New Orleans Jazz Fest & Other Events: April-May 2022
From jazz to food festivals to animal welfare events, April and May offer a thrilling variety of things to do in New Orleans, for those visiting in spring of 2022.
One of the most eagerly-awaited events is the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, taking place from 29 April to 8 May, serving up seven whole days of fabulous jazz performances.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Known simply as Jazz Fest among locals, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presents a vast array of music, food, arts and crafts, celebrating the cultural wonders of both New Orleans and the wider state of Louisiana.
Named Festival of the Year four times by Pollstar magazine, and called “the country's very best music festival” by Life magazine, Jazz Fest boasts 13 stages where you can hear jazz, African, gospel, Cajun, zydeco, blues, R&B, rock, funk, folk, Latin, Caribbean, and many other genres and subgenres.
Who's in this year's Jazz Fest line-up?
Some of the biggest names attending the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival this year aren't even jazz bands. These include The Who, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Lionel Richie. Other top names include Stevie Nicks, Jimmy Buffet & the Coral Reefer Band, Luke Combs, The Black Crowes, Willie Nelson, Charlie Wilson, Erykah Badu, The Avett Brothers, Norah Jones, Elvis Costello & the Imposters and The Revivalists.
Beyond Jazz Fest: Other places to enjoy jazz in New Orleans
Can't make it to Jazz Fest this year? No problem - there are many jazz-oriented events and attractions in New Orleans, throughout the year.
If you’re a fan of jazz, these attractions are not to be missed when you visit New Orleans…
New Orleans Jazz Museum
It's fitting that the birthplace of jazz is home to one of the finest museums in the genre.
New Orleans Jazz Museum celebrates all forms of jazz, runs hundreds of concerts each year, manages 15 festivals and boasts 25,000 artefacts.
The New Orleans Jazz Museum is within walking distance from most hotels in the French Quarter.
Daytime jazz cruise
A number of jazz-themed harbour cruises depart the French Quarter, complete with live jazz performances from the likes of Duke Heitger's Steamboat Stompers Jazz Trio.
A New Orleans jazz cruise costs around $52.00pp with lunch.
Credit: MusikAnimal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
That's right, New Orleans boasts an entire National Park for jazz! It hosts regular jazz performances - but do check timings before you visit.
The New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park is located in the French Quarter.
New Orleans Jazz walk of Fame
This historical monument features placards of the jazz greats and a statue of Louis Armstrong.
Located near the Algiers Ferry Terminal it’s also a great place to get some fresh air and exercise - and to soak up the unique New Orleans atmosphere.
Best places to enjoy jazz performances in New Orleans?
Given that New Orleans is the home of jazz, it comes as no surprise that there are an abundance of venues hosting live jazz performances for you to enjoy during your stay in the city.
Some of the best jazz venues in New Orleans include:
Palm Court Jazz Cafe
This sophisticated classic jazz spot offers Creole dinner menu, a mahogany bar - and of course, plenty of live jazz (from 7pm).
Mahogany Jazz Hall
Head to this moody jazz club and discover live music, cocktails and evocative vintage-style surroundings.
The Jazz Playhouse
Located in the Royal Sonesta Hotel, this rather retro jazz lounge offers food, drinks, a courtyard - and all that jazz!
Preservation Hall
Since 1961 Preservation Hall has been working to protect and promote traditional New Orleans jazz.
It’s located in the French Quarter and hosts regular jazz performances in its intimate surroundings.
A great place to see talented jazz musicians up-close.
It's not all about jazz?
Other events taking place in New Orleans in 2022
There’s plenty going on in New Orleans throughout the year, asides from Jazz Fest.
Here’s a taster of just some of the other exciting events coming up in New Orleans this April and May…
Wednesday at the Square: March 16, 2022 - June 1, 2022
That's right, while the end of April and beginning of May will be dominated by the soothing sounds of jazz, there's plenty more going on in springtime New Orleans.
Continuing through April, May and June is the Wednesday at the Square Concert, a series of free outdoor performances featuring well-known local artists. Among the indigenous musical styles on offer are jazz, rock, funk, swamp-pop, Latin rhythms and more.
Many of the names may be unknown to UK audiences, but the concert, which takes place in Lafayette Square Park, is sure to be a musically enriching experience. And just to be clear, it's on every Wednesday evening!
Zoo-to-Do: May 6, 2022
This event has been taking place annually in Audubon Zoo for more than 40 years, and has lost none of its popularity in that time. Run in support of wildlife conservation and New Orleans’ Audubon Zoo, the event features live music, food, drink, exclusive auctions and animal encounters. Has giving to charity ever been this much fun?
Bayou Boogaloo: May 20, 2022 - May 22, 2022
Returning as a multi-day micro concert series at venues across New Orleans, Bayou Boogaloo can be accessed by joining the Canopy Club for a VIP Weekend Pass, plus a a 2022 Poster, a 'Merchandise Perk', and a Membership Card with discounts for restaurants, stores and more.
Attendees are encouraged to bring along an inflatable or canoe so they can float along to the music! Tickets cost $25-30 in advance, $35-40 at the door.
Greek Fest: May 27, 2022 - May 29, 2022
If you love the joyous sounds of Greek music and Greek cuisine, then this spring is the perfect time to visit New Orleans. Taking place at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, there will be plenty of dancing and feasting, both of which will be propelled by an abundance of ouzo!
There are also childrens' activities and enchanting arts and crafts for sale. Free for under-12s.
New Orleans Travel Tips
When is the best time to visit New Orleans?
Spring is often considered the best time to visit New Orleans. The festivals and relatively mild weather are a big draw for tourists to New Orleans.
Alternatively, during the winter, you’ll find fewer tourists in New Orleans, although the weather is pleasant and it is cool enough to tour the city on foot. The lack of tourists means lower hotel rates and fewer crowds except during Sugar Bowl in January.
Summer in New Orleans is swelteringly hot, as well as being the rainy season with June being the city’s wettest month, which means many tourists avoid travelling to the city during this time, apart from during the New Orleans summer festivals.
In the Autumn, during October, New Orleans is packed with special events which bring the crowds and in turn, higher prices for accommodation.
When is hurricane season in New Orleans?
As the weather cools, the threat of hurricanes in New Orleans increase from late-August to September; although hurricanes can also arrive anytime from June to November.
Getting about New Orleans
New Orleans Streetcars are a great way to explore New Orleans. The historic New Orleans streetcars travel throughout the city on five different lines: the St Charles Streetcar route, the two Canal St Streetcar routes, the Riverfront Streetcar route and the Loyola Avenue/Union Terminal loop.
A one-way ride on the streetcar costs $1.25, and an additional $0.25 to transfer from one line/car to another.
If you’re intending to use the streetcars to explore New Orleans throughout your stay, look to purchase a Jazzy Pass.
For unlimited rides on the New Orleans streetcars, The Jazzy Pass, which can be purchased as 1 day, 3 day or 31 day pass, offers great value.
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