FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Whatever you’re wondering about the Jazz Festival, you can find the answer here. Lots of people have the same questions. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions), in the hopes that we can provide you with answers.
Festival policies & important information.
What is Jazz Fest?
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, a/k/a Jazz Fest, is a 10-day cultural feast in which thousands of musicians, cooks and craftspeople welcome 400,000 visitors each year. The Louisiana Heritage Fair showcases unforgettable music on multiple stages, delicious Louisiana cuisine in two large food areas, and crafts artisans from the region and around the world demonstrating and selling their work. The Louisiana Heritage Fair is held at the Fair Grounds Race Course over the course of 2 weekends. They are April 28 - May 7, 2017.
Back to top
Where is it held?
The Heritage Fair takes place at the Fair Grounds Race Course, centrally located at 1751 Gentilly Boulevard, 10 minutes from the French Quarter. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Back to top
Is Jazz the only music featured at the Jazz Festival?
The Festival celebrates the indigenous music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana, so the music encompasses every style associated with the city and the state: blues, R&B, gospel, Cajun, zydeco, Afro-Caribbean, folk, Latin, rock, rap, country, bluegrass and everything in between. And of course there is lots of jazz, both contemporary and traditional.
Back to top
When is the performance schedule released?
The complete list of musicians performing at the Jazz & Heritage Festival will be announced around December. A more complete schedule in grid form, known as “the cubes,” is available closer to the Festival, usually around the first week of April. This website will be one of the first places to view the entire schedule.
Back to top
When do tickets go on sale?
Tickets go on sale after the talent has been announced. Visit our Tickets Page for more information.
Back to top
How can I purchase tickets?
Tickets will be available at www.nojazzfest.com and www.ticketmaster.com, at all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling (800) 745-3000. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Jazz Fest ticket office located at the New Orleans Arena Box Office. All Jazz Fest tickets are subject to additional service fees and handling charges.
Back to top
How much do tickets cost?
Advance, single-day tickets are $70 plus service charges, tickets at the gate are $80.
Back to top
How do I get to the Fair Grounds?
The Fair Grounds Race Course is located in a residential part of the city; parking in the surrounding neighborhoods is not recommended.
Gray Line Tours will operate continuous round-trip transportation – the Jazz Fest Express – from the Sheraton Hotel, the Gray Line Lighthouse at the Steamboat Natchez Dock (Toulouse St. at the River – next to Jax Brewery), and City Park (next to Marconi Meadows) daily from 10:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
A special entrance will be used only by Jazz Fest Express vehicles to avoid traffic and bring Festival-goers inside the gates of the Festival. Add $18 ($15 City Park) to the price of a Festival admission ticket for this round-trip transportation service. Admission and Jazz Fest Express tickets are available for sale on the days of the Festival from these locations or in advance through TicketMaster. A one way ticket from the Festival to downtown will be available for $10.
For more information, call 504-569-1401 or 1-800-535-7786.
http://www.graylineneworleans.com/jazzfest.html
Back to top
What can you bring to the Fest?
Click here for a pdf of the list of prohibitions
Back to top
Do you help Festivalgoers in booking hotel rooms?
• The Festival’s official host hotel is the Sheraton New Orleans. For reservations call 504-595-5500 or 800-253-6156.
• A useful travel resource is the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Contact the NOMCVB at 800-672-6124 or 504-566-5003. Website: www.neworleanscvb.com.
Back to top
Do you advise making a hotel reservation in advance?
The Festival is very popular and there is a high demand for hotel rooms, so we advise making reservations as soon as possible. Some hotels take reservations as early as a year in advance, and many Fest-goers book their rooms in the fall preceding the Festival. Please be aware, however, that it is never too late to make a hotel reservation. Rooms become available off and on as reservations are released leading up to the event. A hotel may have no rooms available on March 30, but may have 10 rooms available April 15. Just keep checking. For a list of hotels visit our hotel page here
Back to top
Is the Festival accessible to people with disabilities?
For information about Festival attendance by people with disabilities. please either call (504) 410-6104, e-mail access@nojazzfest.com, or fax (504) 558-6121 For more information, please visit our ADA page.
Back to top
Any tips on preparation for a day at Jazz Fest – what to wear, things like that?
The springtime weather in New Orleans can range from pleasantly warm to uncomfortably hot, so you’ll want to dress in cool, unrestrictive clothing. Lightweight cotton is never a bad idea. There are a few shady trees scattered here and there throughout the Fair Grounds, but the infield is, for the most part, wide open to the sun. Therefore, most people consider sunglasses to be essential, not to mention sunscreen or sunblock. A hat with a wide brim or visor is also a good idea. Wear comfortable shoes, as you may be doing a lot of walking. You’ll want to keep hydrated, too: there are beverages available throughout the Heritage Fair, and cold drinking water can be found in the Grandstand, which is also a good source of shade and air conditioning, not to mention many of the Festival’s hidden treasures. Also, several stages on the infield and in Heritage Square are under tents that offer relief from the sun.
Back to top
Are there ATMs available if I run low on cash?
Yes, there are ATMs onsite. For exact locations, please refer to the map.
Back to top
I hear they eat only crawfish and alligator in Louisiana. Is that all that will be available in the food areas?
While those delicacies are available in various forms (and they’re delicious), the food areas offer a wide range of items, from the familiar to the exotic: truly something for everyone. You won’t go hungry. To get a better sense of what the Festival has to offer to satisfy your appetite, please see our food pages.
Back to top
What about vegetarian items?
There are always a number of tasty vegan/vegetarian-friendly items on the menu as well.
Back to top
I can only attend for one weekend. Which do you recommend?
You really can’t go wrong with either. Great care is taken to distribute the music evenly over both weekends.
Back to top
I have an old Jazz Fest poster and I hear it may be worth something. How can I find out?
The Festival’s limited-edition posters are produced by Art4Now. Their website, http://www.art4now.com, includes information about the values of vintage posters.
Back to top
I’d like to work and/or volunteer for Jazz Fest. Who do I contact?
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Attn: Human Resources/Volunteers
336 Camp Street ste 250
New Orleans, LA 70130
504-410-4100
Jazz Fest Job Line: 504-410-6136
Click here for more information about becoming a volunteer for Jazz Fest.
Back to top
How can I apply to perform at the Jazz & Heritage Festival?
The deadline for submitting press kits to perform at the 2015 Festival is October 1, 2014.
The Festival respectfully limits applicants to bands living and working in
Louisiana. The mission of the Festival is to preserve, perpetuate, and promote
the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana.
To apply Online, CLICK HERE
To apply by mail:
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell
Attn: Music Production
336 Camp Street, Suite 250
New Orleans, LA 70130
Be sure to include a recording, bio, photo, press clippings and contact
information. All bands that are chosen for the 2014 Jazz Fest will be contacted after the October 1st deadline.
Once all bands are selected and booked, the festival will send email notification to all groups that were not selected for 2015. If you would like to receive this status notification, you must include a valid email address with this application.
Back to top
How can I apply for a crafts booth?
The application deadline for the 2014 Jazz Fest was December 3, 2013.
To contact the crafts department:
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Attn: Crafts Dept.
336 Camp Street ste 250
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 410-4100
Back to top
How can I apply for a food booth?
Jazz Fest Food Vendor Inquiry Information
For the past four decades the Food Fair at Jazz Fest has famously served some of the most delicious, restaurant quality, authentically prepared food to be found anywhere, let alone at a multi-day outdoor festival. Jazz Fest’s carefully developed menu encompasses traditional Creole and Cajun recipes, contemporary Creole innovations, New Orleans standards, and foods that reflect the rich influx of international influence in Louisiana.
What started out with a small handful of food items has now grown into an [irresistible] menu
featuring over 200 offerings, including many beloved dishes that have become a part of the Festival’s culture and, indeed, a part of the culinary culture of New Orleans.
The food items are prepared by vendors who have, for the most part, been participating in the Food Fair for many years. Festival food vendors have learned over the years to adapt to the challenges inherent to serving hundreds of thousands of Festival-goers over the course of seven days in an outdoor environment. It is a rigorous task given the fact that the food is prepared mostly by hand, with fresh local ingredients.
In any given Festival season there are very few openings for new vendors. In most years, there are none. On the rare occasion when there is an opening is it usually for a specific food item. There is no formal application process, but the Festival is always interested in learning about experienced food vendors who are creating exciting new Louisiana food items or superior quality versions of classic regional dishes.
If you feel your business model is compatible with the Festival criteria, you are welcome to fill out our Food Vendor Inquiry Contact Sheet (click here).
Please keep in mind the following:
-
All potential vendors must be full-time Louisiana residents.
-
No self-contained vending structures or vehicles are permitted.
-
No “carnival” food items or beverages will be considered.
-
There is minimal, if any, duplication of food items.
-
Food items must be prepared and served by the vendor and vendor is required to operate all Festival days.
-
General liability, vehicle liability and worker’s compensation insurance are required.
The information on the Food Vendor Inquiry Contact Sheet will be added to the Festival’s Food Fair database. This database is used for informational purposes only and does not obligate the Festival in any way.
Thank you for your interest.
Back to top
I’m a journalist interested in covering the Festival. How can I apply for press credentials?
The online application to cover the 2014 Jazz Fest can be found HERE
Please apply before March 31, 2014 to ensure your application is reviewed.
You will need the following to complete this application:
1.) Letter of assignment from your editor;
2.) A copy of the publication or details about the assigning outlet
3.) The days you’re planning to cover the Festival and your contact information
4.) If you’ve covered Jazz Fest before, copies of your previous coverage
If you need to speak with the Press Office you can e-mail us
at presscoord (at) nojazzfest.com.
Back to top
My company is interested in becoming a Sponsor.
If you are interested in discussing Sponsorship opportunities for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival you can contact us at 504-410-4100, send an email to sponsorship@nojazzfest.com. or write to us:
Sponsorship Department
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
336 Camp Street, Suite 250
New Orleans, LA 70130
Back to top
