In addition to the free music and the food booths at the French Quarter Festival, there are a number of special events you may be interested in attending. Here are a few that may appeal to you.
Friday April 17
- Festival Kickoff Parade at 10:00 AM in the 100 block of Bourbon
- 11am to 3pm (last tours begin at 2pm) Open Tours of the Hermann-Grima House at 820 St. Louis, and Gallier House at 1132 Royal.
- Patio Planters Historic Courtyard Self-guided Tours from 2 to 4 at 1113 Chartres.
- 2pm to 4pm French Quarter Festival 2009 poster signing, featuring local artist Søren Vandegaard at The Idea Factory, 838 Chartres St
- 7pm The Historic New Orleans Collection presents the tenth annual Bill Russel Lecture: “Louis Armstrong’s New Orleans” by author Dr. Tom Brothers, with Clive Wilson on trumpet and Butch Thompson on piano. Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres St.
- 13th Annual New Orleans International Music Colloquium, featuring academic presentations on the history of New Orleans music Jazz National Park Visitors Center, 916 N. Peters.
Saturday, April 18
- 8am to 6pm Pirates Alley Juried Art Show presented by the New Orleans Art Association; over 100 artists displaying original fine art in Pirates Alley, Pere Antoine Alley, Cabildo Alley and Royal Street.
- 11am to 3pm (last tours begin at 2pm) Open Tours of the Hermann-Grima House at 820 St. Louis, and Gallier Houseat 1132 Royal.
- Acme World Championship Oyster Eating Competition at noon at theLouisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint.
- 2pm to 4pm Patio Planters Historic Courtyard Self-Guided Tours Begins at 1129 Bourbon Street.
- 11am to 6pm Children’s Headquarters on the riverfront plaza at Audubon Aquarium face painting, nature activities, tai chi and karate, Audubon Zoo’s giant dinosaur, ‘Got Milk?’ milk mustaches, museum activities for kids, healthy kids activities, music on the Kids’ Stage, family fun entertainment, & more.
- 5:30pm to 7pm Kamal’s (Fi Ya Ya Mardi Gras Indians) drum making circle in the Kid’s area Audubon Aquarium Plaza 12noon to 4pm. Battle of the Bands traditional jazz bands compete in a rousing playoff – 400 block of Royal.
- 7:30pm ‘Cabildo’ Opera at the Cabildo. Music at Madewood and Opera Vista present an hour-long opera about pirates, the Battle of New Orleans & a mysterious lady who inspires victory. Amy Beach’s 1932 opera about pirate Pierre Lafitte’s imprisonment. Courtyard of the Cabildo.
- 13th Annual New Orleans International Music Colloquim, featuring academic presentations on the history of New Orleans music at the Jazz National Park Visitors Center, 916 N. Peters.
Sunday, April 19
- 8am to 6pm Pirates Alley Juried Art Show presented by the New Orleans Art Association; over 100 artists displaying original fine art in Pirates Alley, Pere Antoine Alley, Cabildo Alley and Royal Street.
- 11am to 6pm Children’s Headquarters on the riverfront plaza at Audubon Aquarium face painting, nature activities, tai chi and karate, Audubon Zoo’s giant dinosaur, ‘Got Milk?’ milk mustaches, museum activities for kids, healthy kids activities, music on the Kids’ Stage, family fun entertainment, and more.
- 12noon to 4pm Kamal’s (Fi Ya Ya Mardi Gras Indians) drum making circle in the Kid’s area Audubon Aquarium Plaza.
- 7pm St. Louis Cathedral Annual Spring Concert John Rutter’s Mass for the Children which will feature the St. Louis Cathedral Boychoir, the Concert Choir and the St. Louis Cathedral Orchestra.
- 6pm to 7:15pm Dancing at Dusk You’ll be “In the Moods” for a “Sentimental Journey” with the sounds of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Count Basie and other favorites for the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Come dance and swing at this festival favorite with the Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra; 400 block of Royal.
