New Orleans Fall Festivals – Fall 2025 LA Events

Celebration in the Park - New Orleans, LA - Nov 29 to Jan 3, 2025
City Park’s largest fundraiser, Celebration in the Oaks, is the New Orleans holiday family tradition. This incredible light festival has enchanted Park visitors since the 1980s and is vital to the Park’s maintenance, care, and beautification year round. City Park’s famous oaks will be swathed in over a million twinkling lights and breathtaking light displays will be scattered throughout the 2.25-mile driving tour of the Park. The driving tour experience is approximately 30 to 47 minutes.

Baton Rouge Turkey Trot - Baton Rouge, LA - Nov 28 to Nov 28, 2024
Celebrating its 35th year, the Turkey Trot returns to Downtown Baton Rouge on the morning of Thanksgiving 2021. This race is a local thanksgiving tradition – one that serves the community by keeping them active and fit through racing and by partnering with the March of Dimes as a fund-raiser to help their organization financially and by spreading the word about the work they do. 5K or 1 mile fun run

Turkey Day Race - New Orleans, LA - Nov 28 to Nov 28, 2024
Established in 1907, the New Orleans Athletic Club’s Turkey Day Race is one of the oldest, continuously held non-marathon races in the United States. Starting and finishing at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans City Park, the morning includes 5 Mile and kids’ half-mile run / walk races. Families from around the country have made this event one of their favorite holiday traditions, with multiple generations participating year after year. Proceeds benefit Spina Bifida of Louisiana.

Bayou Classic – Thanksgiving Parade and College Football Game - New Orleans, LA - Nov 28 to Nov 30, 2024
Catch the classic parade as it moves from the French Market to the Superdome then watch the Tigers of Grambling State and the Jaguars of Southern University compete in the Bayou Clash. Other events include a battle between the schools’ two marching bands, and more throughout the week.

Beignet Fest - New Orleans, LA - Nov 16 to Nov 16, 2024
From traditional sweet treats covered in powdered sugar to savory options bursting with seafood, cheese and more, Beignet Fest will feature different beignet dishes from some of New Orleans’ best restaurants and food trucks. In true NOLA style, the festival also features live, local music performances, a Kid’s Village, Artist Market and VIP Experience. Proceeds from Beignet Fest benefit the Tres Doux Foundation, which makes grants to nonprofits serving children with developmental delays.

Mermaids Arts & Crafts Show - Bay St Louis, MS - Nov 9 to Nov 10, 2024
Held on the shady grounds of the Historic L&N Train Depot in beautiful Bay St Louis, Mississippi

Big Easy Halloween Half and 5k - New Orleans, LA - Oct 27 to Oct 27, 2024
Half and mini marathons. After party with live music.

Wooden Boat Festival - Madisonville, LA - Oct 19 to Oct 20, 2024
Visitors will have plenty to do including viewing an amazing assortment of boats. Last yearÂ’s lineup included luggers, skiffs, trawlers, work boats, cruisers, sailboats and more. Enjoy live music, food, children’s area, children’s boat building, team boat building, car and motorcycle show, beer garden and more.

Andouille Festival - LaPlace, LA - Oct 18 to Oct 20, 2024
Dedicated to the sausage it is named after, event includes Andouille eating contest, gumbo cook-off and jazz brunch, among other activities.

Rougarou Fest - Houma, LA - Oct 18 to Oct 20, 2024
Celebrate the folklore of Southeast Louisiana’s bayous with a family friendly festival. It is a fundraiser for the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center.

New Orleans Film Festival - New Orleans, LA - Oct 16 to Oct 22, 2024
Hosted by multiple theatres across the city, the film festival gives out awards in seven different categories with prize packages that include thousands of dollars’ worth of camera packages, software, film stock, cash prizes and more. In addition to screenings, there are parties and other events, and celebrities are often in attendance. Individual screening tickets are available but can go quickly, so the All-Access Pass (which among other benefits guarantees tickets to all festival screenings) is the better bet

Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival - New Orleans, LA - Oct 11 to Oct 13, 2024
Live music, Southern barbecue and fun in Lafayette Square. Admission is free at Lafayette Square Park.

Louisiana Gumbo Festival - Thibodaux, LA - Oct 11 to Oct 13, 2024
Annual event in the Gumbo Capital of Louisiana, with music, rides, food and more. Free admission, free parking.

Deutsches Haus Oktoberfest - New Orleans, LA - Oct 11 to Oct 26, 2024
This New Orleans Oktoberfest is quite a party! It is open Friday and Saturdays in October. They feature authentic German music, foods, and beverages. Lots of fun activities throughout the day.

Gentilly Fest - New Orleans, LA - Oct 11 to Oct 13, 2024
From its beginning, the annual Gentilly Fest has aimed to raise funds to aid in the rebuilding and continued growth of the Gentilly area. Enjoy live music, kids area, food, and more

Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival - Bogalusa, LA - Oct 5 to Oct 5, 2024
Lots of family fun with children’s activities, food vendors, crafts and music from around the world.

German-Acadian Coast Historical and Genealogical Society Oktoberfest - Destrehan, LA - Oct 5 to Oct 5, 2024
Oktoberfest luncheon

Fried Chicken Festival - New Orleans, LA - Oct 5 to Oct 6, 2024
The National Fried Chicken (FREE) Festival takes place along the Lakefront. Celebrate this Southern favorite with food, live entertainment, and festivities, including a Chicken Wing Eating contest and a Best Fried Chicken contest. 35 restaurants will be slinging their chicken and there will be live music on two stages.

Gretna Heritage Fest - Gretna, LA - Oct 4 to Oct 6, 2024
25 city blocks of carnival rides and games, German beer garden, Latino Village, Italian Village, arts & crafts, live music and more.

Lake Charles Film & Music Festival - Lake Charles, LA - Oct 4 to Oct 5, 2024
Annual event for 5+ years. Independent film screenings, seminars, parties, networking, live music, cajun food and more.

Sugar Cane Festival - New Iberia, LA - Sep 26 to Sep 29, 2024
Annual event for 70+ years hosted by the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival Association. Farm fest and 4H livestock show, 5K, parade, car show, fairgrounds and carnival, flower show, art show, photography show, and more!

Alligator Festival - Luling, LA - Sep 26 to Sep 29, 2024
Music, food, arts and crafts, golf tournament, 5K race and 1/2 mile kids run. Held at West Bank Bridge Park, it is a fundraiser for The Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish.

Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival - Morgan City, LA - Aug 29 to Sep 2, 2024
This festival began in 1936 and has only grown and improved. Parade, food, music, arts & crafts, festival king and queen.

Bridge City Gumbo Festival - Bridge City, LA - Oct 13 to Oct 15, 2023
2024 – canceled due to parish changes. Hope to come back. Description: 2000 pounds of gumbo is served to visitors annually. Gumbo cooking contest, beautiful child contest, crafts, midway and delicious cajun cuisine, including jambalaya, red beans and rice and more.

Carnaval Latino - New Orleans, LA - Oct 8 to Oct 8, 2022
Come celebrate the Latin music, food, culture and art that make up New Orleans at the Carnaval Latino! There will be live music from some of the area’s top Latin artists, a 20 float parade representing different countries of the Americas, a variety of Latin food vendors and unique arts and crafts! It will be held at the Generations Hall on Higgins Blvd

New Orleans Burlesque Festival - New Orleans, LA - Sep 22 to Sep 25, 2022
The main event is the declaration of the Queen of Burlesque, a striptease competition to jazz music. Enjoy performances of all kinds, including variety, acro, sideshow, circus, magic, and more during each Burlesque show!

Canal Street Lighting Ceremony - New Orleans, LA - Nov 23 to Nov 23, 2021
Join the Downtown Development District and Canal Place to “flip the switch” and light Canal Street.

Treme Creole Gumbo Festival - New Orleans, LA - Nov 12 to Nov 13, 2021
Many varieties of gumbo, including a vegan gumbo contest. Live music including jazz and R&B. Free admission, held at Armstrong Park.

Voodoo Music + Arts Experience - New Orleans, LA - Oct 29 to Oct 31, 2021
Canceled for 2022. Normally: The musical lineup is typically announced in June. Enjoy music, art, community, food, and all the mystery that Halloween in New Orleans can bring up. There are over 65 bands in three days! Shuttle and parking passes are also available. Held at New Orleans City Park.

Art for Arts’ Sake - New Orleans, LA - Oct 2 to Oct 2, 2021
Hundreds of chic galleries and shops along Magazine Street will open their doors to kick off what is considered the opening day of the cityÂ’s art season. or three hours, buyers and art lovers alike are welcome to browse the galleries, and in many cases, visit with the artists whose work is being shown. In recent years, over 30,000 people have come out for the event, making it one massive art party. Come enjoy food, drink, live music and art

French Market Tree Lighting Ceremony - New Orleans, LA - Nov 22 to Nov 22, 2019
Ring in the holidays with the French Market’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Washington Artillery Park! Enjoy live musical performances and the Tree Lighting Ceremony immediately followed by a fireworks display. Free and open to the public.