The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is an annual two-weekend festival celebrating New Orleans's rich heritage and culture through arts and music. Hundreds of musical artists perform during the festival while attendees explore cultural and educational programs to learn about the local heritage and preserve its history.
This festival, formerly called Jazzfest, represents the culmination of city officials' vast efforts to promote the significance of New Orleans as the birthplace of jazz. The concept of the original Jazzfest was conceived after Mahalia Jackson's street performance in 1970 at this festival. The uniqueness and energy of the crowd that followed the Eureka Brass Band, Duke Ellington, and Jackson in an impromptu parade embodied the festival's true spirit. Since 1970, the city has taken steps to recreate this spirit and share it with newcomers and lifelong jazz lovers.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has many stages and tents for live performances. Guests can find children's programs teaching them about jazz and its culture. There are many cultural exhibits throughout the venue to promote the spirit and heritage of jazz.
On-site amenities include two large food areas where you can get Louisiana cuisine, including crawfish. There are private beverage stands near the Shell Gentilly Stage, and the Big Chief Hospitality Lounge offers alcoholic beverages and snacks. You can refill your water bottles at various locations at the venue. Restrooms and changing stations make it easier for breastfeeding mothers and parents to get some privacy; there is also a restroom at the lounge. You can find merch tables where you can purchase band shirts and other souvenirs as well.
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 1751 Gentilly Boulevard New Orleans, Louisiana 70122
The 2025 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival lineup includes Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Luke Combs, Lil Wayne and The Roots, Lenny Kravitz, Kacey Musgraves, Santana, John Fogerty, Burna Boy, HAIM, Cage The Elephant, Laufrey, Bryson Tiller, Harry Connick Jr., Patti LaBelle, Trombone Shorty In New Orleans Avenue, My Morning Jacket, Gladys Knight, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Cheap Trick, Babyface, Diana Krall, Goose, The Revivalists, Banda MS, Irma Thomas, and more.
RV camping is not allowed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival; however, there are many RV camping options within the city and nearby. Attendees who don't have an RV and want to try out RV camping will find many RV rentals in New Orleans on RVshare.
Here are some campground, resort, and park recommendations:
New Orleans RV Resort and Marina is on Lake Pontchartrain, a short commute to the French Quarter, and it offers many deluxe RV sites with electric and water hookups. This gated community offers a bar, a restaurant, a convenience store, RV storage, Wi-Fi, cable TV, a laundry room, a dog park, a playground, and Gray Line Tours buses.
Sun Outdoor New Orleans North Shore offers many full-service RV sites that accommodate most RVs, including big rigs. The resort offers an adult pool with a swim-up bar, a mini golf course, lake activities, a family swimming pool, a lazy river tiki bar, an outdoor amphitheater, poolside cabanas, and scheduled live events.
Tips for RVing near the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival:
Take advantage of shuttle services to and from your campground. You must pay a fee for the services, but the shuttle will take you through a special entrance and away from traffic. You can also drive your car from your campground to the venue, but you should secure parking before your arrival.
If you drive your RV around the city, do not park it on residential streets. The fine in Louisiana is $500. The law applies to trailers and campers, too.
Follow all rules and regulations for your preferred RV campground. Some resorts allow alcohol consumption at on-site bars but may not allow alcohol at the campground. Review these rules on the resort or park website before you bring alcohol to the location.
Hotels can be a great change of pace and offer a break from RV camping. Here are a few hotels we recommend if you want to stay in a hotel:
Hilton Garden Inn offers beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites just two blocks from Bourbon Street. The hotel amenities include an on-site restaurant, an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a business center, meeting rooms, free Wi-Fi, connecting rooms, and streaming entertainment.
Bourbon Orleans is a historical landmark offering everything you need for a great night's rest with Southern hospitability and luxury. The hotel's amenities include valet parking, baggage storage, laundry storage, a fitness center, a courtyard pool, and on-site restaurants and bars.
From Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport: Head east on Terminal Drive. At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit and stay on Terminal Drive. Take a slight left. Merge onto I-10 East. Use the left three lanes to turn slightly left onto I-610 East. Take exit 2A to merge onto St. Bernard Avenue. After merging, turn right onto Gentilly Blvd. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will be on the left.
Parking is available close to the festival at local parking garages and lots, but you must pay for parking beforehand.
You can get four-day passes for each weekend on the event's ticket page. The prices range from $329 to $369, depending on which tier you select. Single-day ticket availability will be announced soon.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is a two-weekend festival of music and the arts. The city of New Orleans hosts an incredible event annually to promote the spirit of jazz and its culture. To stay updated about this festival, visit the event website or follow it on Facebook.
Please note, this is not the official source of the event information. While we try to be as comprehensive as possible, some details may have changed since the time of this article was written. Please confirm final details with the official event page.
Work with RVshare to provide housing for staff, vendors, artists and executives. Earn additional revenue by creating unique VIP/GA turn-key packages for your attendees.
Interested in becoming one of our Corporate and Festival Partners? Fill out the form here.