French Quarter Events
FQJ’s On the Horizon
RiverFest: September 13
New Orleans Cocktail Week: September 15 - 21
International Arts Festival: Sept. 25 - 28
NOLA X NOLA: September 25 - Oct 5
Improvisations Gala at the Jazz Museum with Storyville theme: December 6th
Photo: Chris Hanna working his Sazerac magic behind the bar at Jewel of the South, FQJ archives by Ellis AndersonFQJ’s Don’t-Miss List
Wednesday, September 10th - 4:30 - 7:30pm
HNOC Ce Soir: Making It Home
520 Royal Street
-
HNOC’s after-hours celebration returns with an exploration of Making It Home: From Vietnam to New Orleans, presented in collaboration with One Book One New Orleans, a local nonprofit that encourages literacy and builds community around a single book title each year.
Their 2025 book, Daughters of the New Yearby E.M. Tran, is a novel that describes what it was like to grow up as a child of Vietnamese refugees living in New Orleans.
Volunteers from OBONO will present individual stories from the book and pair them with objects on view in Making It Home, followed by a discussion between the author, HNOC senior historian Mark Cave, and OBONO executive director Megan Holt.
Additional activities include:
Dough Nguyener’s Cafe Pop Up: Enjoy authentic Vietnamese sticky rice topped with lap xuong (Chinese sausage), rotisserie chicken thigh, and crispy shallots.
Stop by the Café at the Collection and grab a complimentary pandan or ube cookie from Dough Nguyener’s bakery—while supplies last!
Vendor trunk show: Shop items for sale from local Vietnamese American artists, including illustrations by Sam Nga Blum and handmade glassware from Michelle Dinh.
In addition to Making It Home, all of HNOC’s current exhibitions will be open and waiting for you to explore. Admission is free with registration encouraged.
Saturday, Sept. 13th: 11am
New Orleans River Fest 2025
New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade
photo by Melanie Cole
-
The 12th annual NOLA River Festival on Saturday, SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2025 celebrates the cultural, economic, environmental, and inspirational impacts of the Mississippi River and its inhabitants on the Crescent City and the entire Gulf South region. The all-day festival at the New Orleans Jazz Museum will include live music, presentations and panels, delicious local food vendors and a full bar, and more.
This year’s theme is LOUISIANA’S NATIVE FOODWAYS, focusing on the natural bounty of the Mississippi River and Gulf, and the cultures that cultivated, preserved, and evolved Louisiana’s iconic flavors.
We aim to celebrate the deep-rooted culinary traditions born from the state’s rivers, wetlands, and fertile lands. From Indigenous harvests to Creole and Cajun creations, these foods tell the story of a people and a place. Protecting Louisiana’s environment—its waters, soils, and biodiversity—is essential to preserving the flavors, heritage, and cultural identity that define our tables.
"Music Lineup"
11:00 AM – Second line starting in Jackson Square featuring the N’awlins D’awlins Baby Dolls & Big Queen Mary Kay of the Original Wild Tchoupitoulas Indians
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Treme Lafitte Brass Band
12:15 PM – 1:00 PM – Grayhawk Perkins & Friends
1:00 PM – 1:40 PM – Kr3wcial
3:00 PM – 3:40 PM – Komaki Soul
4:00 PM – 4:40 PM – Gregg Stafford
5:00 PM – 5:40 PM – Robin Barnes
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM – James Andrews & The Sons of Satchmo
Sunday, Sept. 14th: 8pm
The 25 Hour Play Festival
Marigny Opera House, 725 St. Ferdinand Street
-
~ Team assignments on Saturday, plays performed on Sunday, open to public.
~On the night of Saturday 9/13, New Orleans locals will gather and be randomly grouped into five teams: each made up of a playwright, a director, and a cabal of fabulous actors.
~The teams will receive a few prompts -- a line that all scripts must incorporate, perhaps a scenic constraint, and a prop -- and then they'll have just 25 HOURS to create a 10-minute play FROM SCRATCH.
~Then, on Sunday night, audiences will take part in this delirious celebration of creative spontaneity as they watch the shows be performed for the FIRST (and perhaps the ONLY) time. There will be moments of transcendence, serendipity, and, of course...confusion.
This is all we can say. There is nothing left to tell. There will be 5 short plays, and we have no idea what they'll be
Monday, Sept. 15th: 6pm - 7:30pm
City Council District C Eastbank Forum
New Marigny Theatre, 2301 Marais St. (corner of Mandeville)
Eliot S. Barron
Kelsey Foster
Jackson Kimbrell
Freddie King
-
Don't forget, Election Day for the primary vote is October 11, 2025.Join us and other East Bank neighborhoods for a City Council District C forum. Each of the four candidates will share their platforms and their vision for our community for the next four years.
Hosted by:
Vieux Carré Property Owners, Residents & Associates
7th Ward Neighborhood Association
Faubourg Marigny Improvement Association
Faubourg St. Roch Neighborhood Association
French Quarter Citizens
Historic Faubourg Tremé Association
Louisiana Landmarks Society
Neighbors First for Bywater
Preservation Resource CenterIn efforts to share citywide information on all election-related activities, our friends at the Committee for a Better New Orleans (CBNO) have put together a handy calendar.
Other Important Dates for the Upcoming Elections:
September 10: Deadline to register to vote in person in the Primary Election
September 20: Deadline to register to vote online in the Primary Election
September 27-Oct 4: Early voting for Primary Election
October 15: Deadline to register to vote in person in the General Election
November 1-8: Early voting for General Election
November 15: General Election Day
Saturday, September 24th - shows at 5pm – 6pm
Sharon Nabonne and Friends
Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, 626 Frenchmen Street
Free performance, seating on first-come, first-serve basis
-
~ FQJ’s Pick of the Week: September 24: A rare performance by Sharon Nabonne, free!
Sharon Nabonne is a gifted vocalist with deep roots in New Orleans musical theater, as well as jazz, r&b, and gospel genres.
~Rising to prominence in One Mo’ Time, she built a career defined by dynamic collaborations with city legends like Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, and Lee Dorsey.
~Her guest performances at the iconic Palm Court Jazz Café and other local venues further illustrate her role as a cherished and enduring figure in her city’s cultural tapestry.
The featured artists include:
Sharon Nabonne - Vocals
Herman LeBeaux Jr. - Drums
Kerry Lewis Sr. - Bass
Steve Pistorius - PianoFree performance!
Click here to get tickets and see what other fabulous goodness Snug has in store for the month!
Friday, October 3: 5pm - 8pm
1st Friday on Royal
Artwalk in the lower blocks of Royal Street
Art, Music, Drinks
-
On the first Friday of every month, participating locations will stay open late from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, offering a special opportunity to meet artists, view and purchase art, and enjoy wine, conversation, and even live music at select venues.
Galleries and artist-run studios along Royal Street will showcase their latest works, making it the perfect evening to experience the vibrant creative community of the French Quarter.
The Royal Street Arts District is home to over 40 galleries, studios, and shops celebrating local and regional artistry.
Below are 50 upcoming events happening in the FQ and surrounding neighborhoods. Want even more? Click the button at the bottom, which will take you to our FB Events page.
Our events are curated. For a complete list of live music happenings in the city, check out WWOZ’s Livewire Music Calendar!
Like to become a sponsor? Contact us.
Join our Readers’ Circle.
Have a story idea? Are you a writer with a pitch? Email us.