A Guide to New Orleans’s Food Festivals and Events in 2024

The Dew Drop Inn makes its grand return March 1 through 3.

Carnival season may have passed, but really, New Orleans’s 2024 festival and food events are just getting started. Below, find a guide to the Big Easy’s cherished food celebrations as — and note that these will be updated throughout the year, as some annual staples haven’t yet announced dates and line-ups.

Grand Opening at the Dew Drop Inn

March 1-3

The legendary Dew Drop Inn makes its grand return with a festive weekend chock full of events, not to mention food from NOLA culinary legend chef Marilyn Doucette. Find the lineup of events — featuring everything from an opening concert with Irma Thomas to a groovy Sunday evening vinyl night — on the Dew Drop’s website.

Food Fight

March 14

Following its 2022 launch, Food Fight is back for a third-annual culinary competition, this time in Metairie’s Lafreniere Park. Watch — and eat — as more than 40 local restaurants battle in categories like top traditional, creative, and vegetarian dish, plus top classic and creative cocktail. The event benefits the PLEASE Foundation. Early bird tickets are on sale at $85 for general entry.

New Orleans Bourbon Festival

March 20 – 24

Bourbon Fest kicks off with a Bourbon Brawl on Wednesday, then a whiskey competition and VIP welcome party Thursday; Friday and Saturday offer a whole slate of daytime seminars and tastings. Tickets range from $79 to $579.

Louisiana Crawfish Festival

March 21 – 24

The name says it all for this beloved three-day smorgasbord of crawfish cook-offs, eating contests, carnival rides, and music. This year’s music line-up features Sugar Shaker International Party Band, Yeah You Right, Groovy 7, and others. Tickets are $5 or $10 depending on the day; get them online.

Congo Square Rhythms Festival

March 23 – 24

Congo Square Rhythms Festival is back this year to celebrate the heritage of Tremé, highlighting NOLA traditions that have roots within the African diaspora. Come for African dance and drumming, live music, an arts market, and food, notably gumbo. Admission is free.

Freret Street Festival

March 30

Freret Street Festival stretches from Napoleon Avenue to Valmont Street, with stages for music performances, food stalls, and artisan booths all along it. The full lineup is still in the works, but keep an eye on Facebook for updates.

Hogs for the Cause

April 5 – 6

This annual charity event and competition is one of the largest barbecue and music festivals in the country. Thousands gather for concerts and events like bacon night, a chicken wing competition, and a barbecue cook-off. Find tickets online.

Hogs for the Cause.

French Quarter Fest

April 11 – 14

French Quarter Fest, a perennial favorite for both food and music, returns this year with a promising lineup, including Big Freedia, DJ Raj Smoove, Irma Thomas, John Boutté and Ìfé, among many others. Keep an eye out for announcements on 2024’s culinary lineup.

Jazz Fest

April 25 – May 5

The pièce de résistance of New Orleans’s festival scene returns for 10 days this spring, promising more than a week of music, arts and crafts, cultural events, and food. General admission early bird tickets start at $85.

Wine Spectator’s Grand Tour

April 26

Wine Spectator’s Grand Tour event is landing in New Orleans for the very first time this April, offering tastings and mingling with winemakers at the Mariott Hotel. Tickets are $275 for general admission; $375 for VIPs.

Daze Between

April 30 – May 1

Daze Between is back with a stacked concert lineup (Lettuce with John Scofield, Karina Rykeman, the Iceman Special, and more) for two days of food, music, and beer at Faubourg Brewery. Get tickets online.

Bayou Boogaloo

May 17 – 19

Mid-City’s Bayou Boogaloo has a full roster of local music performances (one stage is dedicated to comedy and cabaret, too). 2024 food vendors are soon to be announced. Weekend tickets are only $29.50.

Greek Festival

May 24 – 26

New Orleans’s annual Greek Festival promises delicious food and drink — pastries, souvlaki, gyros, ouzo, and the like — plus dancing, crafts, cathedral tours, and cooking demos that celebrate the city’s Greek heritage. Tickets are $10; kids 12 and under are free.

New Orleans Food and Wine Experience

June 5 – 9

Acclaimed NOWFE returns this year with chef seminars, wine dinners, brunch events, grand tastings, and the like. Tickets to individual events are available, but there are also three different package tiers, ranging from the $258 tasting package to the $1000 VIP package.

Bocuse D’Or Americas

June 12 – 13

The Americas selection of the Bocuse D’Or competition is coming to New Orleans this year, promising pastry and culinary competitions at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Find details here.

New Orleans Caribbean Carnival

June 29

NOLA’s Caribbean Carnival is set to return this summer, promising parades, pool parties, fetes, and food. Keep an eye on Instagram for the latest update, check out the website, too.

Essence Festival of Culture

July 4 – 7

The renowned Essence Festival of Culture returns to NOLA this year for a four-day weekend of concerts, film screenings, panels and forums, cultural events, and food. Keep an eye on the website for updates to the 2024 agenda.

Tales of the Cocktail

July 21 – 26

This annual, industry-centric cocktail conference is returning to New Orleans for the 22nd summer, with educational events, tastings, networking, and awards programming convening at the Ritz-Carlton under the theme “Inspire.” Tickets go on sale May 13.

Satchmo Summerfest

August 3 – 4

An homage to the legendary Louis Armstrong returns this year for a weekend of food and jazz at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint. Food vendors include 14 Parishes, Beaucoup Eats, and Cafe Dauphine, among others. Admission is free.

White Linen Night

August 3

This year’s White Linen Night returns to the Warehouse District for a block party among the many art galleries on Julia Street. There’ll be food, too, of course, with vendors to be announced.

Louisiana Food and Wine Festival

Sept 19 – 22

Tickets are already on sale for the Louisiana Food and Wine Festival, a three-day weekend of culinary events, tastings, music, and a Sunday jazz brunch to top it off.

Fried Chicken Festival

October 5 – 6

Head to the lakefront for NOLA’s annual Fried Chicken Festival, hosted by Raising Cane’s. Expect festive crowds, fried chicken contests, music, and food.

Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival

November 9 – 10

It’s all about brass bands and gumbo at Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival — and really, there are few better combos. Admission is free for this weekend of music, food, and an arts market.

Beignet Fest

November 16

Beignet Fest is back with sweet bites from dozens of New Orleans’s favorite restaurants and makers, plus local music performances, a “kids village,” an artisan market, and a beer garden for a weekend of family-friendly fun. Tickets are already available online.