Category: Events

Vehicular traffic restricted in the Vieux Carre due to French Quarter Fest

French Quarter Fest opening day parade 2022. | Cedric Ellsworth
New Orleans has restricted vehicular traffic in the French Quarter due to the four-day French Quarter Festival

that kicked off Thursday, although residents can acquire access passes at the police department.

City officials said that the New Orleans Police Department will restrict traffic to ensure pedestrian safety and that intermittent street closures might be required as crowds get larger.

Closures include Bourbon Street, from Iberville to St. Ann streets, which will be closed to vehicular traffic from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Thursday, Friday Saturday and Sunday.

In addition, the following streets and intersections will be closed to traffic from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday:

  • Canal Street from Chartres to Burgundy streets 
  • North Rampart Street from Iberville to St. Ann streets 
  • Decatur Street from Conti to Dumaine streets 
  • Intersection of North Peters Street and Canal Street 

All vehicular traffic will be blocked for on-street stages on Saturday and Sunday, located at 1000, 500 and 400 blocks of Royal Street, and the 600 and 700 blocks of Bourbon Street.

A full “Mardi Gras” closure will be in effect Friday to Sunday. Public safety officials will screen vehicles entering the French Quarter’s perimeter on Iberville, Decatur, Dumaine and North Rampart streets. Only residents, employees, hotel guests and taxis/ride hailing services will be allowed to drive vehicles into the French Quarter, according to New Orleans officials.

No on-street parking or vehicular traffic into the French Quarter will be allowed between Iberville, North Rampart, Dumaine and Decatur streets, except vehicles that have permits. Permits are available at the NOPD’s Eighth District Station at 300 Royal St.

FQMD seeks post-French Quarter Fest clean-up volunteers

Chris has risen (sort of)

Our block of Toulouse Street was the staging area for the (formally known as Chris Owens) Easter Parade. Just keep her name on it I say. One float had a life size cut-out of her. It creeped the fuck out of me when I first saw it. I thought they had dug her up. Be honest, you know she still probably looks the same now.

At work I spotted the last float had a sign on it that read “Happy Easter, the Cantrell Family.” I thought “Cool, some more grimacing Latoya pictures.” Nah, wrong Cantrell family. She wouldn’t allow herself to be the last float unless it was the biggest with brass marching band.

I was still in a prime location to get some pics of the set up. That means they climb up on a float and start working on a buzz. I sat up on a fire escape to take these pics. Smoking a bowl and sniping with the camera. A skill I learned playing GTA that I never thought would have real world application.

Sitting here going through the shots listening to the soundtrack of Jesus Christ Superstar. About the only tradition I have on this holiday. I always viewed the story through a purely political narrative. The backward corrupt time in human history when tyrants would discredit and arrest their political opponents. Thankfully we would never consider such things in our enlightened and progressive days.

FQMD seeks post-French Quarter Fest clean-up volunteers

The French Quarter Management District is looking for clean-up volunteers needed after the conclusion of French Quarter Fest on April 16.

The FQMD’s effort is part of its Keep the Quarter Clean program and Love the Boot Week, a state-wide litter removal and beautification campaign running from April 17-23.

Volunteers will be assigned to the French Quarter Festival’s Green Team, who are also volunteers that will be at the festival to “to guide the public in the use of recycling and composting stations.” French Quarter Fest runs from April 13-16.

Volunteers can sign up to work on a four-hour shift either from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. or from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The FQMD asked volunteers to indicate if they prefer to be scheduled with specific friends or neighbors.

To sign up, email Karley Frankic at kfrankic@fqmd.org or call the FQMD at 504-323-5801.

FQMD launches program encouraging people to not litter in the French Quarter

New Orleans Plans Annual Lighting of Canal Street Nov. 22

Photo courtesy of CC Flickr
The Downtown Development District of New Orleans said it will hold the annual Lighting of Canal Street on Nov. 22, marking the beginning of the holiday season.

The event is scheduled to take place starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Canal Place mall, located at 333 Canal St.

Millions of will be illuminated along Canal Street from South Claiborne Avenue to the Mississippi River, according to the DDD, which also said it will coordinate with the Riverwalk Outlets mall to illuminate the 40-foot-tall tree in Spanish Plaza, located at 2 Canal St.

In addition, the DDD said it is sponsoring the Children’s Hospital New Orleans Holiday Parade, which will be held on Dec. 3 at 2 p.m.

For more information, visit the Downtown Development District website.

Beauregard-Keyes House seeks tour guide volunteers

13th annual Creepy Fest punk and metal shows slated for July 21 – 24, includes Lower Decatur Street venues

(Photo: Screenshot | luvispro | YouTube)
The annual punk and metal festival known as Creepy Fest is slated for a four-day period in July this year, including at venues in and just beyond the French Quarter, and elsewhere in New Orleans.

Now in its 13th year, the festival will be held July 21-24. Organized by New Orleans independent punk music label Sheer Terror Records, bands usually include mostly local and Gulf Coast region bands, although T.S.O.L, Dead Boys, The Offenders, 45 Grave, Submachine Lydia Lunch and other bands have played.

Also, the festival incorporates horror movies, skateboarding and burlesque events and other forms of entertainment.

According to the festival’s social media profile, Creepy Fest showcases the do-it-yourself ascetic and is “all about having fun and forgetting the bullshit for a while.”

This year’s festival will include a variety of punk, hardcore and experimental bands. While the venue list was provided, Sheer Terror has yet to release a final confirmed list of bands.

Thursday, July 21, 1606 Pleasure St.
An all-ages skatepark show will feature 10 bands on two stages, plus artists and vendors of all kinds at Parisite Skatepark. Five punk bands will perform under the bridge and in the back peach orchid area there will be a grindcore tribute to Hollise Murphy, the singer for Fat Stupid Ugly People, who passed away at the age of 36 in 2021. Show starts at 6 p.m.

Friday, July 22, Lower Decatur Street
One Eyed Jacks and Santos, located at 1104 and 1135 Decatur Streets, respectively, will be “full on blasting” with bands from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m.

Saturday, July 23, Saint Bernard Avenue
Poor Boys, The Goat and Sidney’s Saloon — located at 1328, 1301 and 1200 Saint Bernard Ave., respectively — all located within a two block radius and will host at least a total of 20 bands. Food will be available to purchase from the Green Room and pop ups. There will be one cover charge to access every show. Music starts at 6 p.m.

Sunday, July 24, 3000 Dryades St.
An early show that will be held starting 3 p.m. at Portside Lounge, described as Central City’ “coolest punk tiki bar.” Crawfish will be available but only if the season runs late, like last year.

If Portside Lounge doesn’t have enough music on Sunday to satisfy you, then you may want to consider seeing the Circle Jerks, 7 Seconds and Negative Approach at Tipitina’s, located at 501 Napoleon Ave.

Where to watch a Creepy Fest 2019 show in the French Quarter