The non-profit French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI), proudly announces the final details about the free French Quarter Festival presented by Chevron, April 21-24, 2022. Billed as the world’s largest showcase of Louisiana music, food, and culture, the 2022 festival will bring a record number of local musicians and restaurant debuts, the Geauxing Green Initiative and new nighttime programming. Today, Android and iPhone users can install the newly updated French Quarter Fest App to access the schedule, culinary lineup, maps, and more.
“We’re returning strong and full of all the good stuff – culture, community, and joy!,” said Emily Madero, President and CEO of FQFI. “FQF welcomes over 1,800 local musicians to the stage, more than we saw at our last Fest in 2019. We are expanding the fan experience and dancing into the night with the FQF After Dark Series at four premier event venues in New Orleans. Our team and board could not be more excited and appreciative of all the support we have had over the last two years that makes this year’s festival possible. It’s time to celebrate, together.”
“People are definitely travelling again as evidenced by the visitors who celebrated Mardi Gras in Louisiana this year. Festivals such as French Quarter Fest are huge drivers that bring visitors to our great state. We are excited to have the French Quarter Fest back in person and excited to have this opportunity to listen to live music that will Feed Your Soul,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser.
Fans are invited to join festival organizers, sponsors and partners to welcome this beloved event back to New Orleans on Thursday, April 21 at 10 a.m. for the French Quarter Festival Kickoff Parade. The parade departs from the 200 block of Bourbon Street and makes its way to Jackson Square for the annual opening day ceremony at the GE Stage.
Music Schedule Revealed
More than 1,800 Artists including 40+ debuts
The music lineup is sure to please everyone with more than 270 performances from a variety of genres across 20 stages. The riverfront Abita Beer Stage brings four days of music including headliners Tank and the Bangas, Rickie Lee Jones, The Soul Rebels, and Walter “Wolfman” Washington and the Roadmasters. The Chevron Stage, now located in Jax Lot, is a longtime Cajun/Zydeco destination well-known for its high energy throughout the day. In addition to the lineup, the Chevron Evening Concert Series returns with Irma Thomas Soul Queen of New Orleans, Water Seed, Big Chief Bo Dills Jr. and the Wild Magnolias and Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters and free dance lessons.
The GE Stage also finds a new home in Jackson Square with an all-star lineup of New Orleans’ most respected artists and culture-bearers including Jeremy Davenport, Shannon Powell, Robin Barnes, and James Andrews. Artists on the Jack Daniel’s Stage in Canal Plaza include debuts Loose Cattle and the Lilli Lewis Project, as well as Erica Falls, and the Jamal Batiste Band. At the Tropical Isle Hand Grenade Stage, the lineup includes Deacon John and the Ivories with special guests Hot Rod Lincoln, the Vegas Cola Band, Alexey Marti and a Sunday morning Gospel performance from the debut Zulu Gospel Choir.
At the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint, nearly a dozen brass bands will be featured Friday-Sunday on the Louisiana Fish Fry Stage, and the WWL-TV Esplanade in the Shade Stage brings three days of music from crowd favourites like Tin Men and Sarah Quintana. Stop by the Pan-American Life Insurance Group Stage Saturday-Sunday for a fusion of Latin beats, World Music and Jazz. Ernie’s Schoolhouse Stage located at the Homer A. Plessy Community School brings youth from across the city to perform including the NOCCA Jazz Ensemble and the John F. Kennedy Senior High School-JDrum Section.
The festival brings more music and dancing to the French Quarter neighbourhood with the return of the French Market Traditional Jazz Stage, which also features free dance lessons, and the French Market Dutch Alley Stage, both located in the French Market District; the Café Beignet Stage at Musical Legends Park and Jazz Playhouse at the Royal Sonesta New Orleans, both at 300 Bourbon; the Jones Walker Songwriter Stage, which returns to the outdoor courtyard at The Historic New Orleans Collection; and multiple street stages along with Bourbon and Royal Streets. The complete music schedule is now available on frenchquarterfest.org.
In addition to the stellar lineup, producers are proud to share the news of a collaborative initiative with the New Orleans Musicians’ Assistance Foundation, Fest It Safe. This program aims to ensure the healthy return of live entertainment and to generate increased public awareness about the ongoing importance of protecting the health and wellbeing of our culture creators. Launched at the 2021 Satchmo SummerFest, Fest It Safe focuses on providing New Orleans festival performers with harm-reduction and proactive health advocacy resources such as musician-specific protective equipment, wellness kits, and health information on local medical and mental health resources.
French Quarter Fest After Dark Series
Dancing into the night!
French Quarter Fest expands the fan experience by offering new nighttime programming. French Quarter Fest After Dark is a curated series of performances and pop-up events to enhance the fan experience and keep the good times rolling after the last festival stage closes. The official FQF After Dark series will be held at different venues throughout the city from Thursday – to Sunday. Tickets are now available.
Thursday, April 21 FQF After Dark at Double Dealer featuring George Porter Jr. Trio. The event is free. Doors open at 6 pm with performances from 9 pm-12 am.
Friday, April 22 FQF After Dark at Three Keys at the ACE Hotel featuring Cha Wa. Tickets can be purchased here and are $30 in advance and $40 at the door. The performance will be from 9 pm-12 pm.
Saturday, April 23 FQF After Dark at Hotel Saint Vincent featuring Cyril Neville. Tickets can be purchased here and are $50 in advance. The performance will be from 9 pm-12 am.
Sunday, April 24 FQF After Dark at Midnight Revival at the Frenchmen Hotel featuring Holly Rock. Tickets are $10. Doors open at 7 pm with performances from 8 pm-11 pm.
50+ Culinary Experiences
10+ debuts, 10 more chances to enjoy the best eats in NOLA!
The 2022 French Quarter Festival Culinary Lineup, sponsored by Broussard’s Restaurant & Courtyard, returns with New Orleans’ most infamous dishes, as well as new takes on the classics and items that can only be found at the Fest.
This year FQF welcomes more than 10 culinary debuts including Paella Nola with a traditional and vegetarian paella, Cocoa and Cream Catering, The Bower, Addis Nola, New Orleans Ice Cream, Armantine Seafood and Spirits, Crabby Jack’s with grillades and grits, rabbit jambalaya, shrimp and grits, and chicken and sausage jambalaya, Ma Momma’s House, Ditto Food Truck, Nola Crawfish and Seafood serving the whole hog platter, crawfish mac n’ cheese, and chicken and sausage jambalaya, and Goodfellas Seafood & Po-Boys. Other returning favourites include Cafe Dauphine, TJ Gourmet, Jacques-Imo’s Café, Galatoire’s and WWOZ Mango Freeze. The complete Culinary Experience is now available.
More Ways to VIP!
Fans can experience French Quarter Festival 2022 in style by becoming members of the NOLA.com Fest Family Experience! Fest Family members will enjoy elevated viewing stands near the riverfront Abita Beer Stage, hospitality lounges at the Chevron Stage and Jack Daniel’s Stage, chair massages brought to you by Spa 2 Geaux daily from 12 pm-3 pm in JAX Brewery Lot near the Chevron Stage and free phone charging provided by MobileQubes at each location. Members will also enjoy private bars with 3 complimentary drinks per day (and the option to redeem at all festival beverage locations), air-conditioned restrooms, exclusive programming, complimentary Satchmo SummerFest tickets, and more!
This year, the program will offer four-day weekend passes for $399 or single-day passes for $129. As an added perk, four-day weekend pass holders will receive a 30% discount on JAMNOLA. A limited number of memberships are available and help to fund the free, local event. Fans can become a member and support the fest by purchasing your passes today.
Chevron Children’s STEM Zone
Step right up!
Saturday and Sunday families are invited to Chevron’s “STEM Carnival,” to engage with fascinating activities. “We welcome kids from the Crescent City and around the world to the Chevron Children’s STEM Zone at French Quarter Festival. This fun, interactive environment is designed to foster a passion for learning by showing how science, technology, engineering and math are the foundation for their future success,” said Chevron Gulf of Mexico Public Affairs Manager Leah Brown. “This year we will showcase a ‘STEM Carnival: Forces & Motion’ with hands-on STEM attractions from twelve of our community partners. We’re proud to once again bring The Chevron Children’s STEM Zone to French Quarter Festival and invite everyone to stop by.”
Industry leaders have teamed up to showcase how motion and forces play a role in carnival-style games while incorporating the elements of “STEM” into hands-on learning opportunities. Community partners include Audubon Nature Institute, NASA, Ochsner Education Outreach, Project Lead the Way, The National WWII Museum, STEM NOLA and many more. Be prepared to be amazed!
Chevron Children’s STEM Zone will return to the Natchez Wharf at the foot of Toulouse Street at the River from 11 am to 5 pm on both days.
FQF Community Health Hub
While festival organizers are thrilled to return, without entry requirements, FQFI will provide health and safety measures like free masks, COVID testing and vaccinations on-site at the new FQF Community Health Hub.
The Hub, located behind Oscar Dunn Park and operating from 11 am – 7 pm, will provide COVID safety options, a safe and quiet space for mothers and babies, a sensory refuge and accessibility materials.
Fest attendees will have access to free masks, COVID testing and a vaccination drive sponsored by Aetna Better Health of Louisiana, in collaboration with Ochsner Health Center and The Louisiana Department of Health. First doses and boosters for all three vaccines (Pfizer/Biontech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson) will be available. Walk-Up Rapid Antigen Testing will be on-site at two locations, the FQF Community Health Hub and the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U. S. Mint.
The Kulture City SAVE Activation returns to Fest with a sensory inclusive space for individuals with sensory needs looking for a place to take a quick break from the festival. In addition, a limited number of sensory bags donated by The Price Fund will be provided.
Nursing mothers will now have access to the Touro Nursing Nest, a breastfeeding privacy station each day of Fest. The space includes comfortable, clean seating, electrical outlets to accommodate breast pumps, baby changing stations, sinks and hand sanitizer for hand hygiene, and maternal and child health education materials and resources.
The Hub will also have an accessibility tent with accessibility maps of the festival and braille festival guide brochures.
JAMNOLA Joins the Fest
Look out for new art installations
JAMNOLA, The cultural funhouse and experiential museum in the Marigny will be introducing two art installations at the French Quarter Festival to celebrate New Orleans musicians and instruments.
Garden of Legends by Brennan Steele, is a series of larger-than-life sculptures featuring local musicians of the past, present and future that will become a perennial exhibit with more iconic musicians added annually. This year, the series celebrates Irma Thomas and Tarriona “Tank” Ball, local icons returning to the stage at Fest.
The Brassarium by Marcus Brown, a native New Orleanian, artist and teacher, is an interactive musical terrarium that celebrates the use of brass instruments in New Orleans. It will be located in the courtyard of the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint during the festival. Brown encourages people to play with the sculpture using his custom interactive technology.
JAMNOLA is New Orleans’ first experiential pop-up that takes audiences of all ages on a topsy-turvy stroll through the cultural gems that make the city so special. The immersive 12 room exhibit was co-founded by Bywater residents Jonny Liss and Chad Smith in creative partnership with Collin Ferguson and Catherine Todd of Where Y’Art. Local music legend George Porter, Jr. curated the exhibition’s music, while charity partners, New Orleans Musicians Clinic and Roots of Music, and Feed the Second Line are the current philanthropy giving focus.
Festival Focuses on Geauxing Green
Festival organizers continue efforts to be a leader in sustainable festival production in the Gulf South. FQFI, in partnership with the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP), launched the Geauxing Green program in 2021 with hopes for a cleaner, healthier, and happier festival season in Louisiana. The initiative focuses on marine debris prevention by allowing only reusable, recyclable, and compostable food and drink products at the festival. In addition, attendees will be greeted by Green Team staff, who will be on hand throughout the festival grounds to guide the public in the use of recycling and composting stations. Accompanying marketing materials focused on marine debris prevention will be available on site.
Official Festival Merchandise
An alligator and banjo walk into a bar…
This year’s Official Festival Poster, designed by TILT Studio artists and a short-sleeve shirt can be purchased online as well as at the festival in the merch shop. Click here for Official FQF merchandise and be on the lookout for new items that will be available at Fest.
Sponsors & YOU Help To Keep French Quarter Fest a FREE Community Event
French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is proud of its 39-year history of providing high-quality community events that welcome locals and guests. In order to keep the festival free and open to the public, the organization relies heavily on the contributions of sponsors and partners, as well as beverage and merchandise sales. We also recognize and appreciate our festival family who contribute to our success by purchasing merchandise and upgraded festival experiences, becoming musician sponsors and donating directly to our organization throughout the year.
Edited by Matthew Thomas
