Celebrating Juneteenth!

Juneteenth is the commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. It was on June 19, 1865, that Union troops overcame the resistance in Galveston, Texas, and announced the Civil War was over and enslaved people were free. While the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863, it wasn’t until this day, two and a half years later, over two months after General Lee surrendered, that federal forces were able to influence and overcome the resistance in Galveston, and enforce President Lincoln’s Executive Order.

Today Juneteenth is a national day of pride that celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. On Juneteenth we acknowledge the African American spirit and pay tribute to the roles and contributions which have enriched our society. And for New Orleans, we have a lot to celebrate!

Mardi Gras Indians Super Sunday - 3/19

Mardi Gras Indians have been parading in New Orleans during Carnival season at least since the mid-19th century. The tribes consist of Black carnival revelers who dress up for Mardi Gras in beautifully decorated, intricate suits influenced by the ceremonial apparel of Native Americans. Mardi Gras Indians and their tribes parade throughout the City on Super Sunday, but the most popular celebration occurs in Central City. Notwithstanding the popularity of such activities for tourists and residents alike, the phenomenon of the Mardi Gras Indians is said to reflect both a vital musical history and an equally vital attempt to express internal social dynamics. Don’t miss this unique cultural event!

The New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival - January 18 - 21, 2023

Little Freddie King and Ghalia Volt will kickoff the 7th annual CBG Festival at the New Orleans Jazz Museum! More than twenty professional acts will perform, making the event the largest of its type in the world. The New Orleans Cigar Box Guitar Festival is a unique celebration of the art, music, and cultural history of homemade stringed instruments in the city where those rudimentary devices played a key role in the early development of both the jazz and blues musical traditions. But, one of the keys to the uniqueness of the festival is that it's not a Jazz festival or a Blues festival .... not a Folk festival or a Rock festival. It's a music festival performed on unique instruments. The cigar box guitar world is populated by musicians of almost every inclination, representing the various genres, sub-genres and combined genres of today's music. The CBG festival reflects that wide array. Only 100 seats are being sold, guaranteeing each and every attendee a comfortable and intimate experience in the New Orleans Jazz Museum's state-of-the-art 3rd floor Performance Center. Enjoy this unique music festival!

Carnival Season Begins on January 6th!

Epiphany, on January 6, has been recognized as the start of the New Orleans Carnival season since at least 1900; locally, it is sometimes also known as Twelfth Night. Carnival season is a time for eating, drinking and partying before the 40 days of Lent, characterized by sacrifice and fasting. Carnival is filled with parades, balls, parties and other celebrations culminating in Mardi Gras, which is French for “Fat Tuesday”. Mardi Gras always occurs on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, and Carnival ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday, as Lent begins.

Christmas Eve Bonfires on the Levee - 12/24/2022

The Great River Road between New Orleans and Baton Rouge can lay claim on one of the more unusual public December holiday lighting displays. It’s here on the earthen levees containing the Mississippi River that local Christmas lights aren’t colored bulbs, but instead dozens of 20-feet-high flaming pyramids of burning logs.

The Christmas bonfires, as locals call them, are mostly teepee-shaped, but some can be odd shapes paying tribute to the river’s heritage—shapes ranging from miniature plantation homes to tiny replica paddlewheel steamships. Bonfires are built by families, friends and co-workers who visit, cook and mingle between the fires. It’s a local celebration with an environment akin to football tailgating, and the practice has continued for generations. 

Luna Fête - 12/15 - 18/2022

LUNA (Light Up NOLA Arts) Fête is a visionary initiative by the Arts Council New Orleans. We utilize local iconic architecture and contemporary light, sound installation, motion graphics, and video-mapping practices to create a series of artistic large-scale outdoor light installations across the city each December. By stimulating connectivity across sectors, we shine a light on New Orleans and demonstrate how Art Transforms Communities. This festival is a cultural exchange that fosters both international economic stimulus and increased awareness of and opportunities for the local arts community. LUNA Fête illuminates the intersection of art, architecture, technology, film, community engagement, and tourism. The project creates the next generation of family-friendly outdoor spectacle that is consistent with the New Orleans community and street-based celebration. It inspires awe and connects people to a new era of contemporary art.