The Metaphysical Guide To New Orleans (Jazz Fest Edition)

writer and amateur photographer Maggie Dorsky explores New Orleans, Louisiana, during the obscure vortex that is Jazz Fest and provides enough info for a 7 day itinerary

For: Lovers of Live Music, Great Food, Paranormal, & True Crime

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You can start planning your next trip to New Orleans for 2025 because it repeats the same two weekends every year!

Fun Fact: Drinking alcohol in New Orleans is a “to-go” way of life here. Multiple musicians are in town for Jazz Fest and the smaller shows and mini festivals that happen in the days between. We saw some form of live music every single day and ate our way through the city.

Going to New Orleans during Jazz Fest is a great way to get a macro dose of culture and food.

Live Music: The most intimate and emotional was the show at Preservation Hall which was a place free black people would come and play music. The neighboring bar Pat O’rielys is the designated restroom for PH, it is known that the women’s bathroom is the floor with reports of women laughing in the bathroom and voices. The bathroom is set up in a way that an airport bathroom is now: toilets on one side and on the other side of the wall are the sinks, so you have to walk out of a tiny space into another. 

The Rolling Stones at Jazz Fest: This is a bucket list item I didn’t know I needed. Seeing Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as well as our long time favorite Jam Cruise legend Karl Denson (plays Sax for TRS) was a highlight. Their first big hit was “Time is on my side” an original by Irma Thomas, for this special day, they brought Irma out and they sang it together. Really seeing them pay tribute to a legendary black musician who gave them legs was amazing. 

Festival Food: Crawfish Monica You don’t come to JazzFest and not get Crawfish Monica. The signature crawfish mac and cheese is a staple and must try.