How to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in New Orleans


Photo by Johnny Cohen on Unsplash

New Orleans has plenty of Irish roots, so the weekend of St. Patrick’s Day (Tuesday, March 17, 2026) is an important one for the city of New Orleans. Several parades kick off, including the infamous Irish Channel Parade, where float riders pass cabbages to the screaming crowds. Also, the Downtown Irish Club Parade rolls from the Bywater to the French Quarter, making several pit stops on its way to Bourbon Street.

Here’s what to expect during the festivities, including block parties, balcony parties, and, of course, parades.

St. Patrick’s Day Events in New Orleans

Downtown Irish Club Annual Grand Marshall Party Bus

The 2026 date and route are TBA.

The club typically meets in a bar downtown and heads out on a party bus for a “mobile bar crawl.” There are about five scheduled pub stops before the bus returns the revelers to the gathering spot. You don’t have to be a club member to ride, though you are asked to wear “traditional Irish colors, your parade tuxedo, or kilt for this ride.” The cost to march includes free Guinness at each stop and on the bus. You can reserve your seat on the club’s website.

Germans Go Irish

Sunday, March 8, 2026, 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Deutsches Haus (1700 Moss St.) in the Bayou St. John area of Mid-City is throwing a party to celebrate Ireland’s Patron Saint, as they do in the small villages in the Old Country: with a Céilí (a gathering). Expect traditional Irish food like cabbage, soda bread, and Guinness beef stew served over colcannon (Irish mashed potatoes), plus Celtic musicians, Irish dancers, bagpipers, and other family-friendly activities. The event is free except for the concert, which typically starts at 5:30 p.m. (You can get tickets online on the venue’s website or at the door.)

Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Saturday, March 14, 2026, 1 – 6 p.m.

The parade begins on the corner of Felicity and Magazine streets around 1 p.m. The parade rolls up Jackson Avenue, turning onto St. Charles Avenue, turning onto Louisiana Avenue, and back onto Magazine Street. Throws include green beads and doubloons, plus the makings of Irish stew (minus the beef). So watch out for flying cabbages (yes, seriously). There is also a block party located at Annunciation Square, near Chippewa and Race streets.

Parasol’s Block Party

Saturday, March 14, 2026, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Parasol’s (2533 Constance St.) annual party Uptown features live music, food, easy parade access, and yes, green beer. It’s a popular party, so wear green and arrive early.

Downtown Irish Club St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 7 p.m.

This annual parade begins on the corner of Burgundy and Piety streets in the Bywater, then proceeds roughly up Royal Street, across Esplanade Avenue to Decatur Street, and up Canal Street to Bourbon Street. The parade makes several pit stops on its way to Bourbon Street.

As you can see, there’s plenty to see and do to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and it’s not limited to Uptown or the French Quarter. Speaking of, check out our guide on how to spend St. Patrick’s Day without leaving the French Quarter, plus our list of highly recommended Irish pubs in the French Quarter.

Are you visiting New Orleans this spring?

Take advantage of Alder Hotel’s specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous cuisine and enjoy everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today!

Also, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. And, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!

Happy spring!

New Orleans Spring

Events Not to Miss This Spring in New Orleans

New Orleans SpringPhoto by Chris Granger

New Orleans loves to throw a party, and this is especially true in the spring, when the weather is pretty much perfect, and there are dozens of festivals featuring the best of live, local music, and honoring every type of food we love. There’s something to do every weekend starting in March and through June (the official spring dates are March 20 through June 20, but we’re including some events outside of these dates), and many events are free. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss this spring. And, buckle up — it’s a lot.

MARCH

New Orleans Entrepreneur Week

Monday-Saturday, March 9-14, 2026

The New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) kicks off six days of speeches, speaker sessions, and networking events on Monday, March 9, 2026. According to the event organizers, one of the main events is the NOEW 2026 Summit at Loyola (Thursday-Friday, March 12–13), which “packs in two days of immersive workshops, hands-on sessions, and real founder stories designed to help you start, scale — and connect.” NOEW is now in its 15th year and has attracted thousands of attendees over the years. For this year’s keynote speakers and more info, check out the event’s website.

Wednesday at the Square

Wednesdays, March 11 – May 6, 2026

Unwind with a cold beverage on any given Wednesday at the Square, a free concert music series held in the spring in Lafayette Park (located one block off of Poydras Street, between St. Charles Avenue and Camp Street in the heart of the Central Business District) every Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. From March through May, these outdoor concerts feature a variety of jazz, rock, swamp pop, brass, Latin rhythms, and more.

Bring a chair or a blanket, or head to the front of the stage to partake in some dancing. You can bring your dog (leashed at all times), and there are vendor booths surrounding the park where you can buy food and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (no outside food or beverages, please).

The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane

Thursday-Sunday, March 12-15, 2026

The New Orleans Book Festival features both fiction and non-fiction and readings, panel discussions, symposia, and keynote speeches. It also provides an opportunity for outlets, authors, and readers to interact with each other.

Sunday, March 15, is Family Day, so bring your kids to the Tulane campus for some fun. Previous year’s notable authors and speakers on the impressive roster included Andy Borowitz, Richard Campanella, Maureen Dowd, and many more — so expect A-list greatness this year as well. The festival is free and open to the public.

Super Sunday

Sunday, March 15, 2026

The annual gathering of the Mardi Gras Indian tribes is perhaps the most open means of accessing this unique element of New Orleans backstreet culture. The tribes will be out in large numbers on Super Sunday, which usually falls on the third Sunday of March.

While the Mardi Gras Indians have their set routes and parade areas, no one event packs the tribes into one public space like Super Sunday. In this case, said public spaces are A.L. Davis Park, at the corner of Washington and LaSalle streets; and Bayou St. John in Mid-City, at the intersection of Orleans and Moss streets, on the bayou’s banks and the Orleans Street bridge. The Indian procession usually leaves the gathering spot around 1 p.m.

We can’t stress this enough: Be respectful if you go. Take pictures at a distance, and don’t get in the way of marching Indians or their friends, family, and attached bands. Super Sunday has been overrun with spectators in the past years, so please do your part to enjoy this amazing cultural event responsibly.

Some background: The Mardi Gras Indians are the most vibrant, visible, and conversely mysterious expressions of African-American New Orleans culture. To distill them into an extremely simplistic sentence: Mardi Gras Indians are African-American New Orleanians who dress up (or in local lingo, ”mask”) as stylized Native Americans.

They take to the streets in fantastic costumes made of beads, feathers, and sequins that cost thousands of dollars, weigh hundreds of pounds, and require hundreds of days of painstaking labor; no element of costume creation is automated.

On Mardi Gras Day, Super Sunday, St. Joseph’s Day, and a select few other special occasions, the “chiefs” and their tribes parade through the city, chanting, shouting, and challenging each other to determine who is “the prettiest.”

There’s a ton more background on this fascinating subject at the Backstreet Cultural Museum in the historic Tremé neighborhood.

St. Patrick’s Day

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

It may come as a surprise to first-time visitors to New Orleans that this city has a deep Irish heritage, which traces back to its history as a Catholic port of call that was one of the main entry points for the USA. There’s an entire neighborhood in this town called the Irish Channel, plus a plethora of fantastic pubs that eschew cheesy emerald-green Irish stereotypes for rough-hewn hospitality (Finn McCool’s and Erin Rose come to mind, plus a selection of our favorite Irish pubs in the French Quarter).

As such, there are plenty of Irish in this town, and thus, the weekend closest to St. Patrick’s Day is an important one for the city of New Orleans. Numerous parades kick off, including the massive Irish Channel parade (on Saturday, March 14, 2026), where float riders pass cabbages to the screaming crowds.

The Downtown Irish Club Parade rolls on the actual St. Patrick’s Day,  Tuesday, March 17, 2026, from the Bywater to the French Quarter, making several pit stops on its way to Bourbon Street.

How much you enjoy all of the above is linked to your tolerance for public drinking and green beer. St. Patrick’s Day in New Orleans is not quite as kid-friendly as the Carnival — you’ll still see families, but these parades are more aimed at adults.

New Orleans French Film Festival

Thursday-Tuesday, March 19-24, 2026

Per its organizers, the New Orleans French Film Festival “is one of the longest-running international language festivals in the U.S., celebrating contemporary and classic Francophone cinema.” In its 29th year in 2026, the festival runs various events, including the Prytania Theatre Uptown and other venues across the city. For this year’s lineup, schedule, and ticket info, please check the festival’s website.

Danny Barker Banjo & Guitar Festival

Friday-Sunday, March 20-29, 2026

The Danny Barker Banjo & Guitar Festival pays homage to New Orleanian musician, writer, instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, and lyricist Danny Barker. The five-day festival features a mixture of programming, including live music performances, panel discussions and workshops, special events and outings, second lines, and more. It will be held at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

Tennessee Williams Literary Festival

Wednesday-Sunday, March 25-29, 2026

Writers have always been drawn to New Orleans. Few cities in America (or the world, really) can match this town for its atmosphere, sense of place, or penchant for fun and pathos (all good elements of a writing life).

The Tennessee Williams Literary Festival celebrates this city’s love affair with the written word, as well as writers’ love affair with New Orleans. Notable authors will be in attendance, hosting seminars, workshops, and lectures.

Plus, this being the Tennessee Williams Festival, there is, of course, a “Stella” shouting contest, which involves folks screaming out the iconic scene from A Streetcar Named Desire to appreciative crowds on Jackson Square. The program will also include a scholar conference, walking tours, masterclasses, theater, and more.

Note that on Friday-Sunday, March 27-29, 2026, the city will also host the Saints & Sinners Literary Festival, an alternative literary event that celebrates LGBTQ+ authors. The three-day festival will include panel discussions and a fair amount of networking opportunities between authors, editors, and publishers.

Congo Square Rhythms Festival

Saturday-Sunday, March 28-29, 2026

The musical heritage of New Orleans follows a line that can be traced all the way back to Africa, where the black diaspora begins. The music of that continent evolved here and in the Caribbean, influenced by Europe and indigenous music, into the forms and traditions that are the core of today’s New Orleans sound.

This vital legacy is celebrated in Armstrong Park, on the grounds of Congo Square, where local slaves were once permitted to practice the musical traditions of Africa and the Caribbean. Congo Square Rhythms Festival is a celebration of global and local music, and offers both amazing food and a fantastic lineup of music. The festival kickoff concert is typically held on Friday.

Presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the festival features Mardi Gras Indians, African dance, brass bands, soul-funk, as well as indigenous music of Honduras, and highlife from West Africa. The large art market and a Soul Food Court complete the experience.

Don’t miss one of the fest’s highlights, the Mardi Gras Indian “battle” — when the tribes gather in the center of the square, plus the festival’s largest to date assemblage of New Orleans-based African dance troupes (they typically perform on Sunday).

APRIL

Crescent City Classic

Saturday-Sunday, April 4, 2026

This annual 10K run is one of the largest athletic events in New Orleans, partly because the race is open to all, and as a result tends to attract a wide swathe of runners, from casual beginners to world-class runners (many don a costume to run, this being New Orleans). You do have to register to run; the cost is $70 ($50 if you run for a charity). The price increases after February 20, 2026.

Crescent City Classic is also notable for its route, which takes in some of the best cityscapes New Orleans has to offer. Runners take off from downtown in front of the Superdome, run through the French Quarter and the Tremé, then up Esplanade Avenue — one of the most beautiful streets in the nation — all the way to City Park.

If you’re around on the day of the run, you’ll likely see crowds lining the route, but try not to drive anywhere near the running path, as roads will be blocked off.

Easter Parades

Sunday, April 5, 2026

New Orleans is one of the most Catholic cities in the country, and it celebrates Easter in a big way, although that celebration isn’t always as traditional as one might guess. Long story short: When the 40-day Lent period of fasting ends, New Orleans says, “OK, that was enough self-denial” and throws three big parades. Why? Because New Orleans.

Starting at 11 a.m. on Easter Sunday with a hat contest and entertainment at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel Ballroom, the French Quarter Easter Parade winds its way from there and back starting at 1 p.m. via classic convertible cars and mule-drawn carriages.

The Chris Owens French Quarter Easter Parade is celebrating its 41st anniversary this year. Because it is now prohibited to parade on Bourbon Street (due to the terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve in 2024), the parade route changed last year, and the details for 2026 are still being ironed out.

The final parade of the day is the Gay Easter Parade, which rolls at 4:30 p.m. This one is also a family-friendly affair, and has been a long-standing tradition of the New Orleans LGBTQ+ community.

The paraders will march with floats and horse-drawn carriages, rolling by many of the French Quarter’s most storied gay businesses. Bring the kids to this one, as the Gay Easter Parade is famous for its generous throws and elaborate costuming.

Hogs for the Cause

Friday-Saturday, April 10-11, 2026

April continues with a popular event called Hogs for the Cause, a meat-centric annual fundraiser for pediatric brain cancer held at the UNO Lakefront Arena. Dozens of barbecue chefs compete in seven categories, including fan favorite, whole hog, ribs, and sauce. Check the event’s website for this year’s music lineup and tickets.

French Quarter Fest

Thursday-Sunday, April 16-19, 2026

Next up is the immensely popular and free French Quarter Fest. Held on the second or third weekend of April, it’s been around for almost 40 years, featuring the best the city has to offer in food and drinks, and several stages of non-stop live music. In the past years, you could dance in the streets of the French Quarter to Kermit Ruffins & the Barbeque Swingers, Galactic, Rebirth Brass Band, Irma Thomas, Lost Bayou Ramblers, and many more top-notch acts. Expect an excellent lineup this year as well.

Crawfest

Saturday-Sunday, April 18, 2026

One of the surest signs of spring in New Orleans is the presence of crawfish on menus and at boils across the city, and one of the surest signs that crawfish are back in season is Crawfest. This party, sponsored by Tulane University, features some 20,000 pounds of crawfish, thousands of pounds of vegetables, two main stages, a bunch of bands, and a heavy student presence.

With that said, all are welcome — it costs $20 to get in, and kids 12 and under enter for free. (The fest is also free to Tulane students, with a wristband.) Crawfest kicks off on Tulane’s campus in Uptown, New Orleans.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Thursday-Sunday, April 23 – May 3, 2026

The last weekend of April and the first weekend of May mark one of the biggest, most anticipated, and always well-attended events this side of Mississippi. Visitors from all over the world flock to the Fairgrounds for the food and the music of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which is celebrating over 50 years of successful and exciting existence. The music is the focal point, of course, but don’t miss the second lines, the art vendors, and the local food favorites like Crawfish Monica and cochon de lait po-boys.

MAY

Hancock Whitney Zoo-To-Do

Friday, May 1, 2026

Late spring also brings us Whitney Zoo to Do, an annual fundraiser for the Audubon Nature Institute and the chicest gala in town. It’s held on the Zoo’s grounds and features live music, a silent auction, and food and cocktails from dozens of the best restaurants and bars in the city.

Greek Fest

Friday-Sunday, May 22-24, 2026

Greek Fest typically takes place over the Memorial Day weekend at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (1200 Allen Toussaint Blvd.). This annual tradition beloved by locals is worth the trip to Lakeview for its food, music, cooking demos, Hellenic dance performances, and even a toga contest. Expect traditional Greek music featuring bouzouki guitar, dancers in traditional costumes, and kid activities. Greek staples like souvlaki, baklava, spanakopita, and gyro will be served (day and weekend passes available).

More May Events

Although not specific to New Orleans, there are a few events you can celebrate here with gusto. Grab a margarita at one of our many wonderful restaurants on Cinco de Mayo (Tuesday, May 5, 2026), celebrate Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 10, 2026) by booking brunch at one of the many elegant eateries, or visit The National World War II Museum to honor Memorial Day (Monday, May 25, 2026).

JUNE

New Orleans Wine & Food Experience

Wednesday-Sunday, June 10-14, 2026

In its 34th year in 2026, the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE) is a smorgasbord of food and wine tastings, tours, master classes, and the annual champagne-soaked burlesque brunch. Each year, hundreds of wineries and restaurants participate, offering menus featuring local flavors and innovative new creations inspired by diverse cuisines.

Top chefs from around the city create unique culinary experiences, so much so that the event regularly makes a few national “best of” festival lists. The organization behind this popular event is a nonprofit that donates 100% of its proceeds to beneficiaries ranging from food banks to culinary schools. You can see all the events and get tickets online.

New Orleans Pride Fest

Saturday, June 13, 2026

New Orleans Pride is a large LGBTQ+ event that includes shows, dance parties, and a parade. The parade kicks off at the Phoenix bar at 6 p.m.

French Market Creole Tomato Festival

Saturday-Sunday, June 13-14, 2026

Celebrating its 40th year in 2026, the festival features live music at the market and in Dutch Alley, kids’ activities, and a second line. There are cooking demos in addition to an extensive menu of Creole tomatoes incorporated into gelato, crepes, crawfish pies — you name it. Of course, you can also get Creole tomatoes from the participating farm stands.

Kick off the Creole Tomato Festival with the Ripe & Ready second line. It’s open to all, and you’re encouraged to wear “your favorite tomato attire.” The festival is spread out between the tents and the stages located at the Farmers Market, the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint (this one is indoors), and Dutch Alley. The live music schedule never disappoints.

New Orleans Juneteenth Festival

Friday, June 19, 2026

Come to Congo Square in Armstrong Park to commemorate this remarkable date with this free festival, held from noon to 6 p.m.

Father’s Day

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Though technically it’s not a festival, you can make it your own by honoring your dad! Take your dad to brunch, a museum, or just a walk at the Riverfront. Make your reservation soon, and enjoy the good food and fun this city has to offer!

Restaurant Week New Orleans

Monday-Sunday, 2026 dates TBA

During this time, you can enjoy multi-course, special menus and dining deals in numerous participating restaurants, from upscale Creole eateries to neighborhood bistros. Keep up with this year’s list of participating restaurants and their menus, and don’t miss a chance to try a new spot or revisit your favorite.

Are you visiting New Orleans this spring?

Take advantage of Alder Hotel’s specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous cuisine and enjoy everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today!

Also, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. And, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!

Happy spring!

Spending the Holidays in New Orleans

Spending the Winter Holidays in New Orleans

Spending the Holidays in New Orleans

The holiday season in New Orleans is a magical time to visit. The weather has cooled off, but not to the point where you wouldn’t want to be outside. The city is bedecked with lights and dazzling decorations, and the streetcars are adorned with wreaths.

The festivities go into overdrive in December and January, so there’s much to choose from for both adults and kids alike. From the traditional Reveillon dinners to the winter-themed festivals and bonfires, you’re in for a spectacle and an unforgettable, unique experience.

Here are our picks on what to see, eat, and do if you’re visiting during the months of December and January.

Parades

The Krewe of Krampus parade is dedicated to the mythological creature from the Central European forests, rolling through the Bywater, typically on a Saturday in early December (December 6, 2025), starting at 7:30 p.m. Krampus and his army of mischief hand out lumps of coal and take great joy in behaving badly.

Four parades kick off the Carnival season on January 6, which is the Twelfth Night, and falls on a Tuesday in January 2026. As usual, Phunny Phorty Phellows ride the streetcar from Uptown to Canal Street and back starting at 7 p.m. The Funky Uptown Krewe follows the Phunny Phorty Phellows on a streetcar at the Willow Streetcar Bar on S. Carrollton Avenue. From there, the krewe rides the streetcar down S. Carrollton to St. Charles Avenue.

The walking Krewe of Joan of Arc parade rolls in at 8 p.m. from JAX Brewery in the French Quarter, and the Société Des Champs Elysée parade takes place starting at 7:30 p.m. on N. Rampart Street and Esplanade Avenue, going to the CBD, and following the N. Rampart/St. Claude streetcar route.

Festivals

One of the unique opportunities to immerse yourself in wintery activities is the popular and family-friendly festival that celebrates all things Christmas. The annual NOLA ChristmasFest is the only indoor Christmas festival in the area. It also takes place at the Convention Center, kicking off on Saturday, December 20, and wrapping up on Monday, December 29, 2025.

Expect giant ice slides, a walk-through maze, and the gingerbread house display among many other attractions and rides. You can also take pictures with Santa, enjoy a 52×140-foot ice-skating rink, and have a snowball fight. Parents can take respite in the “adult lounge” (must be 21 or over to enter) overlooking the ice rink, and some friendly elves will be on hand to help wrangle the kids. Get your tickets online early; it’s a popular event.

Concerts and Shows

St. Louis Cathedral Concerts is an excellent (and free) annual program that features some of the city’s greatest musicians, representing genres as varied as jazz, indie folk, zydeco, and gospel. The concerts last for about an hour and are held inside the cathedral throughout December. Similarly, the historic St. Augustine church in Tremé also offers a few holiday concerts throughout the month of December.

Holiday Displays

Celebration in the Oaks, a beloved New Orleans tradition since the late 80s, had been selling out for years. It is a dazzling holiday lights festival scattered throughout the 25 acres of the City Park, including the Botanical Garden, Storyland, and Carousel Gardens Amusement Park.

Stroll through the magical grounds swathed in hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights, take a train ride or a holiday picture by the iconic Mr. Bingle, listen to the caroling, do some holiday shopping, or ride the historic carousel. The event runs starting on Friday, November 28, 2025, through Thursday, January 1, 2026.

The holiday light displays in the French Quarter are nothing short of magical. We recommend strolling Royal Street and Chartres Street for the best lights. It gets dark by 6 p.m., which is a perfect time to take in a brisk walk and a good dinner.

It’s always fun to explore the different architectural styles of New Orleans’ many historical and heritage residences. It’s even more fun to do so when those houses are decked out in all of their December finery. As such, try not to miss out on the annual Holiday Home Tour, conducted by the Preservation Resource Center. The tours will be held the weekend of December 13-14, 2025 (tickets).

Reveillon

Derived from the French word for “awakening,” Reveillon originally was a meal served after midnight mass on Christmas Eve in Creole households. Today, the tradition has been refashioned into elaborate set-course meals served at some of the city’s finest eating establishments.

For quite a few years now, the increasing number of restaurants have been participating in bringing special, prix fixe Reveillon menus to the table. The list of participating restaurants includes an amazing roster of the grand dames of Creole elegance, like Antoine’s and Arnaud’s, and many of the city’s iconic establishments (Commander’s Palace, Galatoire’s, Tujague’s, and many more).

Some of the best restaurants in the city are also serving up tasty cocktails for Reveillon on the Rocks. Each year, local bartenders create both classic and original cocktails to celebrate the Reveillon with holiday-themed sippers. Some of those are offered as lagniappe on the Reveillon menus, and others can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Other Holiday Fun

On Christmas Eve, bonfires will illuminate the levees on the opposite side of the Mississippi River, a spectacular tradition that dates back centuries. Check local newspapers for more information on where to find the bonfires, or ask your hotel concierge.

New Year’s Eve

Not surprisingly, New Orleans goes all out on New Year’s Eve with fireworks and public revelry. One of the main holiday events is the Allstate Sugar Bowl Parade, which is part of the Sugar Bowl festivities. It kicks off at Elysian Fields Avenue and Decatur Street at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and rolls through the French Quarter, stopping by for a quick show by JAX Brewery. Expect big floats, marching bands, plenty of throws, and a general overload of glitz and pageantry.

Watch the fleur-de-lis drop at midnight at the historic JAX Brewery during the annual Dick Clark Rockin’ New Year’s Eve, which is coordinated with the same parties in New York and Los Angeles. As usual, it will be live-cast, featuring host Ryan Seacrest.

Jackson Square will also host a free party and countdown with live music and general milling about, culminating with the fireworks over the Mississippi River at midnight. The fireworks can be seen from the East and West Banks of the Mississippi River, including the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, Crescent Park, and the French Market.

For some French Quarter-style partying that involves much bead tossing, see if you can score an invite to any of the private balcony bashes, or pay a cover to access one of the balconies at the bars located all up and down Bourbon Street.

For the kids, the annual New Year’s Eve Kids’ Countdown to Noon at the Louisiana Children’s Museum is typically held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Are you visiting New Orleans for the holidays?

Take advantage of Alder Hotel’s specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous cuisine and enjoy everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today!

rain image

Rainy Day Fun Near the Alder Hotel


Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

Don’t let a little rain put a damper on your visit! Whether you want to burn some calories, soak up art and literature, slurp oysters and grab a drink, or take in a movie, you’ll find plenty of places Uptown.

Enjoy a workout at Anytime Fitness (4600 Freret St.)

Get a workout 24/7 at Anytime Fitness, which offers state-of-the-art cardio machines, free weights and exercise classes. Grab your umbrella and ask the concierge for directions; it’s just a five-minute walk away.

Explore Newcomb Art Museum (6823 St. Charles Ave.)

Newcomb College at Tulane University was the first college in America to grant degrees to women. Its spirit lives on in the museum, which showcases Newcomb’s world-famous pottery, metal work and fiber arts, and presents rotating exhibits of socially engaged art. Admission is free, and the museum is open Wednesday through Saturday.

Curl up with a good book at the Milton H. Latter Library (5120 St. Charles Avenue)

Housed in a stately neo-Italianate mansion, the Latter boasts an extensive collection of books, including a robust selection of volumes on Louisiana history and culture. You can also snag real bargains at the Carriage House behind the main library, which hosts used book sales every Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Catch a movie at the Prytania Theatre (5339 Prytania St.)

More than a century old, the family-run Prytania is the longest continually operating theater in the South. It screens first-run features daily and hosts 10 a.m. screenings of classic movies on Wednesdays and Sundays. Grab some buttered popcorn or a gourmet treat from the espresso bar, and sit back and enjoy the show.

Slurp oysters at Pascal’s Manale (1838 Napoleon Ave.)

Belly up to the bar and enjoy raw oysters with premium cocktails, beer, and wine.

Are you visiting New Orleans soon?

Take advantage of Alder Hotel’s specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous cuisine and enjoy everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today!

Also, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. And, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!

Things to Do in New Orleans: Year-At-A-Glance

Things to Do in New Orleans: Year-At-A-Glance

Things to Do in New Orleans: Year-At-A-Glance

The New Orleans dance card is full all year round, from major music and culture events like Jazz Fest to honoring just about every type of food we enjoy in Louisiana with its own festival, to the unique traditions like Super Sunday and Reveillon. Check out these annual events grouped by the season.

Winter

December 1 – February 28

The weather is mild, the streetcars are decked with wreaths, and the city is alight with the holiday sparkle. The family-friendly Celebration in the Oaks and NOLA Christmasfest keep the dazzle going. The Christmasfest is the only indoor Christmas festival in the area, taking over the Convention Center starting in the third week of December and wrapping up at the end of the month. The fest features giant slides, inflatables, rides, a gingerbread house display, and New Orleans’ only ice-skating rink.

Celebration in the Oaks is a beloved New Orleans tradition that has been around for decades. It’s a dazzling display of holiday lights scattered throughout the 25 acres of City Park, including the Botanical Garden, Storyland, and Carousel Gardens Amusement Park.

The park is swathed in hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights, with hundreds of visitors strolling through the grounds, riding the historic carousel and the miniature train, photo-opping with the iconic Mr. Bingle, and enjoying the caroling and the holiday shopping. Celebration in the Oaks typically opens on Thanksgiving weekend and runs up to January 1.

The bonfires on the bayou, concerts at St. Louis Cathedral, and Reveillon dinners are also the New Orleans holiday traditions that make the season so special.

The New Year’s Eve celebrations in New Orleans include the Dick Clark Rockin’ New Year’s Eve at the historic JAX Brewery in the French Quarter, with a fleur-de-lis drop at midnight to the countdown on Jackson Square, followed by the fireworks over the Mississippi River and the night of revelry.

Just when the rest of the country settles down we’re just getting started, with the Twelfth Night marking the beginning of the Carnival season (always on January 6) with three parades. Phunny Phorty Phellows board the St. Charles streetcar line Uptown and ride it to Canal Street and back, with toasts and revelry along the way.

In the French Quarter, the Krewe of Joan of Arc walking parade rolls from JAX Brewery and celebrates St. Joan’s birthday with medieval pageantry. Société Des Champs Elysée rounds up the night of festivities. Time for the first beads of Mardi Gras and King cake!

Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday”) always falls on a Tuesday, but the actual dates, occurring sometime between February 3 and March 9, change every year depending on Easter, tied to the Catholic calendar and counting 47 days before Easter Sunday. In 2026, Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, February 17, and there’s much to see and do.

Once that’s over, it’s time to celebrate Valentine’s Day in one of the most romantic cities in the country! Need ideas of what to do as a couple near the hotel, in the Uptown area of New Orleans? We have suggestions!

February also marks the popular Tet Fest, held in New Orleans East, which celebrates the Lunar New Year with the help of the largest Vietnamese communities in the country.

Spring

March 1 – May 31

The lovely weather brings the festival season this time of year, with the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival (don’t miss the “Stella!” shouting contest on Jackson Square), Wednesday at the Square, and the Congo Square Rhythms Festival in March.

Also on the menu is the massive annual celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, including several parades and block parties, and the Mardi Gras Indians Super Sunday, a treasured tradition dating back to the 19th century and held on the Sunday closest to St. Joseph’s Day (March 19).

The spring’s heaviest hitter is, of course, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, with its multiple stages and excellent lineup. The Bayou Boogaloo is held over three days in late May on the picturesque banks of Bayou St. John in Mid-City, and the Freret Street Festival in March is getting bigger every year.

Then there is the immensely popular French Quarter Festival, held in April. It’s one of the largest free music festivals in the U.S., with multiple stages set throughout the French Quarter.

Crescent City Classic, the annual 10K run, is one of the largest athletic events in New Orleans. It’s usually held on the Saturday before Easter Sunday each year. Runners take off from Jackson Square, run through the French Quarter and the Tremé, then up the majestic Esplanade Avenue all the way to City Park.

Ready for more parades? New Orleans is one of the most Catholic cities in the country, and it celebrates Easter with three big parades, brunches, and parties all over the city.

Summer

June 1 – August 31

Hotel rates are at their lowest, and there’s plenty to do indoors to escape the heat. Presented by the Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival is a free weekend event held at Louis Armstrong Park in June. The best restaurants and bars in town celebrate Restaurant Week New Orleans in June, the ever-growing Tales of the Cocktail in July, and COOLinary New Orleans with prix fixe menus in August. You can also browse the galleries on the White Linen Night (or a week later, and also on a Saturday, the Dirty Linen Night).

The city comes to life for the Satchmo SummerFest and a slew of events over the Fourth of July and the Labor Day weekends, like Go 4th on the River and the ESSENCE Festival of Culture at the Superdome.

The French Market Creole Tomato Festival is one of the smaller fests to enjoy, and Running of the Bulls brings Encierro to New Orleans, except the bulls are the Big Easy Rollergirls! And, speaking of running, the Red Dress Run, held on the second Saturday of August, is a fun fundraiser to don the red outfit and brave the heat for.

Fall

September 1 – November 30

The temps are down, and it’s time to hit the city’s parks and squares, starting over the Labor Day weekend with the massive and fabulous Southern Decadence, a popular festival that celebrates LGBTQ+ with block parties, shows, and a parade.

The endless stream of fests continues with Tremé Fall Festival, Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival, and the National Fried Chicken Festival. There’s also the New Orleans Film Festival, which is one of the largest film festivals in the South and the longest-running festival of its kind in the state.

November brings more food festivals — the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival and the Beignet Festival at the New Orleans City Park Festival Grounds. Phew!

Also, New Orleans throws its version of Oktoberfest over the three weekends at Deutsches Haus in Mid-City, to celebrate the city’s rich German history, followed by one of the best-attended art events in the city, Art for Art’s Sake.

Held on the first Saturday in October, Art for Art’s Sake has grown into a citywide phenomenon since the ‘80s, packed with openings at Julia Street galleries and special events along Magazine Street.

The fall in New Orleans also means the Saints football. New Orleans does Halloween like no other city, including the kid-friendly Krewe of Boo.

During the second weekend of November, the LUNA Fête light show illuminates Gallier Hall and the surrounding area. The annual large-scale light and sound installations are fascinating, and the fest is free and family-friendly.

Rounding up the fall festivities is a four-day feast of events, when the Tigers of Grambling State meet the Jaguars of Southern University for the annual Bayou Classic, starting with a Thanksgiving parade and featuring a slew of amazing marching bands.

Thanksgiving Day is also a traditional opening of the season at the racetrack, when the locals and visitors alike don their most elaborate and outrageous hats and stream to the Fair Grounds, kicking off the holiday season in a uniquely New Orleans style.

As you can see, there’s something always going on in New Orleans throughout the year, and we’d love to see you no matter what season. Take advantage of Alder Hotel’s specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous cuisine and enjoying everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today!

Also, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. And, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!

poboyfest

Must-Try Po-Boys at the Po-Boy Festival


Photo courtesy of Oak Street Po-Boy Festival

One thing New Orleanians can agree on is that the po-boy satisfies hunger like nothing else. The once-humble sandwich has gone high-class, with top chefs serving their inventive takes. But you can still find hearty 12-inch versions spilling fried shrimp and oysters for under $15 in local corner stores.

There is a po-boy for every budget and palate in New Orleans at the 16 annual Oak Street Po-Boy Festival. This year’s fest will be held on Sunday, October 27, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and you can be sure that you will be able to sample the best po-boys the city has to offer.

The Oak Street Fest is held between the 8100 and 8700 blocks of Oak Street in the Carrollton neighborhood. About 40 vendors present more food than you could shake your fork at, with over 60 varieties of delicious sandwiches alone — plus beer, specialty cocktails, and desserts.

And, of course, this being New Orleans, there is live music, with stages set up on side streets to avoid the Oak Street foot traffic congestion of the past years. A second line usually opens the fest at 10 a.m., forming at Oak and Carrollton streets.

As in all past years, admission is free, but you have to get a wristband ($10 this year, online or at the fest) to purchase the po-boys. The event organizers note that while one wristband can buy po-boys for multiple persons, multiple wristbands within a group can cover more vendors in one stop.

Hate the long lines? Get your hands on the po-boys faster by getting a Fast Pass ($25) or a VIP Pass ($125 in advance, $150 the day of the fest). The VIP pass grants access to the Oak VIP lounge with a balcony and a front-row view of the main stage, plus food and drinks, including specialty cocktails.

In the festival’s 16 years of existence, some of the best restaurants in the city have competed in six “Best of” categories. The 2023 winners included:

Best of the Fest: Southerns Food Truck for the grits and grillades po-boy (fried grit sticks, roasted pork and gravy).

Best shrimp: Southerns Food Truck for the Lt. Dan po-boy (fried shrimp with garlic herb aioli and sweet heat sauce).

Best seafood: Seither’s Seafood for Voodoo fish and chips po-boy (blackened redfish with slaw and Zapp’s Voodoo potato chips).

Best pork: Southerns Food Truck for the grits and grillade po-boy (fried grit sticks, roasted pork and gravy).

Best beef: Seither’s Seafood for the killer beef po-boy (sirloin tip with gravy and potato sticks).

Best specialty: Southerns Food Truck for the turf and turf po-boy (braised pork belly, smoked beef rib, onion rings).

To give you just a taste of what to expect, here’s a sample menu from some of the past vendors. And don’t worry, most do come back year after year, so all this deliciousness will be within reach once the next fest rolls around.

The fest regular, the Mid-City-based po-boy king Parkway Bakery & Tavern, has been known to impress with its incredibly popular signature creation, “The James Brown” po-boy — slow-cooked roast beef topped with fried Gulf shrimp smothered in gravy. Metairie’s NOLA Boils & Catering kicked it up one year with an escargot po-boy, while Oceana Grill keeps offering its oyster Rockefeller po-boy (with housemade sauce).

There are plenty of creative concoctions for the adventurous taste buds too, with game, elevated touches, and Asian and Caribbean flavors. In the dessert category, expect items like stuffed beignets and even a PB&J po-boy.

As with any fest, there are an art market and a kids’ area. The festival is rain or shine, and pedestrian- and bike-friendly. Parking options are limited, so if you go, consider biking or taking the St. Charles Avenue streetcar (get off at the Oak Street stop).

We can’t wait to see who wins this year!

Are you visiting New Orleans this fall?

Take advantage of Alder Hotel’s specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous cuisine and enjoy everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today!

Also, consider booking a guided tour of the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. And, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!

Freret Street Festival

Don’t Miss Freret Street Festival

Freret Street Festival
Photo by Derek Bridges

One of the most anticipated spring events in the always-stellar lineup of the festival season in New Orleans, the Freret Street Festival stands out as the biggest neighborhood festival in the city. This free festival is typically held in late March or early April (the 2024 fest is on Saturday, March 30, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) on the six-block stretch of Freret Street from Napoleon to Valmont. It’s only a five-minute walk from the Alder Hotel!

As in previous years, the festival featured about 200 vendors, including many food vendors and popups, Big Easy Rollergirls, a kids’ area, and pet adoptions from Zeus Place, the fellow Freret Street neighbor. The three stages host a great lineup of live, local music (past acts included Where Y’Acht, Little Freddie King, and Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers), dance demos, and much more.

The festival has been growing since the mid-1990s as a vital part of the renaissance Freret Street is currently experiencing. The eight blocks stretching from Downtown to Uptown New Orleans parallel to St. Charles Avenue are known as a popular destination for food, shopping and entertainment. The street hosts many restaurants, specialty shops, art galleries, bars, coffee shops, and more.

This time of year, the weather will most likely be glorious, so dress light, but don’t forget the sunscreen, as you’ll be likely to spend a day in the sun. The Freret Street Festival is located near the University District, which contains the Tulane and Loyola campuses. The area is easy to navigate and get to from the French Quarter and other areas by car and public transportation. There’s off-street parking in the lot at the corner of Cadiz and Magnolia Streets, and plenty of street parking on adjacent streets.

Are you visiting New Orleans this spring? Take advantage of Alder Hotel specials, group rates, and best-rate guarantee for greater savings to spend on New Orleans famous cuisine and enjoying everything this magnificent city has to offer. Reserve your room today! Also, for easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!

Happy spring!

Freret Street Market

Shopping the Freret Market

Freret Street Market

In a city that’s decidedly not lacking in the art and farm markets, merch pop-ups, and food trucks, Freret Market stands out for its sheer size and the fact that it combines all those components — art, flea, food/farm, and live music. This open-air market is located at Freret Street and Napoleon Avenue and is held on the first Saturday of every month (except June-August) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Freret Market was started in September 2007 to revitalize the Freret business corridor. Since then, it’s grown to become a popular destination with special events and healthy attendance numbers. Besides the weekly food, art and flea vendors, the market regularly hosts local restaurant and catering business pop-ups and food carts. There are usually about 70 vendors total, plus live music, an area for kids; and pet adoptions available from Zeus Place, the market’s fellow Freret Street neighbor.

Today’s Freret Market is a vital part of the renaissance that Freret Street has been experiencing. The eight blocks stretching from Downtown to Uptown New Orleans parallel to St. Charles Avenue are known as a popular destination for food, shopping, and entertainment. The street hosts many restaurants, specialty shops, art galleries, bars, coffee shops, and more. It’s also home to the annual Freret Street Festival, held on the first Saturday in the spring (March and April). The festival has been growing since the mid-1990s, with over 100 vendors participating in the past.

The weekly sampling of food vendors at the Freret Market includes Iacovone Kitchen with a fresh, chef-driven menu of panini, pulled pork and whatever is in season, Jazzy Keto, a low-carb catering company that specializes in cauliflower-mash bowls of blackened chicken, vegan veggie and Cajun shrimp, and Not Cho Average Nachos (gourmet nachos, that’s right).

There are many opportunities to indulge your sweet tooth (check out Keyala’s Pralines) and get some locally made soap, candles, jerky, or pepper jelly. There are also plenty of art, flea and vintage vendors, farm stalls, and local merchants selling furniture, clothing, jewelry, and more.

Freret Market is located near the University District, which contains the Tulane and Loyola campuses. The area is easy to navigate and get to from the French Quarter and other areas by car and public transportation. There’s off-street parking in the lot at the corner of Cadiz and Magnolia Streets, and plenty of street parking on adjacent streets.

And, please note: The Alder Hotel offers free self-parking in the parking lot directly across the street. It’s relatively rare to find this amenity in New Orleans, so we hope you take advantage of it!

Stay in touch and save on rates and more at the Alder Hotel by signing up for our email list at https://alderhotel.com/email-offers/. If you find a lower rate on your Alder Hotel rooms at the time of booking, call 1.888.626.5861 to let us know, and we will match that rate!

Uptown-New-Orleans-for-Kids

Uptown New Orleans: A Family-Friendly Itinerary

While some other parts of the city may be more known for their late-night entertainment options, Uptown, with its child-friendly food scene, ease of navigation via streetcar, and vibrant, walkable commercial corridors like Magazine and Freret streets, offers a wide variety of things to do with kids. There are great bookstores, parks and playgrounds, tours, cafes, restaurants, museums, and shops that are perfectly suitable for the under-18 crowd.

Attractions

St. Charles Avenue, Magazine, and Freret streets are packed with shopping destinations, art galleries, and restaurants (many of which have spacious outdoor or balcony seating). Freret Street is also home to a market, held on the first Saturday of every month except June-August, and a festival, held in the spring. Both events feature live music and plenty of food vendors. Magazine and Freret Streets are easy to walk, and you can take a streetcar along St. Charles Avenue for a mere $1.25.

The majestic, oak tree-lined St. Charles Avenue is one of the most beautiful streets in the country, if not the world, with blocks upon blocks of spectacular mansions and landscaped gardens. The ride on the historic St. Charles Avenue line streetcar is high on top of many visitors’ bucket lists because it’s the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world (since 1835), and because it affords a very easy and pleasant way to see the Garden District and Uptown areas.

To take in all the beauty of the Italianate, Victorian, and Greek Revival architecture of Uptown, you can just walk around. Many of the original mid-19th-century mansions have been immaculately preserved and are surrounded by impressive gardens. Both self-guided and guided tours are available daily in the Garden District and Uptown — on foot or by bus or car (free for kids under 6). Kids and adults alike might also like visiting Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, one of the oldest cemeteries in the city, located in the heart of the Garden District, between Washington, Sixth, Prytania, and Coliseum streets (Please note that as of winter 2022 the cemetery is closed for repairs).

Another must-stop, especially if you have kids in tow, is the magnificent Audubon Park. Located in the historic district of Uptown near the picturesque campuses of Tulane and Loyola universities, Audubon Park is perfect for a stroll or a picnic (bring some bread to feed the ducks). Lined with hundreds of ancient live oaks, it features a 1.8-mile jogging path, playgrounds, picnic shelters, a lagoon, recreation areas, and a zoo.

The Audubon Zoo is one of the top zoos in the country, full of lush vegetation and exotic-animal exhibits. The younger kids may like riding the zoo’s Swamp train, and older kids can try the Safari Simulator ride. The Zoo features rare white alligators, a komodo dragon, sea lion shows, a carousel, and the award-winning Louisiana Swamp and Jaguar Jungle natural habitat areas. During the warmer months, you may want to bring your bathing suits and splash in the Zoo’s mini water park, the Cool Zoo.

Few things are more family-friendly than catching a movie, and the classic Prytania Theatre is a century-old movie theater, and the only single-screen one left in Louisiana. Inside, you’ll find plush red seats and a tiny coffee stand with excellent gelato and espresso for the adults plus kid-friendly snacks.

Eating and Drinking

Uptown is packed with restaurants that feature kid-friendly menus and/or menus catering to children specifically. These are but a few highlights, starting with St. James Cheese Company, home of the $5 Mini Moo sandwich. Targeting the “smaller cheese lovers,” it’s made with Hook’s white Cheddar cheese grilled on wheat bread and comes with chips and fruit. The kids will probably also love the shop’s cheese and charcuterie boards, which change daily and come with bread and an assortment of condiments.

We also recommend The Company Burger on Freret and Cadiz streets for its solid menu of delicious burgers, fries, and milkshakes; and the famous Camellia Grill diner with an extensive breakfast menu. The affordable Dat Dog at its Freret and Magazine locations dishes out a wide variety of meat, fish, vegan and veggie hot dogs, sausages, and other kid-friendly comfort food like burgers and chicken. Your kids will be happy to know that the dogs and the sausages come with a choice of more than 30 toppings.

For local comfort food with homestyle Creole and Cajun fare like po-boys and jambalaya, try Joey K’s on Magazine Street. The menu is very kid-friendly, with chicken tenders, grilled cheese, and fried seafood. The seafood-focused Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar has great views of St. Charles Avenue, an oyster bar, and a kids’ menu that goes beyond chicken tenders, with items like grilled shrimp and grilled chicken pasta alfredo.

Do your kids like ramen? A post-pandemic newcomer Nomiya is a traditional ramen joint that serves a simple, delicious menu. Just pick your broth and the toppings, and maybe supplement with edamame and pork buns. There’s also mochi ice cream with rotating flavors.

For more New Orleans staples your kids might like, head to the beloved local lunch staple, Guy’s Po-Boys, or Picnic Provisions & Whiskey, a family- and dog-friendly casual comfort food spot that has outdoor seating.

You have many choices when it comes to trying food from all over the world, both the spots old and new. For a classic, well-done Mexican cuisine head to Taqueria Corona. The whole family can share generous portions of tacos, burritos, and other staples.

Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco is another solid option for a family dinner, with a menu laden with traditional Peruvian dishes. Dinners at the Senegalese Dakar NOLA feature multiple courses, some served family style in homage to west African dining traditions. All three of these restaurants on Magazine Street serve excellent Mediterranean food, from the quick-service, on-the-to Tal’s Hummus to Misa with a lovely patio for outdoor dining to the award-winning chef Alon Shaya’s Saba, with very sharable Israeli culinary classics.

For a sweet treat, check out Piccola Gelateria. In addition to small-batch, house-made gelato and sorbetto in over a dozen flavors, this classic Italian-style gelato shop offers crepes (savory with meat, sweet with Nutella, and vegetarian). The whole family will also love the award-winning Gracious Bakery + Cafe (with two Uptown locations). All desserts and baked goods are top-notch, and there are house-cured salmon bagels and breakfast sandwiches. 

DISTRICT. Donuts. Sliders. Brew. on Magazine and Jackson streets also has a sophisticated coffee menu plus donuts and sliders. The tiny District Donut & Coffee Bar located on the corner of Arabella and Magazine streets offers a smaller menu, though still packed with coffee and espresso options, plus kolaches, biscuits, donuts, and sandwiches.

We hope you enjoy some family time exploring all that the area around the Alder Hotel has to offer!

Stay in touch and save on rates and more at the Alder Hotel by signing up for our email list at https://alderhotel.com/email-offers/. If you find a lower rate on your Alder Hotel room at the time of booking, call 1.888.626.5861, and we will match that rate, too.

pet friendly new orleans hotel alder hotel uptown new orleans

Fun with Fido in Uptown New Orleans

pet friendly new orleans hotel alder hotel uptown new orleans

New Orleans is a dog city, and there’s no reason to leave your four-legged family member at home when you travel to New Orleans, or at a hotel while you’re here. Here’s a list of places in Uptown New Orleans where you and your dog will always be welcome, plus a big dog run located elsewhere, but it’s easy to get to from Uptown (and your dog will thank you).

We Are a Pet-Friendly Hotel

We welcome dogs and cats at the Alder Hotel and look forward to hosting you and your pets when you stay in Uptown New Orleans. You can review our pet policy here. If you are traveling with large dogs (over 50 pounds) or need supervision for your dog while you sightsee, we recommend Zeus’ Place (4601 Freret St.).

Parks and Dog Runs

The Wisner Dog Run, located inside the free, city-run Wisner Playground at 4877 Laurel Street, is fenced off, so you can let your dog play off-leash with other well-socialized dogs. It’s not huge, at only 8,500 square feet, but the off-leash areas are not easy to come by in any city, and this one is part of a little urban park, so it also comes with access to benches, water fountains, and some shade — all in the middle of a busy Uptown area.

Another option is to hit the urban oasis of the historic Audubon Park. You and your dog can enjoy the lagoons, a tranquil 1.8-mile jogging path, picnic shelters under the live oaks, and much more. The Riverview portion of the park, also known as The Fly, is located behind the Audubon Zoo and along the Mississippi River. It’s a popular spot to have a barbeque or a crawfish boil, toss a frisbee, or simply sit by the river and watch the sun go down. The Fly is open till 10 p.m. and is equipped with picnic areas, ample parking spaces, and public restrooms.

The so-called “Dog Levee” is an informal park near the corner of Leake Avenue and Magazine Street (100-7198 Magazine Street). It has a paved walking path but is not fenced off. If your dog loves to swim and is not a flight risk when off-leash this is a good place to take a dip.

The last recommended place on the list is not located Uptown, but it’s not far, worth the trip, and easy to get to. The largest off-leash dog run in New Orleans, NOLA City Bark, is located in the sprawling City Park that extends from Mid-City into Lakeview. This fenced-off dog park occupies a 4.6-acre plot of land and has separate play areas for small and big dogs. It also has hills and water fountains for the dogs to enjoy, plus a water play area and doggie pools. For humans, there are also water fountains, shade pavilions, restrooms, and walking paths.

Please note that NOLA City Bark is gated and you’ll need a key card/permit to enter. This is to ensure that all dogs that use the park have been properly vaccinated, and spayed or neutered. You can apply for a temporary permit on the NOLA City Bark website.

Dog-Friendly Bars and Restaurants

There are plenty of dog-friendly restaurants and bars Uptown and elsewhere in the city. If there’s outdoor seating, like a patio or sidewalk tables, chances are all well-behaved dogs will be welcome. Uptown, check out the blocks-long commercial corridors of Magazine and Freret streets in particular, filled with sidewalk cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating and courtyards.

These few places stand out, however, as especially well-suited for your canine friends to visit.

Dat Dog‘s both Uptown locations (3336 Magazine Street near Louisiana Avenue and 5030 Freret Street near Soniat Street) have dog-friendly outdoor seating. The Magazine Street location is great for people-watching, and both locations have popular happy hours and lots of craft beer.

Another popular Magazine Street establishment, the Bulldog Uptown, located on the corner of Magazine and Pleasant Streets in the heart of the Garden District, features a huge, dog-friendly patio. There’s fresh water put out daily for all furry friends.

Eat indoors or outdoors, and bring your family and your pup to Picnic Provisions & Whiskey (741 State St.). Coming from the people helming Commander’s Palace, including co-founder and owner Tory McPhail, the former executive chef at Commander’s, this casual family-friendly spot serves comfort food cold and hot.

The lovely patios at St. James Cheese Company (the Uptown location at 5004 Prytania Street) and the Rusty Nail (1100 Constance Street, on the corner of Constance and John Churchill Chase, where the Warehouse District ends and the Lower Garden begins) are also popular among the dog lovers. What’s more enjoyable than having a leisurely drink on a spacious patio, surrounded by lush greenery, while your dog lounges at your feet?

Want to stay in touch and save on rates at the Alder Hotel? Sign up for our email list at https://alderhotel.com/email-offers/! And if you find a lower rate on your Alder Hotel rooms at the time of booking, call 1.888.626.5861 to let us know, and we will match that rate.