I hope you’re not ready for a break yet! April 2013 was a fun filled month with the French Quarter Festival, the beginning of Jazz Fest and a whole lot of other fests and festivals, but May 2013 is looking like it has just as much, if not more fun in store for us.
May is one of my favorite months in New Orleans because the weather isn’t too hot yet. Plus there’s still lots going on including Jazz Fest wrapping up, Wicked coming to town and a number of festivals that celebrate culture, food and music.
I should disclose one thing. Just about every month in New Orleans is my favorite, but then again I’m pretty biased.
Anyways, here’s a look at five must see and do things in New Orleans this May…
Jazz Fest (May 2-5)
The first weekend of Jazz Fest was amazing! I can’t wait to see how the second weekend tops it. The headliners for the second weekend include, but are definitely not limited to Fleetwood Mac, Frank Ocean, Maroon 5, Trombone Shorty and Willie Nelson. However, the big names aren’t the only reason to attend the show. You never know, you might find a new band that you’ve never heard of that instantly becomes your favorite. Of course, there’s the food. I can tell you from firsthand experience that the Crawfish Bread and Mango Freezes are delicious! If the lines are short or even if they’re long, make sure you try these out!
Wicked (May 8-June 2)
Wicked comes to town for nearly a month long performance at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre. If you’ve never heard of Wicked, imagine the Wizard Of Oz, but told from the point of view of the witches. It tells their story, how two friends in the Land of Oz grew up to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. When it came to town in 2010 every show sold out, I would be surprised if it didn’t do the same thing year.
Bayou Boogaloo (May 17-19)
Festival season comes to the shores of the Bayou St. John in Mid-City. Bayou Boogaloo is three days of music, art and food that the whole family will love. Musical guests include the Rebirth Brass Band, Bonerama and the Brass-A-Holics. For the kids, there’s a kid’s stage, games and other activities. I missed last year’s Boogaloo, but I’m looking forward to going this year.
New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (May 22-25)
The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience brings together more than 1,000 wines from 175 wineries and 75 chefs serving up some of the best food to be had in New Orleans. There’s food and wine tastings, food competitions and a whole lot more. You’ll get to enjoy what’s trending in the culinary and wine worlds, as well as what the future holds. If you describe yourself as a foodies or wine aficionados, you don’t want to miss this.
Greek Festival (May 24-36)
Everyone is Greek on Memorial Day weekend in New Orleans. That’s because that weekend the Greek Festival is back for its 40th year. As always, there will be a showcase of delicious Greek food, music and a whole lot more. I don’t make guarantees often, but I will guarantee this will be a fun event for everyone in your family.
