NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell today was joined by representatives from local public safety agencies, as well as French Quarter Festivals, Inc., to announce the public safety measures in place ahead of French Quarter Festival, which is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to New Orleans. Residents are encouraged to prepare for heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic and to celebrate safely throughout the weekend.
“Continuing the amazing come-back year we had in 2022, the City of New Orleans is excited to celebrate the historic 40th anniversary of the French Quarter Festival,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “It takes great coordination, collaboration and preparation to bring everyone together to create an enjoyable and safe French Quarter Festival for all. The French Quarter Festival continues to be the largest free showcase of Louisiana music in the world, and we remain ready and prepared to demonstrate to everyone why New Orleans is the best in the world at executing major events and festivals with a rich culture that is absolutely unmatched.”
The New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) will activate the City’s Event Command Post, staffed by representatives from public safety agencies, to monitor events. NOHSEP will also be in contact with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the State Police’s Fusion Center to ensure public safety.
NOHSEP will be monitoring the weather in partnership with the National Weather Service throughout the weekend. To follow real time weather forecasts, visit weatherwise.nola.gov.
Details on special events are available at ready.nola.gov/events. Residents and visitors are also encouraged to follow us on social media @nolaready and sign up for emergency alerts by texting NOLAREADY to 77295.
Traffic Restrictions
In anticipation of large crowds, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) will restrict traffic to ensure the safety of pedestrians. Additional intermittent street closures might be required as crowd size warrants.
From 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Bourbon Street, from Iberville to St. Ann streets, will be closed to vehicular traffic. Public safety officials will screen vehicles entering the French Quarter on within the perimeter of Iberville, Decatur, Dumaine and North Rampart streets. Only residents, employees, hotel guests and taxis or ride hailing services will be allowed to drive vehicles into the French Quarter. Additionally, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the following streets and intersections will be closed to traffic:
- Canal Street from Chartres to Burgundy streets
- North Rampart Street from Iberville to St. Ann streets
- Decatur Street from Conti to Dumaine streets
- Intersection of North Peters Street and Canal Street
French Quarter Fest Kickoff Parade
Street closures will also be in place along the route of the French Quarter Fest Opening Day Parade the morning of Thursday, April 13. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. on the 200 Block of Bourbon Street and will proceed down St. Ann Street to Jackson Square for the Annual Opening Day Ceremony at the GE Stage.
The parade will take the following route:
- Begin at Iberville Street and Bourbon Street
- Continue on Bourbon Street to St. Ann Street
- Right on St. Ann Street to Chartres Street
- Right on Chartres Street to Jackson Square
- End inside Jackson Square
Parking Restrictions
No parking zones will be in place starting Thursday, April 13 at 12 p.m. through Monday, April 17 at 1 a.m. The ‘no parking’ zones will be located at the 700 and 800 blocks on Dauphine and Royal streets, as well both sides of Iberville Street, Bienville Street, Conti Street, St. Louis Street, Toulouse Street, St. Peter Street, Orleans Avenue and St. Ann Street. Residents and visitors are reminded to always follow posted signs.
Parking enforcement personnel will be monitoring for illegal parking:
- Do not block or park within 15 feet of fire hydrants, block or park within three feet of driveways, block sidewalks or park in fire lanes
- Do not park in bike lanes
- Do not park within 20 feet of a crosswalk, intersection or stop sign
- Call (504) 658-8100 for 24-hour parking enforcement
Transportation Impacts
In anticipation of increased ridership during weekend events, the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) encourages riders to plan ahead and pre-purchase fare.
RTA Ferry Service (Canal Street/Algiers Point):
- Thursday service will be suspended due to river shut down due to fireworks display, 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Thursday service will be extended to allow for the last trip to leave the Canal Terminal at 9:15 p.m.
- Second vessel to enter service when ridership requires.
- The frequency of departures may change during peak service hours.
Download the LePass app to plan your trip, check service alerts, purchase fares, and track your bus or streetcar in real-time. For up-to-date service information and more, visit the agency’s website at www.norta.com or call Ride line (5 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily) at (504) 248-3900.
Due to heavy pedestrian and vehicular activity, the City of New Orleans recommends that residents avoid driving through the French Quarter area if not involved in festivities. Residents and festival attendees are encouraged to use rideshare, public transportation and bicycling to attend French Quarter Fest if possible.
Safety Reminders
As always during major special events, residents and visitors are encouraged to take care in large crowds and to report suspicious activity to public safety officials.
French Quarter Festival began in 1984 when Mayor Ernest “Dutch” Morial, the first African American mayor of New Orleans, conceived the idea of a uniquely New Orleans event that would attract both visitors and locals back to the French Quarter and stimulate a healthy business environment ahead of hosting the World’s Fair in May 1984.
Today, more than 20 stages with over 270 local acts are set up throughout the French Quarter to celebrate local music and represent every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to R&B, New Orleans funk, brass bands, folk, gospel, Latin, Zydeco, classical, cabaret and international. Events associated with French Quarter Fest will take place Thursday, April 13 through Sunday, April 16, with the French Quarter Fest Opening Day Parade on Thursday, April 13 at 10 a.m., followed by the Opening Day Ceremony held at 11 a.m. in Jackson Square. Additional details about festival events are available at frenchquarterfest.org.
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