Expressnews
New Orleans, renowned for its jazz, Creole cuisine, Mardi Gras, vibrant history, and unique charm offers much more,captivating visitors with unforgettable energy. There are endless reasons to visit New Orleans and as 2025 draws closer, we put together the top 25 things to do and experience in the city!
1. Watch a Mardi Gras Parade– New Orleans gears up for one of its biggest annual celebrations with Mardi Gras beginning on January 6, 2025. The festivities continue till Fat Tuesday, March 4, 2025, during which vibrant parades, colours, music, and celebrations take over the entire city.
2. Taste the King Cake– Get a taste of the Mardi Gras speciality, king cake, a baked treat combining the flavours of a cinnamon roll and a coffee cake and available in various traditional, creative or savoury forms such as crawfish king cake, boudin king cake, tres leches king cake, and more.
3. Walk Through the City Park- City Park is one of the most popular family-friendly spots in the city. City Park’s 1,300 acres provides access to abundant natural and cultural resources, offering a variety of attractions including an amusement park, botanical garden, golf, tennis, museums, boat and bike rentals plus venues for every occasion.
4. Plan to Visit Vue Orleans During Sunset- It is a one-of-a-kind indoor and outdoor observatory and cultural experience, featuring the only 360-degree panoramic riverfront views of New Orleans.
5. Check Out the Museums- Discover art, history, culture and more at dozens of incredible New Orleans museums such as New Orleans Museum of Art, The National WWII Museum, New Orleans Jazz Museum, Mardi Gras Museum, and more.
6. Go On a Neighbourhood Tour- New Orleans is a city of proudly distinct neighbourhoods with their own unique history, culture, and things to do. Take your time exploring the culture, food, and people at these charming neighbourhoods such as French Quarter, Bywater, Marigny, and Mid-City.
7. Marvel at the Architecture– Every neighbourhood is a living architectural museum with homes and buildings that combine classical styles with New Orleans whimsy.
8. Take in a Multicultural Experience– The city has a substantial Vietnamese population and hence, Tết Fest is a highlight in New Orleans’ annual calendar of celebrations. A celebration of Black culture, ESSENCE Festival of Culture in July features a series of main stage performances, programming, and speakers tailored to the Black community.
9. Bite into a Beignet- Beignets were first introduced to the city by the French-Creole colonists in the 18th century. The concept is simple – dough is fried then covered with mounds of powdered sugar. Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter is the oldest and most iconic beignet shop. There is also a Beignet Fest in fall, reconfirming New Orleans’ love for the treat.
10. Explore New Orleans’ Contemporary Art Scene– Prospect New Orleans, a citywide contemporary art triennial, is currently on display from November 2, 2024to February 2, 2025, across various participating museums and venues around the city. Check out the powerful exhibit at the abandoned Ford Motor Plant featuring mixed media from different artists on the theme of immigration.
11. Catch a Performance Arts Show in New Orleans– The Broadway scene in New Orleans is a must experience with the Saenger Theater offering shows throughout the year. With two seasons from January to June and October to December, performances such as Hamilton, & Julie, Funny Girl, Chicago, and Mamma Mia, all grace the stage. Starting in October, the 2025/2026 season will kick off with an exciting lineup of shows, yet to be announced. Catch a dance performance by world-renowned groups at Mahalia Jackson Theateras part of the New Orleans Ballet Association’s yearly event calendar. This year’s lineup includes Ballet Hispánico “CARMEN.maquia” in February and a special two-night Program from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in March.
12. Dig into a Plate during the Crawfish Season– New Orleans is known for its crawfish, and digging into a pile during the season (February-May) is an incredible culinary kick!
13. Plan an Eventful New Orleans Spring– New Orleans has a busy spring with festivals, events, St. Patrick’s Dayand Easter parades taking over the streets. This year, events like Orleans Book Festival (March 27-29), Hogs for the Cause (April 4-5), Overlook Film Festival (April 3-6), and many more are set to create an eventful spring.
14. Music Milestones– The French Quarter Festival is the largest celebration of music in Louisiana. This free-to-attend event to be held between April 10 and 13, is filled with eye-catching performances, art, food, and more.Mark your calendars between September 25 and October 5 to catch NOLAxNOLA, a celebration of local musicians, music venues, and culture across various indoor and outdoor venues all over town.
15. Celebrate Culture– Another major highlight, New Orleans Jazz & heritage Festival is an annual celebration of music, art, culture, and heritage from April 24 to May 4, and goes back to its origins in 1970. Crescent City Classic 10K, usually held over Easter weekend, is another fun, family-friendly event featuring a festival, food, music, and more,
16. New Orleans Pride– New Orleans is recognized as one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly cities in the U.S. and Pride month is celebrated with much vigour. June is packed with events such as Pride parades, New Orleans Black Pride and Pridefest, and Southern Decadence.
17. Taste a Sno-ball- A New Orleans delicacy, a sno-ball is shaved ice drowned in flavoured syrup, the perfect summertime treat to cool off.
18. A Fun-filled Summer– The summer season from May to September is jam-packed with an array of festivals celebrating everything from the Creole tomato, the food + wine scene to jazz legend Louis Armstrong and Running of the Bulls.
19. New Orleans Sports- New Orleans boasts year-round sports action with teams from the NFL’s Saints and NBA’s Pelicans to the NOLA Gold rugby team, the Jesters soccer team, the Big Easy Roller Derby team, and other competitive collegiate teams across different sports. New Orleans is set to host the much-anticipated Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025. This year will be the 11th year for the city and state to host the event while Superdome will serve as the venue for the 8th time, both breaking previous records.
20. Experience Autumn in New Orleans– Between September and December, fall festivals keep New Orleans busy with events such as National Fried Chicken Fest, Oak Street Po-Boy Fest, Praise Fest, and more.
21. Halloween and Ghost Tours– The city is a Halloween destination through and through in the month of October with haunted houses, ghost tours, and the Krewe of BOO! Parade keeping the spookies alive.
22. Try Classic New Orleans Food– The endless list of classic New Orleans food include gumbo, crawfish étouffée, red beans & rice, soft-shell crab, oysters, po-boys, and more, ready to be savoured. Experience New Orleans’s culinary offerings during COOLinary (August 1-31) with a two-course lunch, or three-course dinner and brunch deals across various participating restaurants.
23. Experience Traditions– An annual Thanksgiving tradition, Bayou Classic consists of four decades of football games held mostly in New Orleans and is a cultural celebration of Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU), featuring a Battle of the Bands, parade, and fanfare.
24. Holidays, New Orleans Style– Holidays New Orleans style is a monthlong celebration of the holiday season starting the day after Thanksgiving. Numerous events such as NOLA Christmas Fest, Celebration in the Oaks,Algiers Bonfire Festival, Children’s Hospital New Orleans Holiday Parade, alongside dining, shopping, music, and more set a lively holiday mood.
25. New Year Celebrations- Ring in the New Year at a lively New Orleans party, restaurant, concert, or family-friendly event.
