Info to help you make the most of Jazz Fest 2024 (2024)

Jazz Fest is a big event, and there's a lot going on besides the music. Read below for information about the Food Heritage Stage, Kids Tent, going cashless, transportation details and more.

Food Heritage Stage

Jazz Fest presents cooking demonstrations with different daily themes at its Food Heritage Stage in the Grandstands, every day of the festival except May 2.

Thursday, April 25. There are presentations beginning on the half-hour from 11:30 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. Two chefs will present dishes using the same ingredient. Presenters range from chef Michael Gulotta of Tana and MoPho to pizza makers from Pizza Delicious to Lora Ann Chaisson, Principal Chief of the United Houma Nation.

Friday, April 26. Presentations feature chefs making local dishes and bartenders pairing them with co*cktails.

Saturday, April 27, Sunday, April 28, and Sunday, May 5. Drag brunch sessions feature Poppy Tooker, Laveau Contraire, Debbie with a D, Cucci Licci, dim sum from chef Andrew Lu and more. Check the schedule for the two sessions each day.

Friday, May 3. Caribbean chef Francisco Escalona will demonstrate Colombian dishes such as stewed crab and “stuck” rice, with sessions and different dishes at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 4. The day’s Farm to Fest programing is a collaboration with HOMEGROWN and features demonstrations of cheese making, presentations about local nonprofits like Grow Dat Youth Farm and more. Chef Serigne Mbaye of Dakar NOLA discusses the intersection of food, culture and history with Zella Palmer, chair of Dillard University’s Ray Charles Program in African-American Material Culture.

Kids Tent

The kids area features several tents and a peace garden. The main tent features music, dance, puppetry, circus arts, music trivia and more from its stage. Other daily happenings in the kids area include family games, a range of hands-on crafts, STEM-related displays, health and wellness activities and more. New this year is a greenscreen video exercise for kids to great their own GIFs. There’s a silent disco for tweens every day from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. At 2 p.m. on both Saturdays, there is a mini-Carnival parade that kids can join.

On the grounds

• Jazz Fest is cashless. The box office and food and other vendors accept credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and prepaid cards. Prepaid cards may be purchased on the grounds. Cash exchange booths are located near the Blues Tent and between the Congo Square Marketplace and Congo Food area.

• Jazz Fest is accessible to people with disabilities. For information in advance, email access@nojazzfest.com. There is an Access Center with information on services and facilities. It is located in front of the Grandstand. Limited parking in an accessible lot is available for $50 per day.

• There are two medical tents on the festival grounds. One is near the edge of the track between the Gentilly and Fais Do-Do stages; the other is on the edge of the track near between the Festival Stage and Jazz & Heritage Stage.

• Water filling stations. There are water stations near the Rhythmpourium and at the end of the Food 2 area on the Grandstands side.

Allowed on the Grounds

Below is information on what Jazz Fest allows and prohibits on the grounds. There are metal detectors and bag searches at the entrances.

Jazz Fest permits:

• Small bags and backpacks (17 by 12 by 10 inches) and 12-pack soft coolers

• Single, collapsible chairs

• Wheelchairs and medical scooters

• Push strollers for children

• Blankets and small tarps not exceeding 6 by 8 feet

• Factory-sealed bottled water and snacks for personal consumption

• Hand-held, personal-sized umbrellas

• Fully trained service animals to assist attendees with disabilities

• On May 2 only, the festival allows some foldable tripod and telescoping stools and chairs in some designated areas

Jazz Fest prohibits:

• Large or hard-sided coolers and soft or rolling coolers larger than 12-pack size

• Rolling bags

• Wagons and carts

• Pets

• Glass

• Personal tents

• Playpens or portable cribs

• Shade canopies, shelters or beach or pole-style umbrellas

• Athletic games, kites and throwing discs

• Large chairs with rockers, foot rests, side tables, etc.

• Bicycles or other wheeled personal transport devices (e.g. skateboards, hoverboards, go-peds and Segways) are not allowed inside the gates

• Video- and audio-recording equipment

• Unauthorized vending or promotional items

• Weapons, illicit drugs and other contraband

• Outside beverages except factory-sealed water

• Inserting stakes, poles or any other objects into the ground, or use of ropes, cords, tape, etc. to reserve space

• Inflatable items

• Drones

• On May 2 only, the festival prohibits tarps, blankets, carts or wheeled ice chests and chairs with over a 19-inch base.

Visit nojazzfest.com for further information.

Transportation

• Gray Line’s Jazz Fest Express operates continuous round-trip transportation from various pick-up locations onto festival grounds. Pick-up locations include the Sheraton Hotel (500 Canal St.), Steamboat Natchez Dock (400 Toulouse St.), 1250 Poydras St. in the CBD, and New Orleans City Park (Wisner Boulevard near Filmore Avenue) beginning at 10:30 a.m. Single day tickets are $24 from downtown or $20 from City Park. For the first weekend, four-day passes are $82, and for the second weekend, three-day passes are $61. For ticket sales on day of transport, the shuttle accepts credit cards only, no cash. For more information call (504) 569-1401 or visit graylineneworleans.com/jazz-fest-express.

• Limited bicycle parking is available near the Gentilly Boulevard and Sauvage Street entrances.