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Featured Image Credit: neworleans.com
Festival Season in New Orleans
Get ready to experience the Crescent City in all its glory! Spring is here and that means sunny days, mild temperatures, festivals galore — and let’s not forget about The Spring Fiesta. This annual celebration of French Quarter heritage provides an unforgettable opportunity for folks to immerse themselves in the one-of-a-kind culture that New Orleans has to offer. Enjoy delightful weather while exploring unique culture — it’s an unbeatable combination for these few precious months of spring bliss.
About Spring Fiesta 2023
Founded in 1937, the New Orleans Spring Fiesta Association is dedicated to cultural heritage preservation. The Association’s headquarters can be found in a 19th century French Quarter townhouse known as the Spring Fiesta House. In 1938, the Association held its first Spring Fiesta Gala, followed by its first “Night in Old New Orleans” parade sixteen years later.
Today, the Spring Fiesta is the Association’s largest annual festival. This splendid celebration of New Orleans cultural history includes an exciting schedule of activities. Spring Fiesta 2023 will take place on March 25th-26th and April 1st. Separate tickets are sold for each event.
Spring Fiesta 2023 French Quarter Parade & Gala - March 25th
For the Spring Fiesta’s French Quarter Parade, horse and mule-drawn carriages carry stylishly dressed ladies and gents through the historic streets of the Vieux Carré. The route travels from the Spring Fiesta House on St. Ann Street to the Canal Street Sheraton, where the Gala awaits. Ticket sales for riding a carriage in the parade are also open to the public.
Spring Fiesta 2023 Gala
The Spring Fiesta Gala is the festival’s centerpiece! Once the parade has arrived, join the Spring Fiesta Association (now in its 87th year) in welcoming this year’s Queen and lifelong member, Catherine Marie Zimmerman, at the Canal Street Sheraton. The Gala begins at 6 PM, and the royalty’s presentation will be followed by dinner and dancing.
Spring Fiesta Walking Tours & Culinary Experience - March 26th & April 1st
The French Quarter Home & Courtyard Tour is one of the Spring Fiesta’s signature events. This tour guides visitors through historic French Quarter houses. These regal living spaces have been meticulously restored to how they would have been arranged and decorated in the 19th century. Knowledgeable docents at each home tell the incredible, sometimes surreal stories of the original inhabitants.
On the History & Architecture Tour, insightful guides educate guests on the French Quarter’s unique culture, background, and buildings. The French Quarter’s narrow streets and ornate facades tell a million tales – this tour covers the best of them. The event schedule is also set up to allow interested participants to take both tours!
Culinary Experience at Antoine's
Tickets for the French Quarter Home & Courtyard Tours may be combined with a Culinary Experience at Antoine’s Restaurant. Antoine’s has been serving fine Creole cuisine in the heart of the French Quarter since 1840. As one of the oldest family-run restaurants in the United States, Antoine’s is both a local and a national treasure. The Spring Fiesta Culinary Experience treats guests to a delicious Louisiana-style luncheon that only Antoine’s can provide.
Experience Louisiana Nature on a Honey Island Tour
Just like New Orleans, the city’s neighboring swamps are best explored during the springtime! Get the full bayou experience with a Pearl River swamp tour. On these eco-friendly tours, local and knowledgeable guides will introduce you to the Honey Island swamp, as well as the plants and animals that call it home. A Honey Island tour provides an unforgettable journey through Louisiana’s natural landscapes. Book your scenic excursion with Pearl River Swamp Tours and prepare to make some long-lasting memories!
Pearl River Swamp Tours
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