quarter stages, New Orleans, United States
- **Free time:** Music runs from the afternoon, so mornings and the day after are free.
- **Best base:** Warehouse District and CBD: Walk to the Quarter.
- **Getting there:** Louis Armstrong (MSY) is 25 minutes from the French Quarter; flat taxi fare to the CBD.
- **Weather:** In April, New Orleans averages highs of about 24°C and lows of 18°C, with roughly 128 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 12 h 39 min of daylight.
- **Top things to do:** Swamp boat tour; French Quarter food tour; Plantation tour

## Know before you go

- Free admission across more than 20 stages.

## Weather and what to pack

In April, New Orleans averages highs of about 24°C and lows of 18°C, with roughly 128 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 12 h 39 min of daylight.
- A rain jacket or umbrella: it rains often in this month.
- Earplugs, a power bank and a small backpack; campers add a head torch.

## Airport to venue

Louis Armstrong (MSY) is 25 minutes from the French Quarter; flat taxi fare to the CBD.

Walk; streetcars on Canal Street.

## Where to stay

- **budget:** Mid-City. Streetcar to the Quarter.
- **mid:** Warehouse District and CBD. Walk to the Quarter.
- **luxury:** French Quarter. Historic hotels.
- Hotels we would book: The Quisby (budget), Ace Hotel New Orleans (mid), Hotel Monteleone (luxury)

## Day plans for the free hours

### Before the gates open (Thursday 8 April)

Music runs from the afternoon. Mornings are free: get out on the water or into town.
- Easy outing: Cooking class. Creole dishes.
- Free: Jackson Square and street musicians.

### A day off-site (Friday 9 April)

Skip the early acts and take a day trip. Be back for the headliners.
- Half-day: Swamp boat tour. Alligators and bayous.
- Eat: Commander's Palace, Creole jazz brunch

### Campers: shower, food and a break

Day passes for pools and spas, and a real meal in town.
- Rain or heat backup: New Orleans Museum of Art.
- Eat: Cochon, Cajun

### Recovery day (Monday 12 April)

Slow outings only.
- Easy outing: French Quarter food tour. Gumbo, beignets and po-boys.
- Eat: Parkway Bakery, Po-boys

## Tours worth booking

- [Swamp boat tour](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=New%20Orleans%20swamp%20tour&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-french-quarter-fest): Alligators and bayous.
- [French Quarter food tour](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=New%20Orleans%20food%20tour&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-french-quarter-fest): Gumbo, beignets and po-boys.
- [Jazz cruise on the Steamboat Natchez](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=Steamboat%20Natchez&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-french-quarter-fest): Mississippi sunset.
- [Ghost and voodoo tour](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=New%20Orleans%20ghost%20tour&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-french-quarter-fest): French Quarter stories.
- [Plantation tour](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=New%20Orleans%20plantation%20tour&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-french-quarter-fest): Whitney or Oak Alley.
- [Cooking class](https://www.getyourguide.com/s/?q=New%20Orleans%20cooking%20class&partner_id=BJZNH3H&cmp=ew-md-french-quarter-fest): Creole dishes.

## Where to eat

- Café du Monde: Beignets
- Commander's Palace: Creole jazz brunch
- Cochon: Cajun
- Parkway Bakery: Po-boys

## With kids

- Audubon Aquarium.
- Audubon Zoo.

## Rainy-day backups

- National WWII Museum.
- New Orleans Museum of Art.

## Getting around

- Streetcars and the RTA app; parade days close most of Uptown and the CBD.

## Questions people ask

### When is French Quarter Festival 2027?

The next edition is 8 to 11 April 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

### What is the weather like during French Quarter Festival?

In April, New Orleans averages highs of about 24°C and lows of 18°C, with roughly 128 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 12 h 39 min of daylight.

### How do I get from the airport to French Quarter stages?

Louis Armstrong (MSY) is 25 minutes from the French Quarter; flat taxi fare to the CBD. Walk; streetcars on Canal Street.

### Where should I stay for French Quarter Festival?

For most visitors the best base is Warehouse District and CBD: Walk to the Quarter.

### What else can we do around French Quarter Festival?

Good short outings in New Orleans include Swamp boat tour, French Quarter food tour, Cooking class. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

### What is there for kids and families near French Quarter Festival?

Family-friendly picks: Swamp boat tour. Audubon Aquarium.

### How far is French Quarter stages from New Orleans centre?

About 1 km in a straight line. Walk; streetcars on Canal Street.

More in New Orleans: https://eventweekends.com/city/new-orleans/