Down on the Bayou

New Orleans Jazz Festival 2010

We’ve moved on down the road to New Orleans, Louisiana, just in time for one of the best celebrations in the United States – the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Stemming from modest roots in 1970 (only 350 people attended the first Festival), New Orleans Jazzfest was created by George Wein to honor the city where jazz was born and the food, culture and heritage that has become legend and lore of this Bayou destination.  The original festival featured music legends like Fats Domino, Duke Ellington, The Preservation Hall Band and of course, Mahalia Jackson, whose impromptu performance with the Eureka Brass Band is said to have inspired the spirit of this iconic celebration. And 41 years later, that spirit lives on and the festival has become one of the most anticipated Spring events around. More than 400,000 folks attended Jazz Festival 2009 to participate in ten days of music, food and fun, and at least that many are expected for the 2010 Jazz Festival New Orleans.

This year’s jazzfest line-up is just as incredible as year’s past. In addition to the highly anticipated performance by Grammy-award winner Juan Luis Guerra from the Dominican Republic, attendees will hear musical legends and huge acts including Allman Brothers Band, Aretha Franklin, Band of Horses, B.B. King, Elvis Costello, Lionel Ritchie, My Morning Jacket, Pearl Jam, Simon & Garfunkel, The Neville Brothers, Van Morrison, Widespread Panic and hundreds of others. The festival opens this weekend and runs through May 2nd.

With such phenomonal musical acts, you may forget there is much more to see. Jazzfest incorporates local and regional craft and art exhibitions, cultural events and of course, delicious food. Sample favorite Louisiana flavors like shrimp and okra gumbo, crawfish bisque, po boy sandwiches to suit every palate and the best Cajun creations to ever cross your lips. And be sure to sample the cultural offerings like the Louisiana Folklife Village and the Native American Village. You’ll enjoy craft and cooking demonstrations, learn about the history of the area and walk away with a deeper appreciation for the amazing music that surrounds the event.

New Orleans Jazzfest is definitely an unforgettable experience, but it’s obviously not the only sightseeing New Orleans has to offer. The city’s reputation of a non-stop party rings true almost every day of the year, and with thousands of folks pouring into the Big Easy for the festival, there’s sure to be a party starting any minute down on the Bayou.

NEXT UP: THE FLAVOR OF THE BIG EASY

Posted in: Cyber Roadtrip 2010, Louisiana, Travel Tips

Tags: Cyber Roadtrip 2010, suggested vacation destinations

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 at 9:51 pm and is filed under Cyber Roadtrip 2010, Louisiana, Travel Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.