Visiting New Orleans In Spring

APRIL EVENTS

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.

Festival Season

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.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

In New Orleans, St. Patrick’s Day is less about a single date and more about a shared sense of celebration that builds throughout the week. While March 17 marks the official holiday, the city leans into the moment early with parades, neighborhood gatherings, and a distinctly local brand of revelry. Expect lively street scenes, classic Irish traditions with a New Orleans twist, and crowds ready to celebrate from morning to night. By the time the weekend arrives, the city is fully in motion, turning St. Patrick’s Day into one of March’s most spirited traditions.

St. Patrick's Day Events

3/14/2026 - Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day Parade
3/14/2026 - The Official Lucky's St Patrick's Day Bar Crawl - New Orleans
3/17/2026 - Downtown Irish Club St. Patrick's Day Parade
3/17/2026 - St. Patrick's Day Balcony Party

Crawfish Season is Here!

By March, crawfish take center stage across New Orleans, with seafood markets and restaurant menus leaning fully into the season. Whether you prefer them boiled and piled high, worked into classic dishes, or picked up raw for a backyard boil, options are everywhere and impossible to ignore. Fridays in March bring another local tradition into the mix, when neighborhood schools and churches serve up fish plates that turn a simple meal into a weekly ritual.

New Orleans Book Festival

March brings one of the city’s most anticipated literary gatherings back to Uptown as the New Orleans Book Festival returns to Tulane University from March 12 through 15. Over the course of four days, the campus will host a wide range of author talks, conversations, lectures, and special events designed for readers of all ages. A full family focused day will offer children’s readings along with complimentary book distributions. The 2026 roster features notable names including Stacey Abrams, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ken Burns, and more. All festival programming is free and open to the public.

Tennessee Williams + Saints & Sinners Literary Festivals

Late March brings two more celebrated literary gatherings to New Orleans, each offering its own take on storytelling and creative exchange. From March 25 through 29, the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival returns, marking its 40th year with a packed schedule of conversations, readings, performances, and social events inspired by the playwright’s legacy. Just days later, the Saints and Sinners LGBTQ Literary Festival takes place March 27 through 29, creating an inclusive space for LGBTQ voices through panels, author readings, and community driven programming.