EvENts Seasonal Festivals you don't want to miss! krEWE oF Boo © Richard Nowitz Home to more than 130 festivals and events a year, New Orleans is a city known for its celebrations. NOLAXNOLA This celebration throughout the city lets you explore many eclectic neighborhoods while jamming out to some incredible live music this fall! KREWE OF BOO! New Orleans’ beloved Halloween parade rolls through downtown and the French Quarter in late October. Artists design 3D paper mâché and fiberglass props that mimic all of Halloween’s spooky creatures. Don’t miss this chance to dress up in costume and celebrate in the “Boo Carré.” The parade is free to attend. FRIED CHICKEN FESTIVAL Marking 10 years this fall, the National Fried Chicken Festival offers all the crispy, crunchy, spicy goodness from local and regional cooks. Live music fills the festival grounds, where you can eat, shop, and jam to your heart’s content. PO-BOY FESTIVAL Enjoy a famous New Orleans po-boy (or two!) while paying homage to the Uptown Carrollton neighborhood. At the festival, you can try dozens of varieties of the classic New Orleans sandwich, visit one of the stages for live music, shop at a local art market, and taste plenty of other food as well. From classic fried shrimp to Thanksgiving and ice cream po-boys, this fest is a food lover’s paradise. OKTOBERFEST Celebrate all things German with beer, brats, music, and more. Taking place on the banks of Bayou St. John, this family-friendly event features a dog parade/costume contest, kids corner, more than 20 German beers, a variety of German wines, and over 20 types of schnapps. 38 Po-Boy FEstivAL ©Katherine Kimball
New Orleans Official Visitors Guide 2026 Summer/Fall: Page 38
