300(ish) Things To Do, See, Hear, & Eat In New Orleans During Jazz Fest 2025

New Orleans is one of the most unique cities on the planet. Equally renowned for its decadent food, vibrant music scene, and rich cultural history, the city draws in visitors from all over to fill both their physical and metaphorical cups with incredible eats, creative libations, and one-of-a-kind musical talent that can be experienced just as much out on the streets as in its many clubs and venues. As much a feeling as it is a place, it’s one of those cities that digs deep into your soul and lingers there long after you leave.

It’s almost impossible to do New Orleans “wrong”—and you absolutely should go with the flow, take advice from locals, and break your plans—but whether you’ve been zero or 100 times, it can be overwhelming to sift through the thousands of restaurants and happenings leading up to your New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival experience.

Live For Live Music and our friends at tryply are here to help: We’ve collected some of the best things you can do both around New Orleans and at the Fair Grounds during Jazz Fest 2025. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it will more than get you started.

View a table of contents for our 300(ish) Things To Do, See, Hear, & Eat In New Orleans During Jazz Fest 2025 guide below. Click the name of any section to jump directly there. Happy Jazz Fest!

Created by music-lovers and travelers, tryply was built to offer users an interactive way to search for live music by artist, location, venue, and date wherever they are headed. tryply has also teamed up with Spotify, allowing users to sync accounts and receive personalized concert recommendations based on favorite artists and discover other similar artists. Use the tryply app in New Orleans during Jazz Fest to explore Fest by Nite shows near you in real-time on an interactive map, buy tickets to shows from primary platforms, invite friends to join you, build an itinerary around your favorite artists, or discover new music. Visit the tryply website here. Download the tryply app here to get started.

300(ish) Things To Do, See, Hear, & Eat In New Orleans During Jazz Fest 2025 – Table of Contents

FREE THINGS TO DO & SEE
RESTAURANTS
FAIR GROUNDS EATS
FAIR GROUNDS MUSIC
LATE NIGHT SHOWS

FREE THINGS TO DO & SEE
(with all that free time you’re going to have)

Walk around French Quarter/Jackson Square – The heart of New Orleans.
Visit Audubon Park – When you want to escape the Fest fray, head uptown for a nature break, a walk/run, or a picnic under the gorgeous canopy of live oak trees that are hundreds of years old (the Tree of Life is almost 300 years old!)
Wander down Magazine Street – Great shopping and restaurants.
Hop a Streetcar on St. Charles Avenue – Ride the rails down this quintessential NOLA street filled with extravagant mansions and picturesque flowers.
JAMNOLA – A funky, psychedelic immersive art installation.
Check out City Park – A sprawling, luscious green park complete with a Botanical Garden, boat rentals, and more. If you have kids, check out Storyland.
Daze Between Block Party – We’re throwing a free block party in the space outside the Mahalia Jackson Theater from 1:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 29th and 30th coinciding with our ticketed Daze Between New Orleans event inside the venue. Come hang, check out local craft vendors, and enjoy live music by Roots of Music Brass Band and Soul Brass Band— no ticket needed.

RESTAURANTS
(in no particular order)

Herbsaint – Get the spaghetti topped with a fried poached egg and thank us later.
Bacchanal – Vibey outdoor wine bar with small bites that often has live music.
Turkey & The Wolf – Some of the best, most creative sandwiches you’ll ever have in your life. Run by Deadheads.
Saba – Mediterranean deliciousness. Get all the dips.
Saffron – Some of the best Indian food in the country, but with a NOLA twist. The fried oyster bed is to die for.
Miss River – Gorgeous newer spot from Alon Shaya (Saba) in the Four Seasons hotel.
Peche – Next-level, high-end seafood.
Domilise’s – You can’t come to New Orleans and not get a po-boy.
Parkway – Another po-boy mainstay.
Willie Mae’s – Casual, no-frills fried chicken joint.
Willa Jean – Great brunch and pastries. Warning: The monkey bread is addictive.
Cochon/Cochon Butcher – melt-in-your-mouth meat in all forms. Go to Butcher for a more casual option.
Atchafalaya – Go for a decadent brunch.
Bearcat/Bearcat Bakery – Delicious brunch/lunch with lots of vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free options.
Molly’s Rise And Shine – Funky ’80s/’90s memorabilia fills the walls of this yummy breakfast spot from the team behind Turkey & The Wolf.
Luke – Go for a decadent Southern brunch or oyster happy hour. Great raw bar and more.
Maypop – Unique Asian dishes with a creative Creole twist.
Boucherie – Get the parmesan garlic butter fries and thank us later.
Commander’s Palace – A quintessential, high-end, old-school, NOLA dining experience—business attire required. If you’re feeling fancy, get dolled up and head here for 25-cent martinis on Thursdays and Fridays, or jazz brunch on the weekends.
Acme Oyster House – Delicious oysters are plentiful in New Orleans and locals will fight to the death over which spot is the best, but you can’t go wrong with Acme. It’s been around forever.
Felix’s – Another longtime staple for oysters.
GW Fins – Delicious seasonal seafood in upscale digs.
Pizza Delicious – When you’re sick of seafood and just need a slice of pizza or some pasta, this casual spot in the Bywater is the best in town.
Compere Lapin – Creative, elevated dishes from a renowned local chef.
Doris Metropolitan – High-end steak joint.
Acamaya – The newest NOLA hotspot from an award-winning chef draws inspo from Mexico City.
Hungry Eyes – Another one from the Turkey & The Wolf team because they truly do not miss. Creative bites and cocktails set to a retro ’80s backdrop.
Toups Meatery – Meat, meat, and more meat.
Stein’s – Sometimes you just need a bagel.
Jaques-Imo’s – Classic, delicious NOLA cuisine in funky digs down the block from the Maple Leaf. Get the alligator cheesecake and fried chicken.
Crabby Jack’s – When you want Jaques-Imo’s famous fried chicken without the wait. Great po-boys, too.
Saint-Germain – Over-the-top tasting menu experience.
Elizabeth’s – Southern breakfast done right, located in the Bywater.
Tableau – Grab a balcony table overlooking Jackson Square for a peak NOLA experience.
Café Du Monde – Order a beignet and a café au lait, sit outside, and take it all in.

FAIR GROUNDS EATS
(did you even go to Jazz Fest if you didn’t eat?)

Crawfish Monica – Basically adult mac and cheese, on steroids, plus crawfish. One of the best dishes in New Orleans, period.
Crawfish Bread – Ooey, gooey, cheesy, crawfish-y deliciousness stuffed into crusty bread. Another fan favorite.
Crawfish Sack/Oyster Patty/Shrimp Beignet Plate – A greatest-hits trio of seafood bites.
Cajun Chicken & Tasso w/ Creole Rice – A flavor bomb of bold, smoky Cajun spices in a bowl.
Ya Ka Mein – The ultimate hangover cure.
Fried Soft-Shell Crab Po-Boy – Briny, crunchy, and satisfying.
Cochon De Lait Po-Boy — Barbecue, New Orleans style.
Pheasant, Quail, and Andouille Sausage Gumbo – For our money, the best gumbo at Jazz Fest.
Cracklin’s – Snackable, salty bliss with a Cajun twist.
Frozen Cafe Au Lait – A frosty, creamy blend of chicory coffee and milk; smooth, sweet, and the perfect pick-me-up when the sun’s blazing.
Mango Freeze – A refreshing, icy, sweet treat that’s the perfect way to cool down between sets.
Rosemint Tea (with or without Honey) – A subtle and satisfying way to stay cool in the NOLA heat.

FAIR GROUNDS MUSIC
(the granddaddy of them all)

In specific terms, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is the event that takes place at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots—sometimes known as the New Orleans Fair Grounds, sometimes just “the fairgrounds,” and—most often—Jazz Fest. There’s much more to the “Jazz Fest” experience beyond the Fair Grounds, and we’ll get to that, but let’s start with Fest proper.

A friendly reminder: Make sure to spend time walking around and discovering new music! Jazz Fest is a cultural melting pot where you’ll find an abundance of talent from all over the world and all across the creative spectrum. Dance along with the Mardi Gras Indians, cleanse your soul in the Gospel Tent, immerse yourself in African art and tradition in Congo Square. With more than 10 stages and frequent daily parades, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival offers more to see, hear, and experience than just about any music event on the planet.

Below, we’ve picked out a handful of sets circled on our schedules to give you basic game plan before you branch out and experience all that Jazz Fest has to offer! Find the full schedule breakdown for each day here.

Another friendly reminder: When leaving Fest at the end of the day, be sure exit onto Sauvage Street, where “Sauvage Fest” keeps the party with local bands and block party vibes.

Thursday, April 24th

11:20 AM | Flow Tribe | Shell Gentilly Stage
12:45 PM | Bonerama | Shell Gentilly Stage
2:10 PM | The Iceman Special | Shell Gentilly Stage
2:50 PM | Stanton Moore Ft. Dave Torkanowsky & James Singleton | WWOZ Jazz Tent
2:55 PM | Papa Mali’s Shantytown Underground | Lagniappe Stage
3:00 PM | Little Freddie King Blues Band | Blues Tent
4:00 PM | Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen | Festival Stage
4:05 PM | Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe | Congo Square Stage
5:10 PM | Goose | Shell Gentilly Stage
5:30 PM | John Fogerty | Festival Stage
5:45 PM | Sam Bush | Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage

Friday, April 25th

12:20 PM | Crowe Boys | Festival Stage
1:20 PM | Big Chief Donald Harrison | Congo Square Stage
1:30 PM | J & The Causeways | Festival Stage
1:35 PM | Johnny Sansone Band | Blues Tent
1:40 PM | Honey Island Swamp Band | Shell Gentilly Stage
2:55 PM | Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers | Shell Gentilly Stage
4:15 PM | Leo Nocentelli | Shell Gentilly Stage
4:20 PM | PJ Morton | Congo Square Stage
5:50 PM | Gladys Night | Congo Square Stage
6:00 PM | Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band | Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage

Saturday, April 26th

11:15 AM | The Rumble ft. Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. | Festival Stage
12:30 PM | Rebirth Brass Band | Festival Stage
1:20 PM | Kermit Ruffins & The BBQ Swingers | Shell Gentilly Stage
1:55 PM | Big Freedia | Festival Stage
2:35 PM | Preservation Hall Jazz Band | Shell Gentilly Stage
2:35 PM | Erica Falls & Vintage Soul | Congo Square Stage
2:45 PM | John Boutté | WWOZ Jazz Tent
3:30 PM | Tank And The Bangas | Festival Stage
4:00 PM | Irma Thomas | Shell Gentilly Stage
4:10 PM | Adonis Rose and The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra Tribute to Frankie Beverly and Maze | WWOZ Jazz Tent
5:30 PM | Lil Wayne & The Roots | Festival Stage
5:45 PM | Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band | Blues Tent

Sunday, April 27th

11:20 AM | New Orleans Suspects | Festival Stage
11:20 AM | Hans Williams | Shell Gentilly Stage
1:30 PM | Judith Owen | WWOZ Jazz Tent
1:45 PM | Tab Benoit | Festival Stage
2:00 PM | Cyril Neville | Congo Square Stage
2:40 PM | Boyfriend | Shell Gentilly Stage
3:00 PM | Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & The Golden Eagles | Jazz & Heritage Stage
3:10 PM | The Revivalists | Festival Stage
3:25 PM | The Soul Rebels | Congo Square Stage
4:25 PM | Jake Shimabukuro | Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage
5:00 PM | Dave Matthews Band | Festival Stage
5:45 PM | The Branford Marsalis Quartet | WWOZ Jazz Tent
5:45 PM | Eric Gales | Blues Tent

Thursday, May 1st

11:10 AM | John “Papa” Gros | Festival Stage
12:10 PM | Cory Henry & Treme Funktet | Festival Stage
12:20 PM | Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes | Shell Gentilly Stage
12:50 PM | Big Chief Brian & The Nouveau Bounce with special guests Cyril Neville, Bill Summers, and Cheeky Blakk | Congo Square Stage
1:20 PM | Dragon Smoke | Festival Stage
1:30 PM | SOUL Brass Band | Shell Gentilly Stage
2:35 PM | The Dirty Dozen Brass Band | Festival Stage
2:45 PM | David Shaw | Shell Gentilly Stage
3:55 PM | Anders Osborne | Festival Stage
3:55 PM | Shamarr Allen | Congo Square Stage
5:25 PM | Santana | Festival Stage
5:35 PM | Cage The Elephant | Shell Gentilly Stage
6:00 PM | Lost Bayou Ramblers | Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage

Friday, May 2nd

12:40 PM | Marc Broussard | Festival Stage
2:15 PM | Sweet Crude | Shell Gentilly Stage
2:50 PM | Trumpet Mafia | WWOZ Jazz Tent
3:55 PM | Hurray For The Riff Raff | Shell Gentilly Stage
4:10 PM | Big Sam’s Funky Nation | Congo Square Stage
5:40 PM | The Wailers ft. Julian Marley | Congo Square Stage
5:45 PM | Joshua Redman Group | WWOZ Jazz Tent

Saturday, May 3rd

11:15 AM | River Eckert Band | Blues Tent
12:25 PM | Cowboy Mouth | Festival Stage
1:35 PM | Jason Marsalis | WWOZ Jazz Tent
1:45 PM | Samantha Fish | Festival Stage
2:50 PM | New Breed Brass Band | Congo Square Stage
2:55 PM | Southern Avenue | Shell Gentilly Stage
3:15 PM | Dumpstaphunk | Festival Stage
4:05 PM | Eric Lindell | Blues Tent
4:10 PM | Maggie Koerner | Shell Gentilly Stage
4:20 PM | Nicholas Payton and Triune ft. Karriem Riggins | WWOZ Jazz Tent
4:35 PM | The Headhunters ft. Bill Summers and Mike Clark with special guest Eric Krasno | Jazz & Heritage Stage
5:00 PM | Pearl Jam | Festival Stage
5:30 PM | Kenny Wayne Shepherd with Bobby Rush | Blues Tent
5:35 PM | Margo Price | Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage
6:00 PM | Ledisi Sings Nina | WWOZ Jazz Tent

Sunday, May 4th

11:25 AM | Stooges Brass Band | Congo Square Stage
11:30 PM | Naughty Professor ft. Tarronia “Tank” Bell, Maggie Koerner | WWOZ Jazz Tent
12:25 PM | Cha Wa | Festival Stage
1:25 PM | Zigaboo Modeliste’s Funk Revue | Shell Gentilly Stage
1:40 PM | Glen David Andrews Band | Blues Tent
1:40 PM | Preservation Brass | Economy Hall
1:50 PM | Galactic ft. Jelly Joseph | Festival Stage
2:35 PM | George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners | Shell Gentilly Stage
3:40 PM | Lenny Kravitz | Festival Stage
3:55 PM | The Radiators | Shell Gentilly Stage
4:00 PM | Maze Honoring Frankie Beverly | Congo Square Stage
4:00 PM | Terrence Blanchard | WWOZ Jazz Tent
4:10 PM | Sonny Landreth | Blues Tent
5:30 PM | My Morning Jacket | Shell Gentilly Stage
5:35 PM | Kermit Ruffins’ Tribute To Louis Armstrong | Economy Hall
5:40 PM | Christone “Kingfish” Ingram | Blues Tent
5:40 PM | Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr. & The Wild Magnolias | Jazz & Heritage Stage
5:45 PM | Trombone Shorty | Festival Stage
5:45 PM | Patti LaBelle | Congo Square Stage
5:45 PM | Kamasi Washington | WWOZ Jazz Tent

LATE NIGHT SHOWS
(when the Fair Grounds go quiet but the city comes to life)

Jazz Fest proper might end by sundown, but the entire 11-day stretch is filled with mind-blowing evening and late-night shows at virtually every venue in town. The good folks at Jazz Fest Grids do a great job at cataloguing everything, but the sheer volume of individual events taking place in the Big Easy during Jazz Fest can be overwhelming. Below, we’ve narrowed down a handful of the shows we’re most excited about each night—and even this is a long list.