April 26, 2011
42nd Annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Celebrating its 42nd anniversary in 2011, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is a 7-day cultural feast of unforgettable music, delicious Louisiana cuisine and artisan crafts. Also known as “Jazz Fest,” this year’s festival will be held from April 29 – May 1 and May 5 – 8 at its traditional home, the Fair Grounds Race Course.
This year’s impressive lineup of musicians includes local and national
recording artists from a wide spectrum of musical backgrounds including jazz, blues, zydeco, R&B, rock, Latin, folk, and much more. Some of the headliners that will grace the 12 stages at Jazz Fest include Jimmy Buffet, John Mellencamp, Bon Jovi, Robert Plant, Tom Jones and Willie Nelson. Of course local favorites like Dr. John, Trombone Shorty, Allen Toussaint and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band along with many others will represent the sounds of Louisiana and the Bayou.
Of course there is much more to the heritage of New Orleans than just music. The festival also celebrates the art and culture of the people who have come to define the region with four cultural exhibits and three craft areas. The Contemporary Crafts area, Congo Square, and the Louisiana Marketplace all pay homage to the distinct paintings, sculpture and jewelry of the African American, Cajun and Native American people of Louisiana.
Four cultural villages, the Grandstand Exhibit, Haitian Pavilion,
Louisiana Folklore Village and the Native American Village will all feature a variety of special events including seminars, dances, traditional food samplings and much more. In honor of one of the most influential cultures in Louisiana, this year’s Jazz Fest is hosting a Haitian celebration which is billed as the largest Haitian cultural event in the U.S. since the devastating earthquake a year ago. The event will include appearances by music artists such as Wyclef Jean, Boukman Eksperyans and Tabou Combo.
No Louisiana festival would be complete without an endless supply of Cajun and Creole classics like etouffe, gumbo, jambalaya and crawfish. Three expansive food courts will offer up an endless supply of local specialties being dished out by the best New Orleans has offer.
For a full list of the food vendors, cultural activities and musical artists performing at this year’s Jazz Fest visit online at www.nojazzfest.com. For accommodations be sure to check out the Frenchmen Orleans situated in the heart of the lively Faubourg Marigny neighborhood.
