When: Apr. 27-29 & May 3-6
Where: New Orleans Fair Grounds Race Course

As if Mardi Gras wasn't enough partying, New Orleans is also known around the world for its annual Jazz and Heritage Festival. With live music held simultaneously on more than 12 stages, the Jazz Fest attracts big-name acts from all around the world.

In honor of local legend Louis Armstrong's 100th birthday, this year's festival will feature exhibits and discussions as well as tributes to Armstrong. Annual favorites such as the Native American Village, Congo Square African Marketplace, Louisiana Folklife Village, and Heritage Square will be scattered throughout the immense grounds.

Some of this year's highlights include Fats Domino, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, BB King, Mystikal, Dave Matthews Band, The Neville Brothers, The Wallflowers, Pete Fountain, Ziggy Marlet, Cowboy Mouth, The Radiators, and Los Hombres Calientes.

Tickets are reasonably priced at $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. If you can square real low, wear some goofy glasses, and pass for 12, then tickets are a mere $1.50 in advance and $2.00 at the gate. Evening prices are $25 and up. Tickets can be purchased through all Ticketmaster outlets at (800) 488 5252, +1 (504) 522 5555 or www.ticketmaster.com.

You are not allowed to bring much into the fair grounds. Ice chests, food and drinks, umbrellas and tents are all prohibited. However, you may bring small foldable chairs, and blankets and tarps as long as they're no larger than 6x8 feet. Video equipment and cameras are strictly prohibited. Oddly enough, for everything that is prohibited, marijuana is everywhere.

Although the festival is officially non-profit, the food and beverage dealers rake in more cash than Colombian drug lords. Prices can be high; as little as a few beers and burgers can turn out to be a lot more than you expected.

For those of you with deep pockets, the Gala 2001 fundraiser will be Apr. 26 at 7 pm, at the New Orleans Sheraton. Tickets are $500 per person ($400 is tax-deductible), and the proceeds will benefit the charitable and educational purposes of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation. For more information, call +1 (504) 558 6130 or visit www.nojhf.org.

Check with Destination Management Inc., the official tour operator of the Jazz Fest, if you are looking for special package deals. For more information, call (800) 380 FEST.

For more information go to www.nojazzfest.com. If you are looking for the usual marketing merchandise such as Jazz Fest shirts, hats, posters, condoms, toilet paper, etc, then check out www.jazzandheritage.com.

The Jazz Fest schedule is also online.

Festival International de Louisiane

When: Apr. 25-29, 2001
Where: Lafayette, Louisiana (about 137 miles, 2.5 hours from New Orleans)

There is only one reason you should not be at the Jazz Fest on the opening weekend: because you're at the Festival International in Lafayette. Currently in its 15th year, the Festival International features more than 500 artists from more than 14 countries. It celebrates the French cultural heritage of southern Louisiana incorporating a mix of African, Carbibbean, and Hispanic influences.

Always held the last full week of April (and usually the first weekend of Jazz Fest), the festival features downtown music stages, food courts, street musicians and performers, art galleries, cultural workshops, international cooking demonstrations, and open-air world markets. It is currently the largest Francophone event in the United States, but no other festival is so centered around the appreciation and understanding of diverse cultures. Think of it more as "the world comes to Lafayette." Past performers have come from as far away as England, Zaire, Canada, Martinique, Cuba, Mali, Burundi, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Ireland, and Brazil - just to name a few.

Best of all, the festival is free. More than 1,000 volunteers from around the community work to put on the five-day event. Visitors are asked to purchase (please do!) a pin to help support the festival and keep it open to all. Local restaurants offer amazing Cajun food at every corner. The four stages (Scene Vermilion, Scene Lafayette, Scene Fais Do Do, and Scene Heritage) simultaneously offer acts from all around the world. Some of the countries represented this year are Guinea, Senegal, Canada, Martinique, France, Mali, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Belgium, Guadeloupe, and South Africa.

Although it appears to be growing every year and attracts visitors from all around the world, this is one of the South's best kept secrets. Remember, Jazz Fest will still be there the weekend after!

For more information on the Festival International check out www.festivalinternational.com.

For Lafayette and Cajun Country tourist information, including accommodations, go to www.lafayettetravel.com.

Festivals, Festivals, Festivals...

I wasn't lying when I said that Louisiana had festivals for just about everything. From the appetizing to the truly bizarre, here is a rundown of happenings in the cities and backwoods of Louisiana for the next couple of months:

Apr. 1: Patterson Cypress Sawmill Festival
Kemper Williams Park, Hwy. 90 & Cotton Rd.
Sat. 8am-12am & Sun. 11am-7pm
(800) 256 2931

Apr. 5: Lafayette Pyromania - A Mud, Metal & Glass Weekend in the Park!
Girard Park Pavilion, Girard Park Dr.
Sat. 10am-5pm & Sun. 10am-4pm.
+1 (337) 269 0363

Apr. 7-8: Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival
Memorial Park
Sat. 9am-9pm. & Sun. 9am-6pm. +1 (504) 386 6677

Apr. 13-15: New Iberia Laotian New Years Festival
Lanxang Village, Melancon Rd.
All day, each day.
(888) 9 IBERIA (942 3742)

Apr. 20-22: New Orleans French Quarter Festival
Jackson Square & Woldenburg Park, riverfront
+1 (504) 522 5730

Apr. 21: Opelousas Cajun Joke Telling Contest
Yambilee Auditorium, Hwy. 190 West
7pm
+1 (337) 948 6784

Apr. 22: Dulac Blessing of The Shrimp Fleet
Holy Family Church, 6641 Grand Caillou Rd.
Sun. 10am
+1 (504) 563 2325

Apr. 27-29: Arnaudville Etouffee Festival
St. Francis Regis Catholic Church, 232 Main St.
Fri. 5pm-12am; Sat. 10am-12am & Sun. 10am-6pm.
+1 (337) 754-5912

May 4-6: Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival
Rees Street & Parc Hardy
Fri. 5-12am; Sat. 9am-12am & Sun. 9am-5pm
+1 (337) 332 6655

May 4-6: Chalmette Tomato Festival
Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Paris Rd.
+1 (504) 279 7787

May 18-19: Stonewall Bee Gum Festival
Community Park, 5208 Hwy. 3276
+1 (318) 925 9338

May 18-20: Jeanerette Creole Festival
Jeanerette City Park
All day
(888) 9 IBERIA (942 3742)

May 25-27: Gonzales Jambalaya Festival
Irma Boulevard
7am-11pm
+1 (225) 622 1998

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our North America Insiders page.