Tremé Creole Gumbo & Congo Square Rhythms

Back in the day, the Tremé neighborhood was the stomping grounds of the city's free people of color, and since the earliest days the area has churned out countless cultural contributions, including Creole food and brass band music.This year, the popular festival joins hands with the Congo Square Rhythms Festival—creating a colorful weekend celebrating the cultural musical traditions springing from the African diaspora—jazz, funk, contemporary and traditional brass bands, gospel, rhythm & blues, and African drumming and dance. 

As far as food, the Gumbo Festival promises over a dozen culinary wizards offering their own carefully curated takes on the city's finest gumbos, with the annual vegan gumbo contest tipping its hat to those who have gone green. The Congo Rhythms food court will offer a spread of classic NOLA fares—red beans and rice, crabmeat beignets, deep fried bell peppers, and is your mouth watering yet? 

Both events will have their respective arts markets. Visit the Treme side for local wares and the Congo corner for imported arts, crafts, jewelry, and more from Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Within the arts markets, supervised kids activities will be available, including creative workshops led by local artists. 

11 am–7:30 pm Saturday and Sunday at Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square. Free. tremegumbofest.com.