Not Too Late for the New Orleans Jazz Fest

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A few weeks ago, I told you about the French Quarter Festival, an annual celebration of New Orleans music, cuisine, and culture. Well, springtime is also the season for another popular New Orleans event, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and just because it kicked off last weekend doesn't mean you've missed all the fun. True, Lionel Richie and The Black Crowes rocked their respective stages last Friday, Simon & Garfunkel and Tab Benoit (pictured above) each performed for massive crowds on Saturday, and the Allman Brothers Band closed Sunday night, but luckily, there are still four blessed days left.

Running from Thursday to Sunday, the second weekend of Jazz Fest will feature major acts like Widespread Panic, Elvis Costello & the Sugarcanes, Blues Traveler, Aretha Franklin, Pearl Jam, Jeff Beck, Van Morrison, the Neville Brothers, and B.B. King. Of course, my advice is to avoid the crushing crowds at the major stages and get a taste of regional performers like Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys (Gentilly Stage, 1:55 p.m. on Thurs.) and Buckwheat Zydeco (Acura Stage, 12:35 p.m. on Fri.), both real winners for Cajun zydeco fans. Other groovy choices include the Charmaine Neville Band (Congo Square “My Louisiana Stage,” 11:30 a.m. on Sat.), the New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra (Peoples Health Economy Hall Tent, 12:25 p.m. on Sat.), Pete Fountain (Peoples Health Economy Hall Tent, 4:30 p.m. on Sat.), Irma Thomas (Acura Stage, 1:50 p.m. on Sun.), and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (Gentilly Stage, 2 p.m. on Sun.).

Jazz Fest, which has lured countless residents and visitors for more than four decades, is undoubtedly a popular affair, as evidenced by the enormous crowds and long lines, and between the costly admission, high food and drink fees, and pricey crafts, it can be an expensive enterprise, too. But, trust me, it's well worth experiencing at least once – especially if you're a fan of such delicacies as shrimp po-boys, crawfish bread, seafood gumbo, and other New Orleans treats. So, drop whatever you're doing and plan your weekend getaway right now – it's a good time to experience the vitality and decadence of the Crescent City. Oh, who am I kidding? It's always a good time to visit the Big Easy!

For more details about New Orleans, including hotel and restaurant information, consult the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau (2020 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130, 800/672-6124) or the Moon New Orleans travel guide - and if you do choose to head down to the Big Easy this weekend, let me know how it goes!

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As always, I’m open to ideas for future posts. If you have any suggestions, burning questions, or destinations that you’d like me to explore in greater detail, please comment below or contact me via laura [at] wanderingsoles [dot] com.

Photo / Text © 2010 Laura Martone