Food festivals in New Orleans worth planning a trip around, by month.

Festivals through the year

November 2026 2 festivals

7-8 NovTickets neededTurkey legs, giant pretzels, pickles, nachos, and four village pubs

The Louisiana Renaissance Festival is in Hammond, about 58 miles from New Orleans, on weekends from 7 November to 13 December 2026 plus Thanksgiving Friday, with turkey legs and village pubs.

TipHammond is about an hour by car from New Orleans. The Friday after Thanksgiving, 27 November, is the only Friday of the whole season; gates are 8.45 am to 5 pm.

8 NovFree entry Po-boys

The 18th Oak Street Po-Boy Festival takes over Oak Street in New Orleans on Sunday 8 November 2026, with over 100 versions of the po-boy, live music stages and an art market.

TipBring cash for vendor lines; weekend afternoon family-friendly, parking around Carrollton Avenue is tight.

January 2027 1 festival

Mardi Gras ★ 4.8

6 Jan to 9 Feb 2027Free entry King cake and street food

Mardi Gras in New Orleans runs from Twelfth Night (January 6) through Fat Tuesday, with king cake on every bakery counter, krewe parades, throws.

TipGet to a parade two hours early on the final weekend; king cake from Dong Phuong is the local order.

April 2027 2 festivals

8-11 Apr 2027Free entry Louisiana food on Quarter stages

French Quarter Festival, run by French Quarter Festivals, Inc., fills the Vieux Carre with free music and local New Orleans food from 8 to 11 April 2027.

TipThe free festival is the city's largest free music event; food vendors line Royal Street and the levee park.

22 Apr to 2 May 2027Tickets neededLouisiana food on Fair Grounds

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival runs two long weekends at the Fair Grounds Race Course, with over 200 food offerings from long-standing Louisiana vendors beside the music stages.

TipThe Food Fair lists over 200 offerings, and the organiser publishes a Food List and runs a Food Heritage Stage; the 2027 dates are 22 to 25 April and 29 April to 2 May.

June 2027 2 festivals

3-4 Jun 2027Free entry Oysters

New Orleans Oyster Festival in Woldenberg Park runs each early June with oyster shucking and eating contests (Acme), free music on the riverfront and 10-plus.

TipFree festival; the P&J Shucking Contest at noon is the spectacle order. Bring sunscreen, riverfront is unshaded.

9-13 Jun 2027Tickets neededChef-led tasting weekend

The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, NOWFE, is a charity eating and drinking festival that fills a June week across the city; NOWFE Week 2027 runs 9 to 13 June.

TipThe organiser's Events and Tickets page currently says more events are to come; check it for the 2027 programme before booking.

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