A Guide to the 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is back and better than ever! More commonly referred to as Jazz Fest, this annual festival celebrates the music, art, culture, and heritage of New Orleans. Mark your calendars for April 29 – May 8, 2022, and get ready for one of the most popular festivals in the U.S.

If you are new to Jazz Fest, this guide will give you everything you need to know about the headliners, tickets, food, stages, travel, and crafts.

A Brief History of Jazz Fest

The first Jazz Fest took place April 22-26, 1970 in Congo Square. Renowned musicians Duke Ellington, Fats Domino, Pete Fountain, The Preservation Hall Brass Band, Mardi Gras Indians, and many others played to a crowd of around 350 people.

Since then, the Jazz Fest venue has changed to the historic Fair Grounds Race Course to host hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. The festival, overseen and coordinated by the Jazz & Heritage Foundation, continues to feature local and international talents on the Jazz Fest platform.

The Lineup

The exciting lineup for Jazz Fest 2022 includes both local and national performers over both weekends of the festival. Headliners include:

Willie Nelson
Stevie Nicks
The New Orleans Klezmer All Stars
Jimmy Buffett
Erykah Badu
Melissa Etheridge
Big Freedia
Elvis Costello
Busta Rhymes
Chris Isaak
The Avett Brothers
Randy Newman

Tickets

Jazz Fest tickets are now available for purchase. You can buy them online or at the gates on any day of the festival:

Other Stages

Jazz Fest will have several stages and tents dedicated to different genres of music and performances. These stages will also host a variety of activities that feature live demonstrations, panel discussions, and interviews.

The Acura Stage – Main Stage
Gentilly Stage – Secondary Main Stage
The Congo Square Stage – Afro-centric and World Music
Blues Tent – Blues Music
Jazz Tent – Contemporary Jazz Music
Gospel Tent – Gospel Musicians and Performers
Kids Tent – Children’s Music and Performances
The Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do Do Stage – Cajun & Zydeco Music
Jazz & Heritage Stage – Mardi Gras Indians + Brass Band Performances
Allison Miner Music Heritage – Panel Discussions, Fest Information + Live Interviews
Food Heritage Stage – Live Cooking Demonstrations
Cajun Cabin – Live Cajun Cooking Demonstrations
Economy Hall Tent – Traditional New Orleans Jazz
Lagniappe Stage – A potpourri of sound and style

Food

Hungry? The food at Jazz Fest 2022 will feature a wide assortment of vendors.

The fest has two large areas dedicated only to food vendors (Food 1 and Food 2).
Many vendors will offer traditional Louisiana cuisine, but vegan and vegetarian options will also be present. You’ll have everything you need inside of the festival, including Cafe du Monde beignets.
Beer, wine, iced tea, lemonade, and more are for sale in different locations throughout the festival.

Crafts, Villages, and Marketplaces

What began in the 70s with a few artisans has grown to include hundreds of regionally and nationally acclaimed artists in multiple event venues.

During Jazz Fest, you can explore the following crafts, villages, and marketplaces:

Congo Square African Marketplace

Congo Square African Marketplace is a marketplace alive with the culture and spirit which helped create the jazz and heritage for which New Orleans is known. You will find an array of local, national, and international artisans exhibiting ancient crafting techniques, as well as modern variations and adaptations of those techniques.

Contemporary Crafts

Contemporary Crafts is set among blues, jazz, and gospel music tents in Heritage Square. It is a nationally recognized showcase of handcrafted clothing, beautiful leather goods, and musical instruments, along with a brilliant array of paintings, photographs, sculptures, and irresistible jewelry.

Louisiana Marketplace

Louisiana Marketplace will feature Louisiana’s finest traditional and contemporary artists. Artists sell hand-colored photographs, Creole and Acadian furniture, whimsical jewelry, and other creations that evoke the state’s unique cultural landscape.

Have Fun at Jazz Fest!

Enjoy one of the country’s best festivals as it returns this month. Before you head out on the road, make sure your car is adequately protected against collision and liability by getting a free, no-risk quote on auto insurance from Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance. Get started with a local agent by using our Agent Finder.

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