It’s time to get your calendar ready as we head into the peak of the New Orleans fall festival season this October.
Festivals all about beignets, beer, gumbo, and barbecue — fill the lineup this month. Plus, the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience celebrates its 20th anniversary during Halloween weekend.
Here’s your guide to fall festivals and major events to mark on your calendar in October. Check back for updates as we get them.
October 2018
St. Tammany Parish FairOctober 3 – 7 |
St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds Google Map |
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| This annual tradition for North Shore residents brings an old-school celebration to St. Tammany Parish. It’s fun for all ages at this parish fair that includes every fair food imaginable, live music, rides, pageants and a feel-good, family-friendly atmosphere. | ||
Que Pasa FestOctober 4 – 7 |
Lafreniere Park Google Map |
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| This year’s Que Pasa Fest celebrates the Hispanic influence and contributions to New Orleans for the past 300 years. The free outdoor family festival will take place at the Al Copeland Meadow Concert area in Lafreniere Park. The outdoor fest will feature live music, dancing, food booths, business booths, arts & crafts booths, community outreach and a children’s area. Admission is free. | ||
OktoberfestOctober 5 – 6, 12 – 13, 19 – 20 |
Deutsches Haus Google Map |
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| Beer and brats dominate as the ultimate Oktoberfest celebration gets underway at Deutsches Haus. Construction of the Oktoberfest portion of the “New Haus,” will conclude just in time for this year’s fest. Get your fill of German culture with plenty of beer, food and music to last three weekends. Other festival highlights include the Dachshund Dash, the beer stein holding contest, special dancing performances tons of German food and German beer. Friday hours are 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Admission is $8. Children 12 years old and under get in free. | ||
Treme Fall FestOctober 5 – 7 |
St. Augustine Church Yard Google Map |
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| Celebrate the historic Treme neighborhood at this three-day festival. Festivites kick off with a patron party on Friday night. Saturday brings in a street festival filled with music artists like the Hot 8 Brass Band and Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers. On Sunday, Gospel Fest will take place at St. Augustine Catholic Church. Street vendors, food and arts and crafts will also be part of the fest. The goal is to support the architecture, culture and history of Treme. | ||
Camellia City Smooth Jazz FestivalOctober 6 – 7 |
Northshore Harbor Center Google Map |
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| The second annual Camellia City Smooth Jazz Festival will being some of the country’s best smooth jazz musicians to Slidell for two days of music. Saturday tickets start at $50, while admission for Sunday’s jazz brunch is $60 per person. | ||
Beignet FestOctober 6 |
City Park Festival Grounds Google Map |
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| How many different ways can you eat a beignet? Beignet Fest will feature more than 30 beignet creations from Louisiana food vendors and some of the area’s favorite bands. Some of the vendors will include local favorites like Cafe du Monde, Katie’s Restaurant, New Orleans Coffee & Beignet Company and The Ruby Slipper Cafe. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Read more about the music lineup and complete menu here. | ||
Muffuletta FestivalOctober 7 |
Nor-Joe Imports Metairie, La. Google Map |
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| The Muffuletta Festival makes the iconic sandwich the star of the show. The fest hits Metairie from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Nor-Joe Imports. The free festival will feature traditional Muffuletta sandwiches and other Italian dishes plus music, Bocce ball, cooking demonstrations, history and video presentations, dance performances and more. | ||
Bridge City Gumbo FestivalOctober 12 – 14 |
Holy Guardian Angles Church Bridge City, La. Google Map |
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| Bridge City’s gumbo will be on full display during this weekend festival. Over 2000 gallons of gumbo will be prepped and ready for festival-goers to dive in. There will also be live music, amusement rides, games and more. Aside from gumbo dishes, you can also sample a variety of carnival-style food and other Cajun delicacies. Admission is $3. | ||
Crescent City Blues & BBQ FestivalOctober 12 – 14 |
Lafayette Square Google Map |
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| It’s the perfect marriage, blues plus barbecue and it’s happening at Lafayette Square. Guitar legend Jimmie Vaughan, fast-rising star Samantha Fish, world-famous blues belter Shemekia Copeland, New Orleans’ beloved soul man Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Memphis R&B icon Don Bryant are just a few of the great artists who will perform. Admission is free. | ||
Gentilly FestOctober 12 – 14 |
Pontchartrain Park Google Map |
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| Bring the family out to Gentilly for this family-friendly neighborhood festival. Gentilly Fest has something for everyone including music, food, arts, crafts and a kids village with horse back riding. The purpose of this festival is to support the New Orleans Police, Fire, EMS, children’s music camps and other New Orleans organizations. | ||
WWII Air, Sea and Land FestivalOctober 12 – 14 |
New Orleans Lakefront Airport Google Map |
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| Honor the legacy of the WWII generation while taking in some exciting views. Take in three days of living history with thrilling WWII warbirds, PT-305 in the water, 1940s-era entertainment and WWII veteran interviews on the main stage, and engaging activities for the whole family throughout the grounds. General admission is $25. Kids age 12 and under enter free. | ||
Carnaval LatinoOctober 13 |
Venue TBA | |
| This celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off with a parade through the historic French Quarter. Festival-goers can also enjoy the best in Latin music, art, food and drink. More festival details TBA. | ||
Northshore on Tap Beer ExperienceOctober 13 |
Slidell Municipal Auditorium Google Map |
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| The Hospice of the South’s annual beer fest will focus on home brewers. Admission into the event includes all you can drink beer and live music, with food available for purchase. Must be 21 years or older to attend. Proceeds benefit the Hospice Foundation of the South’s only Hospice House in St. Tammany Parish. General admission tickets are $25. | ||
Madisonville Wooden Boat FestivalOctober 13 – 14 |
Tchefuncte River Google Map |
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| The Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival celebrates the rich maritime history of the town each year in October. The festival attracts hand-crafted wooden boats from across the Gulf Coast for two days of activities. Single day tickets are $10. Children ages 12 and under enter free. | ||
Snout by Snoutwest Music and Puppy FestOctober 14 |
Noah’s Park Google Map |
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| This new, fun-for-all-ages fest includes local food, games and agility demonstrations. Abita will bring the brews and local bands will bring the tunes. Several businesses will also have vendor booths at the fest. A pet adoption area will include adoptable pets from area welfare organizations and adoption groups. | ||
New Orleans Film FestivalOctober 17 – 21 |
Various Venues | |
| Now in its 29th year, the New Orleans Film Festival has become one of the premier festivals in the country. The 2018 lineup boasts the most diverse line-up in the festival’s history. More than 200 films are screened over the nine-day period, and the parties are some of the best the film festival world has ever witnessed. | ||
Andouille FestivalOctober 19 – 21 |
St. John Community Center/Thomas F. Daley Park LaPlace, La. Google Map |
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| It’s a three-day celebration of the delicious Cajun meat at the St. John the Baptist Parish Andouille Festival. The fest will also have carnival rides, live music and even a cooking contest featuring the sausage in different dishes. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children ages 3 to 12. | ||
Praise FestOctober 19 – 21 |
Bayou St. John Google Map |
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| A gospel music festival descends upon Bayou St. John with performances by some of the best in the gospel community. Eric Waddell is one of the featured artists set to perform. Admission is free. | ||
Violet Oyster FestOctober 19 – 21 |
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Violet, La. Google Map |
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| From oysters on the half shell to chargrilled, you’ll get to sample several varieties of oysters at this St. Bernard Parish festival. The family-friendly festival also features live music, rides, games and more. | ||
Country Smooth FestOctober 20 – 21 |
NOLA Motorsports Park Google Map |
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| The inaugural Country Smooth Fest brings two-days of live country music on three stages at NOLA Motorsports Park. Headiners include Justin Moore and Louisiana’s own Hunter Hayes. The fest will also feature other local and regional up-and-coming country acts featured on the bill. Attendees can take advantage of all NOLA Motorsports has to offer, including the go-karts. General admission starts at $60 for a one-day pass. | ||
Krewe of Boo Halloween ParadeOctober 20 |
Parade Route Google Map |
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| Celebrate the countdown to Halloween with the Krewe of Boo parade this weekend. The spooky-themed parade rolls at 6:30 p.m., starting on Elysian Fields Avenue in the Marigny. Visit the website for full details and the complete parade route. | ||
NOLA Mac N Cheese FestOctober 20 |
Armstrong Park Google Map |
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| Who doesn’t love some delicious mac n’ cheese? The fest returns for its second year at Armstrong Park. Local restaurants will serve their best mac n’ cheese recipes to the public, professional judges and celebrity judges. Free admission. | ||
Trombone Shorty’s Hometown ThreauxdownOctober 20 |
Champions Square Google Map |
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| Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews plans to host his first-ever “Hometown Threauxdown” at Champion Square. The fall festival event will feature Andrews and his band, Orleans Avenue, as headliner. The lineup also includes Michael Franti & Spearhead, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Mannie Fresh, New Breed Brass Band. Other special guests are to be announced. Tickets start at $29.50, plus service charges through Ticketmaster. | ||
Boo at the ZooOctober 20 |
Audubon Zoo Google Map |
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| Bring your little goblins to Audubon Zoo for a kid-friendly Halloween. This annual Halloween event for children up to age 12 features trick-or-treat houses, a Ghost train, a haunted house, games and entertainment. Tickets are $20 per person. | ||
Tour de Jefferson & LiveWell FestOctober 21 |
Lafreniere Park Metairie, La. Google Map |
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| Head to Lafreniere Park in Jefferson Parish for this festival celebrating healthy and active lifestyles. Livewell Fest is the festival surrounding Tour de Jefferson, a family-friendly social ride for cycling enthusiasts of all levels. The festival features live music, food vendors, drop in workout classes, massages and a Kids Zone. The fest hits Metairie from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the fest is free. | ||
Voodoo Music + Arts ExperienceOctober 26 – 28 |
City Park Google Map |
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| Mumford & Sons, Childish Gambino, Arctic Monkeys and ODESZA are among the big names set to hit the stages for this Halloween weekend tradition. Nearly 70 bands will rock four stages over a three day period in City Park. This year, the fest also celebrates its 20th anniversary. Three-day advance admission to Voodoo Fest is $140, plus taxes and fees. VIP tickets are available at higher prices. |
*All dates and information are subject to change.
Contact us if there are changes in schedule.
