Fall in New Orleans means the temperatures and the humidity go down, and the energy level in the city goes up. In fall, there’s events like National Fried Chicken Festival, NOLAxNOLA Music + Arts Experience, Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival, and countless others. Of course, fall in NOLA also means Saints football. Discover New Orleans’ colorful culture and celebrate what it means to fall in love with New Orleans.
Art and Music 
NOLAxNOLA, September 28 – October 8
Music makes New Orleans special. And it’s everywhere here, especially this fall. Catch your favorite artists and discover new ones at dozens of live performances at indoor and outdoor venues all over town from September 23-October 9 as part of NOLAxNOLA (NOLA BY NOLA), a citywide celebration of New Orleans music, venues, and artists.

Art for Art’s Sake, October 7, 2023 
Presented by the Magazine Street Merchants Association, Art for Art’s Sake is back for its annual showcase of art, food, music, and fun on Magazine Street. Over 100 shops, stores, restaurants, and galleries are participating along the six-mile stretch. Enjoy complimentary wine samples, special deals and extended hours at various participating Magazine Street businesses and live music throughout the day.

Nola Funk FEST, October 20, 2023 – October 22, 2023 
NOLA Funk Fest is a celebration of Louisiana’s rich music history and marks the beginning of the public announcement of the Louisiana Music & Heritage Experience, a grand-scale museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing the state’s musical heritage. NOLA Funk Fest aims to educate, inspire, and empower tourists and locals alike, reminding attendees of the profound impact of Louisiana’s music on the world stage. Along with the funky tunes, food, drinks, artisanal crafts, and commemorative merchandise is available for purchase. 

Nola Reggae Fest, October 27, 2023 – October 29, 2023 
Get ready for the best vibes in New Orleans at this year’s Summer Reggae Fest! Create lasting memories with friends and family of all ages while immersing yourself in Jamaican-inspired fun. From lively dance and music to captivating art and cultural demonstrations, the festival offers a rich blend of entertainment.

Sober Fest, November 18, 2023 
Music has always been at the heart of New Orleans, and Sober Fest provides an inclusive opportunity for people in recovery to have fun while also building community. Bridge House / Grace House is proud to host an alcohol-free music festival where everyone can come together to enjoy amazing artists and have a great time in a sober-supportive environment.

Culture
Gentilly Fest, October 6, 2023 – October 8, 2023 
Gentilly Fest is an annual event that brings together the vibrant culture of the Gentilly neighbourhood. This nonprofit, community-focused organization also strives to entertain both tourists and locals while giving back to the community. The festival features live music on three stages, showcasing the talent of local musicians. Attendees can savour a diverse range of culinary delights from various local restaurants and caterers. Additionally, the festival provides a platform for local artisans and vendors to sell their fine arts and crafts, contributing to the local economy. If you bring the little ones, make sure to stop by Kids’ Village to enjoy activities like face painting, pottery, garden crafts, and even a kid’s entertainment stage. 

Treme Fall Fest, October 21, 2023 
As the United States’ oldest African American neighbourhood, Tremé is a site of significant economic, cultural, political, social, and legal events that have shaped the course of events in Black America for the past two centuries. In October, the historic Tremé neighbourhood becomes home to the annual Treme Fall Festival. All weekend, visitors enjoy the music and food of this cherished New Orleans neighbourhood. Treme Fall Fest is a donation-based event created to raise money for St. Augustine Catholic Church.

Krewe of Boo (Halloween), October 21, 2023 
Krewe of Boo became the official Halloween Parade in New Orleans in 2007, and it has grown every year since! With floats constructed by Kern Studios, America’s premier float-building organization, the parade frightens and excites the crowds. Kern artists design 3-D papier mâché and fibreglass props that mimic all of Halloween’s spooky creatures. Parade riders will throw a myriad of items to onlookers as they pass by, much to the delight of both children and adults. Parade throws will include candy, chee wees, pralinettes, light-up medallion beads, voodoo doll pins and magnets, doubloons, and children’s toys.

Krewe of Boo throws are all collectable or consumable, which cuts back on waste.
Culinary
National Fried Chicken Festival, September 30, 2023 – October 1, 2023 
Fried chicken is a staple of southern cuisine, and it is served a lot of ways in a lot of wonderful places throughout New Orleans. Founded in 2016 in New Orleans, the National Fried Chicken Festival (FCF) presented by Raising Cane’s is a two-day outdoor festival bringing together hundreds of thousands from across the nation around a shared love of great food, music, and culture. FCF 2023 will feature its largest and most diverse food lineup to date, with over 50 participating restaurants showcasing their unique spins on the iconic Southern dish for an opportunity to take home the festival’s “Best Fried Chicken” and “Best Use of Fried Chicken in a Dish Awards.”
In addition to the two music stages with all-day entertainment from local and national artists, organizers are proud to announce a third stage – the HEINZ® “Food is Culture” Stage – which will feature cooking demonstrations, TEDx-style talks, panel discussions, and more with national celebrity chefs and culinary thought leaders.

Crescent City Blues and BBQ Fest, October 13-15, 2023
The Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival is a grand celebration of music, food, and art. This annual event continues the New Orleans tradition of blues, bringing together top performers from southern Louisiana and Mississippi. Musicians and vendors alike captivate audiences with soulful blues melodies and mouth-watering BBQ. Beyond the musical and culinary delights, the festival showcases unique visual art displays. The art market offers a multitude of handcrafted pieces, including artwork, home furnishings, jewelry, and other crafts, providing an opportunity to take home a special memento from the festival.

Top Taco, October 26, 2023 
Each year, some of New Orleans’ best restaurants, taquerias and bars head to Top Taco to battle it out for the title of Top Taco Champion while festgoers reap the rewards of their labour. In addition to the unlimited taco and tequila tastings from some of your favourite eateries across the Crescent City, Top Taco also features live music performances, special guest appearances, interactive activities and more. 

Oak Street Po’Boy Festival, November 19, 2023 
The Oak Street Po-Boy Festival highlights not only the importance of the po-boy itself but also the rebirth of a once-thriving shopping district with roots as deep as the neighbourhood itself. Carrollton was a separate city until it was annexed by New Orleans in 1874, and Oak Street was its commercial hub. At Oak Street Po-Boy Fest, try dozens of varieties of po-boys in the Uptown Carrollton neighbourhood. It is a block party with multiple stages of live music, an arts market, and lots of other food for the taking.