Festivals

Everybody knows that New Orleans loves a good party. For many, what they know about the city begins and ends with Mardi Gras -- the biggest street party in America (never mind all that stuff about history and culture and architecture and so on). It's understandable, given that New Orleanians know what makes a great party: really good food and music, and lots of it -- plus a rollicking, party-ready attitude. That's what you'll find at any festival in Louisiana -- regardless of what it is ostensibly celebrating. Anything is an excuse for a party here: festivals center on swamps, gumbo, crawfish, frogs, tomatoes, architecture, and, oh yeah, jazz and heritage, of course. And believe it or not, they're pretty much all a good time. Just consider the city the hostess with the mostess, and commence to getting on your good foot.

You can get information on many of the events by contacting the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2020 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130 (tel. 800/672-6124 or 504/566-5011; www.neworleanscvb.com).

The French Quarter Festival

The 3 1/2-day French Quarter Festival in April celebrates local music of the traditional jazz, brass band, Cajun/zydeco, or funk variety. The diversity of music isn't anything like Jazz Fest's but it's become wildly popular, largely because it's free: in 2011, over 533,000 took in the scores of outdoor concerts, art shows, children's activities, tours, and seminars. Stages are set throughout the Quarter (making it easy to return to your hotel room for a rest, though some stages are at far-flung ends of the Quarter). Breeze-blown stages along the river help keep the crowds cool, and food booths everywhere represent about 60 local restaurants. Book travel early, this one's becoming a victim of its own success.

For details, see French Quarter Festivals (tel. 800/673-5725 or 504/522-5730; www.fqfi.org).

Festivals Acadiens et Creoles

While much smaller than the nearby, Francophone-focused Festival International, this one doesn't conflict with Jazz Fest. It's several Cajun Country celebrations combined: the Bayou Food Festival, Festival de Musique Acadienne, and Louisiana Native Crafts Festival, held during the second weekend of October in Girard Park in downtown Lafayette. Players, bring your instruments -- there's a jam tent. We also like the cooking demo stage. It's fun, easygoing, tasty, and free, so spend freely to help keep it going. Details via the Lafayette Conventions and Visitors Center (tel. 800/346-1958 in the U.S., 800/543-5340 in Canada, or 337/232-3737; www.festivalsacadiens.com).

Essence Music Festival

This massive, 3-day July event, sponsored by the venerable Essence magazine, consistently presents a stellar lineup of R&B, soul, and hip-hop musicians in evening concerts. The 2011 lineup featured Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Boys 2 Men, Fantasia, and Jill Scott, plus classic artists like Chaka Khan and George Clinton for cross-generation appeal. During the day, this "party with a purpose" offers educational and empowerment seminars featuring A-list (Cosby! Oprah!) speakers and celebs, crafts and trade fairs, and other activities, not to mention huge crowds. Evening tickets get you a reserved seat for the main stage, admission to the smaller, clublike "Super Lounges," and access to the daytime seminars. Daytime food is just your average concession-stand fare, but local caterers and restaurants dish it up at night. Ticket prices vary widely from $58 for a single-day ticket to $3,000 for V.I.P. weekend packages. For more information, go to www.essencemusicfestival.com.

Tales of the Cocktail

The cocktail revolution has come full circle -- from the invention of the cocktail in New Orleans to this 5-day, mid-July mixtravaganza celebrating all things liquor-based. Based at the Monteleone Hotel but pouring over into other venues, it's no booze fest, but a scholarly gathering of serious mixologists and admirers of the cocktail culture who, well, drink a lot, too. Its popularity has exploded, what with clever classes; quirky competitions; bar tours; tastings; "Spirited Dinners" (when many of the finest restaurants in town create special menus pairing cocktails and cuisine); and panels featuring restaurateurs, chefs, mixologists, and authors. It's a big deal and getting bigger -- the popular events fill up well in advance. Individual seminars cost around $40 each; Spirited Dinners run $70 to $100. Contact tel. 504/948-0511 or go to www.talesofthecocktail.com.

Voodoo Experience

Halloween is huge in New Orleans, and nowhere more than in City Park, where about 60,000 youngish people daily attend this monstrous 3-day festival, filling six stages and a huge dance space. Its diverse line-up features major stars and up-and-comers spanning hip-hop, hard rock, and electronic music, plus a solid lineup of local sounds. Past headliners have included everyone from Ozzy to Eminem to deadmau5 and the Chili Peppers among the 100-plus acts. Having grown exponentially, it's crowded (expect long food lines) but still doable. Cool art installations, crafty stuff, an eclectic circus tent with trapeze artists, burlesque, and other exotica, plus costumed people-watching and food provide diversions (skip the burgers and pizza, head for the Creole stuff). The gorgeous, moss-dripping oak trees and nearby bayou lend just the right eeriness to the occasion. Early-bird tickets in 2011 started at $175 for the weekend. More info at www.thevoodooexperience.com.