New Orleans Holidays 2024/2025

New Orleans is a sprightly city in Louisiana where everything feels that bit more bright and exciting. It’s chilled out yet always alive, with music at its heart and a phenomenal food and drink scene. If you want to immerse yourself in a celebration of all the greatest things in life, head to New Orleans and prepare to let your worries drift away and your fun side thrive!

New Orleans is nicknamed The Big Easy, largely due to its laidback way of life and happy-go-lucky vibes. You do everything at your own pace when you visit this spectacular city, whether you’re picnicking in a tranquil park by the Mississippi River or you’re bar hopping and watching sensational live music with a drink in hand. There’s so much to soak in, but you’re never in a rush to get from one place to the next.

This city is known for its diversity – it’s a place that welcomes everyone and has its own unique dialects. The culture is truly fascinating, whether you want to explore the city’s architecture and art scene, get stuck into the jazz music it’s so famous for or indulge in tasty creole cuisine. You won’t be short of sights to see or delicious food joints between your visits to the many incredible museums, galleries and parks scattered across the city.

The Home Of Mardi Gras

We can’t talk about New Orleans without mentioning the world-famous Mardi Gras celebrations. A kaleidoscope of colour washes over the streets of New Orleans for this Christian festival which happens each February around Shrove Tuesday. Huge floats and dancing parades snake their way through the streets, surrounded by people laughing, singing and indulging in incredible food and drink. It’s truly a spectacle and something you won’t want to miss if your travel dates align!

Mardi Gras is a holiday for everyone. When you’re in New Orleans in February, you’ll see families with young children dressing up and getting involved, tourists having the time of their lives and older locals enjoying every moment of their hometown’s tradition. The music provides the perfect atmosphere and the beautiful backdrop of New Orleans streets is the ideal setting. You really couldn’t ask for more!

A Taste Of New Orleans

New Orleans, as well as being famous for larger than life celebrations, is known for its mouth-watering creole cuisine. This cosmopolitan food is inspired by tastes from Europe, Africa and Native America, and you simply can’t visit The Big Easy without stopping by a creole restaurant. Many of the dishes are inspired by French cuisine, but you’ll also taste that there’s a strong influence from Italy, Spain, Germany and the Caribbean too. Even the fussiest of eaters are bound to find something they love!

When you’re not tucking into delicious food, we’d recommend New Orleans as a great place for a tipple or two. The city is known to have round-the-clock nightlife with fabulous entertainment, and you’ll never be too far away from a well-mixed cocktail either. One of the best spots for nightlife in New Orleans is Bourbon Street. It’s aglow with neon lights and street performers, and it’s home to everything from swanky wineries to dive bars and jazz lounges. One of the best places we could imagine for a night on the town!

Where Music & Festivals Never End

If you haven’t already gathered, music is hugely important in New Orleans. It’s one of the most famous places in the world for jazz music, having been the home of musical legends such as Louis Armstrong and Buddy Bolden. There are musical celebrations every month of the calendar in New Orleans, from Mardi Gras to Jazz Fest, so you’re likely to find an exciting way to immerse yourself in the sound of New Orleans on your city break.

While jazz is the heartbeat of the city, there’s so much more to be discovered when it comes to music in New Orleans. Just wandering the streets, you’re likely to hear melodic performers singing everything from soul tunes to old school rock’n’roll. There’s a music venue around every corner, along with plenty of brilliant record stores and places to watch live music in a more casual setting. Any music lover should add this vibrant and soulful city to their travel bucket list!