French Quarter Festivals, Inc. - The Facts!

• In 2013 - French Quarter Festival celebrates its 30th Anniversary; Christmas New Orleans Style celebrates its 29th anniversary; and Satchmo SummerFest celebrates its 13th anniversary.
• French Quarter Festival was first produced in 1984 as a way to bring residents back to the Quarter; following the World’s Fair and extensive sidewalk repairs in the French Quarter.
• More than 2,000 community volunteers help to make the festival a success.
• French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 organization.
• French Quarter Festival is the largest, free music festival in the South.
• Chief sources of funding are: sponsorships, beverage and merchandise sales, vendor fees, and the Gala in April.
• 21 stages throughout the French Quarter 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.
• New Orleans great restaurants, create the “World’s Largest Jazz Brunch” in Jackson Square, the Old U.S. Mint and Woldenberg Riverfront Park during festival weekend; Satchmo SummerFest hosts “Red Bean Alley” with Satchmo-inspired dishes and great local cuisine. Only local restaurants are invited to participate in these festivals.
• French Quarter Festival has been consistently voted “favorite festival”, “favorite food festival”, and “favorite event open to the public” by locals.

Attendance Overview

• French Quarter Festival 2012 attendance - over 574,000 people
• Satchmo SummerFest 2012 attendance - over 27,500 people
• French Quarter Festival attendees are 49% locals and 51% visitors
• Satchmo SummerFest attendees are 53% locals and 47% visitors
• Visitors from as many as 37 states have attended FQF. Top 5 states - Louisiana, California, New York, Texas, Florida
• Visitors from as many as 12 countries have attended FQF: top Countries - Canada, United Kingdom, Norway, France, Germany

Economic Impact

• According to an analysis of the French Quarter Festival Visitors Survey conducted by The University of New Orleans (UNO) Hospitality Research Center, French Quarter Festival 2012 generated a total economic impact of more than $259.5 million, including $126.6 million in direct spending and $132.9 million in secondary spending. Additionally, the event generated over $18.3 million in state and local tax revenue.
• FQF employs more than 1,400 local musicians during Festival weekend
• FQF hosts over 60 local restaurants which make up the “WorldÕs Largest Jazz Brunch” at the Festival.
• FQF employs only local companies during the Festival (sanitation, stages, sound, security, etc.). All money spent to produce the festival stays within the local economy.

Click here to meet our staff