New Orleans holds a special place for me. I have both friends and family there. I also used to live there and even attended school in New Orleans. After I moved away I hadn’t been back in years, until recently. Just so happened that not only was it my birthday, but there was a French Quarter Festival happening.
The French Quarter Festival was incepted in 1984 and has been going strong sense. It was crowded in the French Quarter. Streets were shut down and people were walking everywhere. It was hard to get around unless you were on foot. Even on a humid cloudy day in the middle of the week the French Quarter was immersed with people.
There were a ton of food vendors all around. Many of them were in Jackson Square. There was also one of many stages set up for performers. The cool things about this festival is that all the performers must be from Louisiana. There were tons of people sitting around on their chairs and in the grass listening to live music. Some were dancing. It was a lot of fun to watch.
After walking around Jackson Square a bit I thought it only right to head over to Cafe Du Monde. The line was long and went down the block. The line moved pretty quickly considering how crowded it was. After waiting some time for the table to get cleaned and to place an order I finally got to taste the delicious beignets. I hadn’t had them in some time and they didn’t disappoint.
After leaving Cafe Du Monde we continued to walk around the French Quarter Festival. As it got later in the day they continued to block off more streets. I walked around a couple of stores before stopping at a vendor to get a drink. I don’t typically drink, but when it is your birthday and your in New Orleans it is only right! After grabbing a drink we walked over to the river front.
There was another stage with performances. We sat on some steps and enjoyed our drinks while looking out onto the water and grey skies. Tons of people were walking around. At the other end was another stage set up with people performing. It began to rain and we got up and headed away from the water. In true southern fashion once we crossed over the train tracks it wasn’t raining.
We continued to walk around and found another huge crowd with a stage set up. We stopped to listen to some more music. It was such a fun time. We continued on afterwards stopping at different stores in the French Quarter. We then decided to grab some food. I stopped at a restaurant and ordered one of my favorites, a shrimp po boy.
After stuffing myself way too much, walking it off seemed to be the best solution. Continuing to walk around the French Quarter and enjoying the festival was the perfect way. I eventually made my way to the Cafe Du Monde Company Store. They had shirts, aprons, gift baskets, and so much more. We purchased beignet mix and coffee to take back with us.
You have to love the essence of the French Quarter. Things I haven’t seen in so long felt like yesterday. Guys taping dancing for some money, groups of people singing and playing music. That is the norm in the French Quarter and even cooler added on to the French Quarter Festival.
If you ever get the opportunity to go to New Orleans during the French Quarter Festival definitely go. It is a lot of fun, with amazing food and live entertainment. That is the typical norm in the French Quarter, but with the festival it was a lot of fun and a great time.
See more of my time in New Orleans
Have you ever been to the French Quarter Festival?
