NEW ORLEANS, LA - JUNE 30:  Rebirth Brass Band kicks off the 2011 Essence Music Festival press conference at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on June 30, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

🎊 FEST FEST FEST! Say it with cha chest! 😆

We know you need rest, but it’s time to fest.

by Clint Durrett | March 28, 2019

We know you need rest, but it’s time to fest. Your time is hard pressed, so we’re here to help with your quest. We have the recs for the best fests in this test. All will be addressed. We won’t let you be depressed. So get dressed in your best fest vest, and let’s dive into this nest. You’ll feel blessed, to this we attest. You’ll be in the know and your friends will be impressed. Take a look below. We have content with some zest – men in distress, drag queens passing their tests and noodles that have us obsessed. So be our guest.

STELLA! – Tennessee Williams Festival

“America has only three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland,” — Tennessee Williams. A festival about this great playwright is happening and we’re looking over what we want to check out. You’ll definitely wanna see dudes yelling “STELLLLAAAAAAAA!” this weekend.

To the Draguation Class of 2019 … wear sunscreen

Everybody’s free. For the past six years more than 100 people from all walks of life have graduated from nine different cycles of the New Orleans Drag Workshop with its “Draguation” performance and ceremony. We saw the draguates who made it work.

Udon know the best noodle spots in NOLA – we do

We tried oodles of noodles. Grab your fork and get wrapped up in our list of the best stringy foods to slurp up into your face. It’s the whole kit and caboodle of noodles.

What To Do

Friday

Mia X’s Team Whip Dem Pots Pop Up | Pythian Market | 11 a.m.

New Orleans rap legend Mia X began turning to cooking in 1999, after the death of her mother. After writing a cookbook and being featured at Essence Fest, she’s coming to the Pythian Market to “whip dem pots.”

Saturday

Congo Square New World Rhythms Fest | Louis Armstrong Park | 11 a.m. | FREE

Music fans should definitely hit up this annual fest in its 12th year and celebrate New Orleans traditions. Mardi Gras Indians battle it out at 3:15 p.m.

Hogs For The Cause | UNO Lakefront Arena | 3:30 p.m. | 2-Day Gen. Admin: $55

I know you’re thinking it’s a lot to pay for a fest, BUT $25 will already be loaded on your wristband to pay for food and drinks! Friday is bacon night (!) and more than 90 teams will be serving up their favorite take on pork. Proceeds go to families of children with brain cancer.

Sunday

Music Under The Oaks | Audubon Park | 5-6:30 p.m. | FREE

Bring your blankets and lawn chairs for a special concert series to celebrate the Audubon Park Conservancy.

Stella an Stanley Shouting Contest | Jackson Square | 4:15 p.m. | FREE

Contestants compete for prizes, re-enacting the iconic “STEEEEELLLLLAAAAA!” yell from “A Streetcar Named Desire.” The NOLA Project’s Cecile Monteyne will provide your inspiration as Stella, and celebrity judges will choose five finalists and a winner!

What Else You Should Look At

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Clint Durrett

Clint Durrett

Hi. I’m Clint.
I’m the Local Market Manager for Very Local New Orleans. I’ve lived in New Orleans since 2001 and been living my best life in this rad place since that year.
I have 10 years of broadcast journalism and digital media experience. Before Very Local New Orleans, I worked for WDSU-TV – producing, product developing, digital media managing– I’ve done it all. I’ve seen first-hand the trials we’ve suffered in this city and the celebrations we’ve enjoyed. I love New Orleans. It’s home.
I’m going to work my hardest to bring you the content and experiences you care about to live your best life here in one of the best cities on the planet.
I love finding things to do here – concerts, food, drinks, nerding out, etc. And I love sharing those things with others.
Contact me via email. Gimme a shout on social. If you see something you think we should know about, hit me up. If you see something that needs fixing on the site, ditto. I want this website to be yours, too. Not just one I manage, but one we as a community and New Orleanians use to help us live our best lives.

Download the Very Local app to stream all of the Very Local original series for FREE!

Download the Very Local app to stream all of the Very Local original series for FREE!