French Quarter Festival

The largest free music festival in the South is back at the most beautiful time of year to spread four days of musical performances throughout the French Quarter. Every genre is represented here, from traditional and contemporary jazz, to rhythm and blues, New Orleans funk, zydeco, brass bands, folk, opera, and gospel. Music beckons from twenty music stages arrayed around the Quarter, and delicious smells waft from over fifty New Orleans restaurants and chefs selling food. Fireworks snap, crackle, and pop above the Mississippi, too. 10 am–8 pm. Free. fqfi.org.