April is when New Orleans hits its stride. Spring weather settles in, festival season kicks off in full force, and the city’s streets, stages, and patios stay busy from morning to night. From free live music in the French Quarter to legendary food and music festivals at the Fair Grounds, April delivers the kind of only‑in‑New‑Orleans energy visitors plan trips around.
April in New Orleans marks the true start of festival season, when the city shifts outdoors and the calendar fills with music, food, and neighborhood celebrations. Free live performances spill through the French Quarter during French Quarter Festival, while late April brings the unmistakable energy of Jazz Fest, where local culture, legendary artists, and classic New Orleans flavors share the spotlight. Between major weekends, the city keeps its rhythm with weekly traditions like Wednesday at the Square, spring crawfish boils, and long afternoons spent walking, eating, and listening your way through the neighborhoods.
Easter weekend brings parades, brunch crowds, and a full‑tilt French Quarter energy, while the weeks that follow mark the start of festival season, when live music fills the streets and the city leans fully outdoors. The Crescent City Classic is an Easter Weekend tradition in New Orleans, bringing warm spring weather, costumed runners, and a lively finish line festival with music and food. Register here and get ready to run on April 4. On Easter Sunday, enjoy brunch or catch a parade in the French Quarter. The French Quarter Easter Parade rolls at 9:45 a.m., followed by the Gay Easter Parade later in the day. Both are family friendly and full of local flavor.
Hogs for the Cause returns to the lakefront April 10-11, with competitive barbecue, live music, and a family‑friendly atmosphere that blends big flavors with an even bigger purpose. At the same time, April 10-12, the Hondo Rodeo Fest takes over the Superdome, pairing champion‑level rodeo action with nightly concerts and a full Western‑themed festival experience. Together, they capture the range of April in New Orleans, where music, food, and spectacle share the calendar and the crowds happily move between them.
French Quarter Festival, the largest showcase of Louisiana music in the world, returns April 16–19 with free performances throughout the Quarter. Between festival weekends, Wednesday at the Square is running March 11 through May 6 with five shows scheduled in April featuring local musicians and vendors. Jazz Fest returns April 23–26 and April 30–May 3, where global headliners, New Orleans favorites, iconic festival food, and local art come together at the Fair Grounds.
Returning April 9–12, Overlook Film Fest celebrates horror in America’s most haunted city with a lineup of feature films, shorts, and emerging voices alongside established filmmakers. Beyond the screenings, the festival brings live shows, performances, podcasts, and immersive experiences to venues across the city. In addition to the films, the festival hosts signature live events and activities which include live shows, radio plays, podcast recordings, performances, interactive entertainment, and one-of-a-kind immersive experiences.
4/10-4/12 - Ponchatoula Strawberry Fest
4/17-4/18 - Baton Rouge Blues Festival
4/10 - Hondo Rodeo Fest - Caesar's Superdome - Jason Aldean, Lynard Skynard
4/11 - Hondo Rodeo Fest - Caesar's Superdome - Cody Johnson, Old Dominion
4/12 - Hondo Rodeo Fest - Caesar's Superdome - CREED, Baily Zimmerman
4/14-4/19 - "SIX" at the Saenger Theater
4/20-4/26 - Zurich Classic
Final Pelicans Games - View Schedule
Crawfish Season - All Month Long!
