One of the events that you don’t want to miss is the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which is also known as Jazz Fest. This annual festival is the perfect destination for people who enjoy the music, art, culture, and heritage of New Orleans. People from all over the world come especially to attend the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. This year, in 2025, the festival will take place from April 24 to May 4. So you still have time to make your way there and have the time of your life. Here is your complete guide to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Read More:
- Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival: Lineup, Tickets, Travel Tips & More
- Best April Festivals: A Traveler’s Guide to Spring Events
- Top 20 Adventure Travel Influencers to Inspire Your Next Thrilling Trip
- The History of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
- The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Lineup
- The Perfect Time To Book
- Ticket Prices
- How To Get To the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
- Is the Festival Accessible?
- The Festival Is Sustainable
- What to Wear?
- What to Bring With You?
- The Food You Can Find There
- What They Said About the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival?
- The Markets There
The History of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Just like any other event, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has a rich history behind it. It was started by George Wein, and it was called The Louisiana Heritage Festival. Wein wanted to start a festival that has multiple stages for different musical acts along with cuisine and arts. The very first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival took place in 1970 from April 22 to 26. Back then, only 350 people attended the festival.
Now, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world. Some call it Jazz Fest. Right now, it takes place at the Fair Grounds Race Course and is overseen by the Jazz & Heritage Foundation. The rich history behind the festival makes it even more interesting to visit and enjoy.
- Location: Fair Grounds Race Course, 1751 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70119.
- Festival Gates Open: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Shuttle Opens: 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM
- Social media: Official website. Official Instagram. Official Facebook.
Chat with AI about Walking Tours in New Orleans The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Lineup
This year’s lineup includes a lot of amazing names. With many genres and different music types, you will surely hear some of the music you love. Some of the artists that will play this year include Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Luke Combs, Lil’ Wayne & The Roots, Lenny Kravitz, Kacey Musgraves, Santana, John Fogerty, Burna Boy, HAIM, Cage The Elephant, Laufey, Bryson Tiller, Harry Connick, Jr. Patti LaBelle, and a lot more.
The Perfect Time To Book
When it comes to the perfect time to book your flights and hotels, it is always better to book as early as possible. If you are late, you shouldn’t worry because you will still find empty spots to book. While it’s better to book your flights and hotel before the lineup is announced in January, you will still manage to book. It is always better to fly mid-week, so keep this in mind. No matter what year you travel, you will find a lot of things to do in New Orleans aside from attending the festival.
Ticket Prices
Of course, if you want to attend the festival you have to book tickets first. There are different kinds of tickets, including weekend passes and single-day tickets. The weekend passes are $369, and they allow you to attend the festival during all the days included in the pass. Along with the regular tickets, there are also four kinds of VIP tickets. For starters, there are GA+ tickets that provide access to lounges with private restrooms, a shaded area to relax in, and a full-service bar. These tickets cost $679.
Another VIP kind of ticket is the Big Chief VIP Experience, which provides you with special viewing access for most of the stages at the festival, plus private beverage stands. You can book it for the base price of $1899. VIP parking can be added to your ticket if you pay an additional $300.
There is also the Grand Marshal VIP Pass, which stands at $1749. These tickets give you up-close access to the main stages, along with private restrooms. Finally, there is the Krewe of Jazz Fest VIP Pass, which gives you access to a raised and covered viewing stand near the biggest stage. The base price is $929. You can book here.
| early bird | 1st weekend pass | 2nd weekend pass |
| date | April 24-27 | May 1-4 |
| price | $369 | $369 |
| single day | April 24 OR May 1 | April 24-27 OR May 1-4 |
| early bird (until April 8) | $89 | $119 |
| advance (starting April 9) | $99 | $129 |
| at the gate | $105 | $135 |
| child | $5 | $5 |
How To Get To the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
There are different ways to reach the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course in the Gentilly neighborhood. You can go there by bike if you would like to, but make sure to head early. This is because the reserved space for parking bikes gets filled quickly. You can also buy a 3-day pass for $9 for RTA Buses, which can help you get around. No matter what transportation you use, make sure not to miss the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
They also have single-day shuttle pickups for the price of $24 plus fees. You can “Add on” when purchasing the tickets online. Here are the shuttle pickup locations.
Official Jazz Fest Shuttle Departure Locations
- French Quarter (Steamboat NATCHEZ) 400 Toulouse St.
- Downtown (Sheraton Hotel) 500 Canal St.
- South Market District (Hyatt Regency) 601 Loyola Ave.
- City Park* (Near Filmore Ave.) 5700 Wisner Blvd. *Free Parking Location
Is the Festival Accessible?
When it comes to accessibility, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is quite accessible. It has a place for everyone, no matter their medical status. There is accessible seating available for visitors. They also allow wheelchairs, medical scooters, and service animals. The Access Center there will provide you with everything you need if you have a disability. In addition to all of this, the festival’s program is available in other formats. It is available in Braille, Large Print, and audio file.
The Festival Is Sustainable
Another thing to love about the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is how sustainable it is. In 2023, the festival was awarded the gold certification by the Council for Responsible Sport. This shows you their dedication to sustainability and community. If you want to help with sustainability, you can recycle items while you are at the festival. The festival being sustainable is one of the many reasons why you should visit it.
What to Wear?
When it comes to what to wear while at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the options are unlimited. There are a lot of different things you could wear, and all of them depend on your taste. Wear whatever outfit you enjoy and feel like it fits the vibes of the festival. Just make sure to check the weather every day before heading to the festival. This will help you know what kind of outfit you should wear to be prepared for the weather conditions.
What to Bring With You?
While at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, there are several things you can bring with you. For starters, try to have a credit card with you instead of just cash. This is because the festival’s tickets, food, beverages, crafts, and merchandise booths no longer accept cash; this is how things have been since 2023. Don’t worry, though, if you forgot and brought only cash with you. To make things easier, the festival offers cash exchange booths. Bringing collapsible chairs and blankets to sit on is always a good idea. When it comes to snacks, small snacks are allowed. Finally, make sure to bring sunscreen with you.
The Food You Can Find There
An important part of any festival and not just the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, is the kind of food available there. There are a lot of amazing local vendors in the two areas dedicated to food vendors. If you have kids with you, you will be happy to know that there is a kids’ food section. The kinds of food offered at the festival are quite diverse. From sandwiches to seafood, you won’t run out of options. Plus, vegan and vegetarian options are also available. Two things that you have to try are the Crawfish Monica and Mango Freeze.
What They Said About the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival?
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival’s popularity makes it receive a lot of honors and mentions. According to New Orleans, the festival was named the Festival of the Year four times by Pollstar magazine. The Wall Street Journal says that the festival “showcases a wider, deeper lineup of essential American musical styles than any festival in the nation.” On the other hand, Life Magazine called the festival “the country’s very best music festival.”
The Markets There
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival doesn’t just have food booths in it, but it also has three markets for you to browse. The first one is Congo Square African Marketplace where you will find local, national, and international artists. They showcase ancient crafting techniques. Another market is Contemporary Crafts. You should head there if you want to find handcrafted clothing, leather goods, paintings, jewelry, and more. The last market is Louisiana Marketplace where you can find traditional and modern art.
We have told you everything you need to know about the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. You are now ready to head to this version in 2025 and have the time of your life at one of the best music festivals out there. Don’t forget to taste the food while there!
