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    Wednesday at the Square

    4.5 (43 reviews)
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    Eric Lindell
    Mike T.

    What could be better... Beautiful park in (mostly) beautiful evenings with free excellent music, food, drinks, people mingling.... a great way to spend 8-10 weekday evenings in the spring/summer. Bring a chair, or walk around. Vendors selling art, crafts, photography and clothes items. It's a good time. See you there!

    John L. H.

    This is a cool event. Kudos to the YLC for putting on this great event. The 12 week free concert series takes place in Lafayette Square and has great local vendors and great music. At the last event the Radiators played and talked about retirement. Of course the have been threatening retirement since at least 1994, but they put on a great show anyway. For the food and drinks you need tickets. Each ticket is $1, and beers are four tickets. Abita was on hand with Jockamo IPA, Amber and another kind I can't remember. There are several parking garages and lots in the area. Just remember not to park in front of the courthouse or you will be towed.

    The Radiators
    Tamia G.

    Come every Wednesday during the season for free live music and great food!! It's free to attend. Event parking is about $10 at area lots. Also, I highly suggest that you bring cash to buy tickets for food/drinks: $1 per ticket. Although they have a portable ATM, that line is long. There is also have a bike valet, to park your bikes. Overall, this is a wonderful after-work mini vacay in the CBD, where you can sample local yummy-goodness, buy locally created art/jewelry/clothing and hear local musicians croon the evening away.

    LaToya L.

    Wednesday at the Square was a nice outdoor event. There was live music and tons of food vendors. There was also art vendors with jewelry, shirts and other merchandise to purchase. I tried some Abita beer here for the 1st time. Proceeds from sales go to to local charities. I love good causes for the community and that can also be fun at the same time.

    Trumpet Mafia
    Lynn J.

    I'm here every Wednesday because energizes me to get through the rest of the week. See my photos of the artists and I'll Write more soon!

    from website
    Jessica R.

    Wednesday at the Square has become a rite of spring in New Orleans, and I look forward to the concert series every year. And I'm pretty sure I'm not alone... Wednesday at the Square, fondly known as WATS among staff and volunteers, is a free 12-week concert series in Lafayette Square that takes place each spring from April-June. It's been around for, almost 10 years now, I think, and was originally started by the Downtown Development District. The Young Leadership Council, who traditionally provided volunteers for the event, took it over entirely post-Katrina when the DDD was forced to scale back and focus on things like clean, safe streets and other recovery-related issues. The YLC took WATS to unprecedented levels of success (which, I think, was partly fueled by the post-K desire for community and positive events, which this is an excellent example of), and this concert series effectively doubled the nonprofit's yearly operating budget. How do I know all this? Because I used to work for YLC, and had the distinct pleasure of working on WATS for 2 1/2 seasons, right when they made the transition from DDD to YLC management. Working on an event like WATS, with the 3 person staff that YLC had at the time, was a tremendous amount of work, but I still miss the days when I was running around the Square paying security/bands/vendors, coordinating the armored truck and, once, figuring out how to operate a fire hydrant. It was definitely an adventure. The best part about being involved with WATS, though, was the fact that I could say, as a nonprofit employee, my salary is *entirely* funded by beer sales. Which makes the YLC's annual Role Model Awards Gala, their other major source of operating funds, an event whose revenue goes 100% to programs. It's pretty cool to see. The YLC is a great organization in general, WATS is an amazing cultural asset that New Orleans offers, and it's awesome that things have worked out the way that they have. About the event itself: the concerts are free, and are paid for by food and beer sales (as well as sponsorship dollars). As a result, no outside food or drinks are allowed, and I believe the event recently became non-smoking, as well. Food vendors range from Sushi to Lucy's to Rotolo's pizza, and Abita Amber, Abita Light, Purple Haze and Turbo Dog are available for 3 tickets. (FYI, you can't buy food or booze with cash at the Square--you have to buy tickets, which are used as currency. They're good for the entire series, but once the season is over, your tickets can no longer be used. i.e. You can't use 2009 tickets for the 2010 series. Don't even try.) The lineup is usually announced several weeks in advance, and you can visit http://wednesdayatthesquare.com for updates and information. You may even be able to purchase tickets in advance via the website. There is, of course, a full bar available in addition to beer, plus snowballs and sometimes daiquiris and coffee. You're welcome to bring your kids, your dog, your friends and family, coworkers, etc. WATS is in the heart of the CBD, goes from 5-7:30 p.m., and therefore is much beloved by the after-work crowd. (Though I know for a fact that people come from the Northshore and Mississippi just for these events.) The show DOES go on, rain or shine, so if you're wondering about that pending thunderstorm, don't bother. WATS will happen no matter how hard it's raining. And usually only the most hardcore of fans brave the rain. More often than not, though, it only looks like it'll rain, and the weather ends up being gorgeous. You can attempt to find parking on the street (good luck), or there's a garage on the Square that offers discounted parking on Wednesday nights. It's about $4, I think. Post-WATS people head to Lucy's and, now, Capdeville, both of which get PACKED after the Square. What else? No cash, buy tickets (you can use credit cards now!), bring your dog, don't bring beer... I think that pretty much covers it. And know that your fun and beer money is going to support a very worthwhile organization, so it's a win-win-win for everybody.

    Colin Lake & Anders Osborne
    Bob B.

    there is no place like New Orleans Okay, FREE music from TOP ACTS during the MID-WEEK? So much talent and entertainment in this city it is overflowing. This is a GREAT opportunity to bring the casual music fan or expose kids to the wonderful performers this city is home to. Whats even more mind-blowing is that when this ends, Wednesday at the Point will be kicking off not long after it (MORE FREE FREAKING MUSIC!!!)

    Jamming
    Jonathan C.

    This event is very family friendly. Bring your kids, bring your dog, bring your in laws, leave your cats. Please leave your cats. This is a free event. If you want booze or food, you have to buy tickets and exchange the tickets for the times of your choice. He food selection is extensive. Many great restaurants set up tents here, so be sure to bring friends so you can all sample the dishes. The musicians are all pretty great. There is usually two stages (though I swear there used to be two). There are projectors set up so you can see the band playing no matter where you're at during the event. The shops have anything from paintings to ties to paintings to shorts to paintings to cups to paintings to jewelry. So much to choose from. Good job YLC

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    Great spring festival concert series featuring local artists and great food.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Wednesday at the Square

    Review Highlights - Wednesday at the Square

    The 12 week free concert series takes place in Lafayette Square and has great local vendors and great music.

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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    New Orleans Oyster Festival - Chargrilled oysters

    New Orleans Oyster Festival

    4.2(19 reviews)
    0.6 miFrench Quarter
    $

    I love this fest!! I only got to go Sunday (2017)…read more Saw a couple of awesome bands, and had some great food. Antoine's had an Oysters, baby scallops, and peas penne pasta in a white wine sauce topped with a two cheese mix and panko. Let me say, for $8, it was a generous portion ....but even more importantly, it was generous on flavor! I have been saving up to go to Antoines, but I'm going to have to go anyway (lol). I was completely satisfied. I also had a Fried Oyster Po boy from Acme Oyster House. I think it was ok, but the bun to oyster ratio was not in the oyster's favor. The Brass-O-Holics are an awesome group, and their unique twist on classic R&B and hip hop had the crowd dancing, and grooving. Excellent musicians, soloists, and very tight. I will look for them again. Although I didn't get to hear/see Bag O Donuts, I've seen them before and they are also, and excellent, entertaining group.

    This was my first time going to oyster fest and I was only there for 30 minutes because of the…read moredreadful Summer heat! Other than the heat, the food was delicious! (Fave to least) Red Fish Grill Oyster BBQ Po-boy This was probably my top favorite out of all the vendors! I mean you get some mad flavor from the crystal bbq and the blue cheese dressing cool down some of the spice - perfect combo! Trennese Oyster Ceviche Oh this was great especially being in the heat. This came with 4 total and each topped with shrimp chunks, white fish, and bell peppers - very delicious and fresh. Mac n' Cheese with Boudin The shell pasta was perfectly cooked and the cheese was the perfect consistency. I can't recall oyster being in this dish but it was defiantly seafood mixed in. DTB Oyster and Grits Nice texture in the grits with pickled veggies on top! Corn meal oysters were a bit small, but the overall flavors were on point. Little Korea BBQ Ice Pops - (Mango, Vietnamese Coffee, Cherry & Chocolate Chips) My favorite had to be the mango! It had a nice and smooth texture, very refreshing. My only request is changing the date to a cooler season. I wasn't able to enjoy my time at the festival because I spent my time complaining about the heat. I'm apologizing for not having the prices because it was too hot and I was too lazy to take a photo of each vendor. I will do better next year!

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    Southern Decadence

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    4.6(9 reviews)
    0.8 miFrench Quarter

    Fancy attire, joyful laughs, beads, and bows. It's a glorious day to attend a Parade, so off to…read moreSouthern Decadence we go! Dubbed the Gay Mardi Gras, Southern Decadence is an annual 5-day LGBTQ+ event held in New Orleans over Labor Day weekend. The festivities begin on Thursday and conclude on Monday with a grand Parade held on Sunday. It originally started as an end of summer party in 1972 by a group of 50 friends and was dubbed "Southern Decadence Party: Come as your favorite Southern Decadent. You'll find numerous parties throughout the French Quarter with people dressed in festive attire. I'm all about Decadence and this celebration is about letting loose and having fun because what happens in the Quarter stays in the Quarter. This was my second year attending this fabulous event. It's always a great time. The Parade is a highlight for me. I love the energy and enthusiasm from the performers and attendees. The flamboyant costumes are fantastic and the performances entertaining. This time was extra special because I got to share it with my darling friends Paula & Rob. It was a wonderful day filled with laughter, love, & memories that we'll cherish for years to come.

    I live in New Orleans and always look forward to Southern Decadence! It's a weekend where everyone…read moreis so happy and just having fun. Be sure and hit up all the fun gay bars, and don't miss the parade. It's colorful and entertaining with a bit of naughty sprinkled in. Enjoy!!

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    Southern Decadence
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    Louisiana Seafood Festival - Village People

    Louisiana Seafood Festival

    4.3(20 reviews)
    3.1 miCity Park

    Shoutout to my sweet friend, Yelper Angie, who hooked me up with tickets for Saturday!…read more This was the first time I attended the festival so I wasn't sure what to expect! Fortunately my bestie was there earlier and told me where they parked and I figured out where it was being held in City Park! The festival is open from 11am-9pm and I avoided the heat and came around 5:30pm ish when it was cooling off! Plus I missed the slight drizzle that occurred earlier so that was good! The entrance fee is $10 I believe which isn't bad for a festival but it appears to be free when it initially started. I think that the Red Fish Grill's BBQ oyster poboy was delicious! Meanwhile I tried Galatoire's shrimp remoulade. I have never been to Galatoire's and have it on my list of classic New Orleans restaurants to experience. Well, the shrimp remoulade was just ok. I kind of expected to be blown away since they are a New Orleans institution where I believe you have to dress up and they will lend gentlemen a sports coat if they aren't wearing one. There were craft booths, various types of alcohol booths where you could sample their beverages, etc. But my favorite part was the music! I caught The Village People ending their set with their classic YMCA. And I closed out the festival listening to "The Romantics!" And can I tell you I thoroughly enjoyed dancing to their music and listening to them rock out! It was a good crowd and I was able to see them from where I was standing. Plus they did an encore! I thoroughly enjoyed this festival! My only suggestion is to have more shopping booths for the shopper in me! Hehe Happy Seafood Festing!

    This was the mother of all seafood festivals, a true seafood lovers dream! From char grilled…read moreoysters to soft shell crab po boys to alligator sausage jumbalaya to crawfish sushi rolls, the options were endless. We grabbed a spot under the trees to protect ourselves from the scorching sun and were lucky to get a seat on one of the two random patio chairs/couches later on. The live band provided some great entertainment. Nice way to spend a day with the family tasting all the unique southern seafood dishes.

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    Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival

    4.0(22 reviews)
    1.2 miTremé

    Family friendly festival for anyone of all ages. I love how this festival takes place in the small…read moreLafayette Square Park yet they're able to fit so much in there. Two stages, a large art and a large food section. I also love that they have a bike valet, completely for free so you don't have to risk parking your bike in the streets where it can get stolen or vandalized. Entering the festival, there's tons of grass area to sit and enjoy the music. Everyone is pretty respectful and not rowdy. There's a huge food section which has about 6-10 vendors. The food is very reasonably priced and not jacked up for the festival. Most vendors also take credit card which is great. Entry to the festival is also completely free! They do take donations though! Overall, very fun family oriented festival. Not too crowded and easy to get to. Parking would definitely be a problem so get there early!

    Every year I volunteer with the NOFF on the weekend so I can finish my shifts and head over here…read morefor music and BBQ. Eventhough it started pouring down today and with muddy ground, we still had so much fun. The food was plentyful and so tasty. The best way to try all the food is to bring a bunch of your friends and share foods to know which line to stand. Because of the rain, this year it was only myself and another friend end up going to the festivals. We both also end up getting free swags from Southern Comforts. A win win for us.

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    NOLA FoodFest - Pecan Pie from the Round Top Cafe in Texas.

    NOLA FoodFest

    3.9(20 reviews)
    0.5 miCentral Business District

    We went to the "Houston Crawfish & Music Festival" at the "Houston Fair Grounds". 1. Houston had…read morenothing to do with this, it was vendor ripping people off. 2. It was at 4603 Orem Road, not the Houston Fair Grounds. 3. The charged $75 per person for "VIP" all you could eat. Yet all of us who paid VIP stood there and watched as they filled the orders of cash customers and ignored us. Basically they took the money of the prepaid bought the crawfish and sold it to the cash customers. All VIP started complaining as they were running outvof crawfish before we got any. 4. Crawfish was undercooked, potatoes were still raw in the middle. 5. Drinks were $12 to $16 for one. This was a huge rip off stay away from any event that has NOLA FEST GROUP LLC on it. Totally unorganized.

    I went to this festival with high hopes. I haven't been to this fest since 2010 and remembered…read moreliking it back then. This yr I was rather disappointed in both the food and the lack of vendors. There were about 30 vendors out there (which I thought to be rather small). I could literally walk the whole area in 5 minutes that's how small it was. I really like Dunbar's food in general and tried their strawberry shortcake. It was a letdown as they used frozen strawberries and it was caked in whipped cream. The ribs from this BBQ place in Memphis was so-so. The guy who was sitting next to me with his ribs said, "These are the best ribs I have ever had." I, on the other hand, thought the ribs were average at best. This is a festival I will probably skip in future years unless I happen to be in the Quarter that weekend during the day. FYI: Prices were reasonable as most items were between $4-7 for decent-sized portions.

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    New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

    New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

    4.4(240 reviews)
    2.5 miFairgrounds

    The best party in the US! The food and music will blow your mind. It's a must do on anyone's list.read more

    As an avid concert-goer who has attended many outdoor concerts and festivals over the years, I…read morewanted to share an honest and balanced review of this year's experience. The artists themselves were very good overall. The Eagles delivered the classic songs fans came to hear, and standouts for me were and , who really managed to shine through. Crowd engagement during songs like" Hotel California"and Take it Easy" was fantastic, and the energy from the sold-out crowd was undeniable. That said, the overall venue experience left a lot of room for improvement. The performances often felt rushed, and sound quality throughout much of the festival seemed muffled or poorly balanced at times. For first-time attendees seeing some of these artists, I honestly think the sound issues may have affected their impression of otherwise talented performers. The venue itself was extremely crowded, with very long lines and very high prices throughout the event. Most importantly, I would not recommend this festival for individuals with disabilities or mobility concerns. Accessibility and crowd flow appeared to be significant challenges and made the experience much more difficult than it needed to be. This is not meant as a rant, but as constructive feedback from someone who truly enjoys live music and has attended many well-run outdoor events. With better organization, sound management, and improved accessibility planning, this festival could provide a much better overall attendee experience.

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    New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
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    Wednesday at the Square - festivals - Updated June 2026

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