Things to Do in New Orleans

New Orleans is unlike any other American city when it comes to live entertainment, with music woven into the fabric of daily life and a festival calendar that is unmatched in its richness. The Caesars Superdome is home to the Saints and hosts the Sugar Bowl, College Football Playoff games, Super Bowls, and Mardi Gras concerts. The Smoothie King Center next door is home to the Pelicans and hosts major concert tours. But the soul of New Orleans entertainment lives in its streets and clubs. Frenchmen Street in the Marigny neighborhood is the local music epicenter, with clubs like the Spotted Cat Music Club, d.b.a., and the Maison offering live jazz, brass band, funk, and blues every night. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival each spring is a two-weekend celebration of music, food, and culture featuring hundreds of artists across multiple stages at the Fair Grounds Race Course. The Essence Festival of Culture on Fourth of July weekend is one of the largest African American cultural events in the country. Preservation Hall in the French Quarter has been presenting traditional New Orleans jazz since 1961 in an intimate, standing-room setting. The Saenger Theatre is a beautifully restored 1927 movie palace that hosts Broadway touring shows and concerts. Tipitina's Uptown is a beloved music club that has hosted legends from Professor Longhair to the Neville Brothers. Mardi Gras season from Epiphany through Fat Tuesday transforms the entire city into a celebration. The warm subtropical climate supports outdoor events most of the year, with spring and fall offering the most comfortable conditions.