Tremé Creole Gumbo & Congo Square Rhythms Festivals

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. Each spring, the Congo Square Rhythms Festival celebrates the musical traditions springing from the African diaspora like jazz, funk, contemporary and traditional brass bands, gospel, rhythm & blues, and African drumming and dance. 

By some incredible planning and good fortune, it all goes down the same weekend as the Gumbo Festival: which 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 other 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.