Join before December 31, 2009 and be entered to win a festival lovers dream package
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA (November 4, 2009) – French Quarter Festivals, Inc (FQFI) is proud to announce the inception of its new membership program, the ‘Fest Family’. Fest Family memberships were developed to provide festival-goers with a true ‘insiders’ experience and to ensure a strong future for French Quarter Festivals, Inc. Fest Family memberships provide essential funding for these free community festivals and events, which employ musicians and artists, impact young generations of performers, preserve our unique culture and heritage, attract visitors, and add to the quality of life in the community.
All ‘Fest Family’ members enrolled by January 1, 2010 will be entered to win, a weekend at the Royal Sonesta in the Presidential Suite for French Quarter Fest 2010 or two round trip tickets on Continental Airlines!
Contributions at each and every level will directly benefit the organization and provide greatly needed assistance, allowing the organization to maintain these high quality events and continue the celebration of New Orleans’ unique culture and heritage. Membership levels were designed to appeal to individual partners as well as to larger corporate sponsors. Levels are categorized with a uniquely ‘French Quarter feel’, with names such as “Chartres Member”, Bourbon Street, Woldenberg Park, and Jackson Square levels, and include uniquely FQFI benefits such as tickets to the French Quarter Festival Kick-off party, passes to the invitation-only Satchmo SummerFest opening reception, festival posters and merchandise, and access to VIP hospitality areas during French Quarter Festival. Ranging from $35 to $1,000, memberships are structured to fit all budgets.
Members ARE the festival, and an integral part of the FQFI family. The French Quarter Festival family has been together for 26 years and continues to grow. The ‘Fest Family’ will ensure that FQFI can produce FREE events for years to come along with the support from our sponsors, as well as beverage and merchandise sales. Since is inception in 1984, French Quarter Festival, has grown from the ‘locals festival’ to the “Largest FREE Music Festival in the South”. Throughout the years, other FREE events have been added to the cultural calendar produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc., (FQFI) including Satchmo SummerFest and Christmas New Orleans Style. All of this has been made possible by the dedication of supporters.
French Quarter Festivals, Inc. takes great pride in the community and supports local industry by hiring only local contractors (stage/sound/booths, etc.) – all money, earned and spent, stays within the state of Louisiana. FQFI events directly impact the New Orleans economy and local retailers, restaurants, and hotels rely on festival weekends. Additional support is needed to help build for the future and continue producing the best festivals, family activities, and live LOCAL music.
For more information, or to become a member call Heather Twichell, Development Manager at 504.522.5730 or heather@fqfi.org.
What’s New for 2009 at French Quarter Festival
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA (March 10, 2009) – After reaching a milestone in 2008 with a celebration of the 25th anniversary and reaching attendance of 435,000 people (half locals and half tourists), French Quarter Festival is poised for growth! This year there are plenty of new and exciting things scheduled for the 26th annual French Quarter Festival.
Exciting new programming for 2009 includes: the ‘Louis-Louis Pavilion Stage’ on the riverfront, paying tribute to Louis Armstrong and Louis Prima with special performances and a tent where festivalgoers can learn more about New Orleans’ famous native sons. Sunday morning Gospel music returns to the Riverfront, as the stages open with local gospel choirs. Saturday evening, Music @ Madewood will produce the one-act opera ‘Cabildo’ in the courtyard of the Cabildo with free admission.
To better accommodate the growing audience and improve the festival’s flow, some stages and areas have been reconfigured. In an exciting new partnership with Audubon Institute, the first major change is the expansion and relocation of the ever-popular Children’s Headquarters, which will move to the Audubon Aquarium Plaza on the riverfront, anchored by Kids’ Stage at the ferry landing. This year, Children’s Headquarters will focus on educating families about ‘healthy kids’ programs in a fun and interactive way, including: Whole Foods healthy kids’ cooking demonstrations with audience participation; the ‘Got Milk?’ national tour with milk mustache photos and activities; Tulane Hospital for Children will host hula hoop and jump rope competitions as well as crafts and face painting; drumming circles; and much more. Other partners at Children’s Headquarters include: New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park, Radio Disney, Crimestoppers, King Lam’s Tai Chi and Tamashii Karate Center, Kamal’s Fi Ya Ya Mardi Gras Indians, Academy of the Sacred Heart, and Audubon Institute’s new dinosaur exhibit preview, complete with a giant robotic dinosaur on the plaza.
Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint will also see new additions for 2009. A new stage that will have a Frenchmen Street feel, called ‘Esplanade in the Shade’ will feature an exciting and eclectic mix of artists including Big Chief Bo Dollis, Jr. and the Wild Magnolias, Big Blue Marble, Ingrid Lucia, Astral Project, Tony Green and Gypsy Jazz, Posse with Kevin O’Day, and more. This year the World Championship Oyster Eating (and shucking) Contest moves to the Old U.S. Mint on Saturday afternoon, making it the new home for this official International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE) event.
As the festival’s attendance has grown to over 435,000, other stages will move to new, more spacious locations, including: the International Stage and one of the traditional jazz stages, which will be hosted by the French Market. The new and expanded home for the Classical Music Stage will be The Historic New Orleans Collection at the Williams Research Center, with live broadcast by WWNO 89.9 FM.
The 2009 French Quarter Festival is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc., (FQFI) the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, which also produces Satchmo SummerFest and Christmas New Orleans Style. For more information on French Quarter Festival, call 504-522-5730 or visit online at www.fqfi.org.
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January 29, 2009 – New Orleans, LA –French Quarter Festival was honored with its second award in the new year after being named ‘Best Festival’ at last night’s offBeat Magazine’s ‘Best of the Beat’ Business Awards Ceremony. As it was chosen by offBeat readers, French Quarter Festival was named ‘Best Festival’ for 2008. New Orleans Magazine announced in their January 2009 issue that readers also voted French Quarter Festival the 2008 ‘Best Festival’, as well as ‘Best Event Open to the Public’ – even beating out Mardi Gras in that category.
With under 80 days to go, preparations are underway for 2009, which will celebrate 26 years of showcasing the finest music, food and culture this uniquely New Orleans event has to offer. The award-winning festival is a favorite of locals and tourists alike and is the largest free music festival in the South. It was named a Top 10 Event by New Orleans CityBusiness Newspaper and is a Top 20 Destination according to AAA and the Southeast Tourism Society. French Quarter Festival attracted approximately 435,000 fans and generated an economic impact of more than $149 million.
Over 18 stages in prime locations throughout the French Quarter present over 250 hours of the best music New Orleans has to offer with 450 musicians representing every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to rhythm & blues and New Orleans funk, to brass bands, folk, gospel, Latin, classical and international music. More than 70 food and beverage booths located in Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park and the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint will feature authentic local cuisine from the area’s finest restaurants.
French Quarter Festival is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc., (FQFI) the 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization which also produces Satchmo SummerFest in August and Christmas New Orleans Style in December.
For more information on FQF26, call 504-522-5730 or visit online at www.fqfi.org.
January 6, 2009 – New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Magazine announced their readers picks of ‘New Orleans Best’ in the January issue of their magazine.
As it was chosen by the people and reported by the magazine:
Best Festival:
1. French Quarter Festival. It’s free – and the music is all local
2. Jazz & Heritage Festival
3. Voodoo Fest
Best local event open to the public:
1. French Quarter Fest. A great warm up for Jazz Fest, as though that required warming up
2. Mardi Gras
With just 100 days to go, preparations are underway for French Quarter Festival 2009, which will celebrate 26 years of showcasing the finest music, food and culture this uniquely New Orleans event has to offer. The award-winning festival is a favorite of locals and tourists alike and is the largest free music festival in the South. It was recently named a Top 10 Event by New Orleans CityBusiness Newspaper and is a Top 20 Destination according to AAA and the Southeast Tourism Society. French Quarter Festival attracts approximately 435,000 fans and generates an economic impact of more than $149 million.
According to Marci Schramm, Executive Director of French Quarter Festivals, Inc., “We were thrilled by the incredible attendance last year and look forward to celebrating our 26th festival in the beautiful setting of our French Quarter. We rely on New Orleans businesses, musicians, the city and tourism industry, as well as our philanthropic community to help us engage the entire city. Citizens truly come together to create this special festival each year.”
Over 18 stages in prime locations throughout the French Quarter present over 250 hours of the best music New Orleans has to offer with 450 musicians representing every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to rhythm & blues and New Orleans funk, to brass bands, folk, gospel, Latin, classical and international music. More than 70 food and beverage booths located in Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park and the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint will feature authentic local cuisine from the area’s finest restaurants.
French Quarter Festival is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc., (FQFI) the 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization which also produces Satchmo SummerFest in August and Christmas New Orleans Style in December.
For more information on FQF26, call 504-522-5730 or visit online at www.fqfi.org.
NEW ORLEANS – April 11, 12, 13, 2008, marked the 25th anniversary and a record year for French Quarter Festival. This year’s attendance figures indicate that approximately 435,000* festival-goers basked in the sunshine, ate, drank, danced, shopped, stayed in the hotels, enjoyed the French Quarter, and became immersed in southern hospitality as only New Orleans can deliver.
This award-winning festival, which began in 1984, has grown to become the largest free music festival in the South. Eighteen stages throughout the French Quarter presented the best in New Orleans music, representing every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to R & B and New Orleans funk, brass bands, folk, gospel, classical, opera, Cajun Zydeco, Latin World, International, as well as musical stages for children. Over 65 food and beverage booths located in Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park and the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint made up the “World’s Largest Jazz Brunch,” a signature event, featuring authentic local cuisine from renowned area restaurants, many of whom have been with the Festival its entire 25 years. Record sales were recorded by both food and beverage vendors.
Festival-goers attended special events throughout the three-day weekend, including almost 1,000 guests at the Thursday night kickoff party: ‘TGIF’ – Thank Goodness it’s Festival! – aboard the Steamboat Natchez. French Quarter Festival opened Friday with an official second-line parade, music starting at 11 a.m., historic courtyard tours, and a Pirate’s Alley Art Show. Saturday activities continued with the Acme World Championship Oyster Eating Contest and a Battle of the Bands. Sunday’s ‘Dancing at Dusk’ grew in popularity as dancers filled the 400 block of Royal Street.
French Quarter Festival 2008 was sponsored by Abita Brewing Company, Harrah’s Foundation, Zatarain’s, Southern Comfort, Fetzer, iclips.net, Music Performance Fund, the State of Louisiana Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism, New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, WDSU Channel 6, Rouses Market, nola.com, Saturn, Coca-Cola, Preservation Hall, French Market Corporation, New Orleans Hornets, offbeat Magazine, the Steamboat Natchez, CapitalOne Bank, Baldwin Gibson, Where Y’at Magazine, Community Coffee, Continental Airlines, Cox Business, Louisiana Lottery, Whitney Bank, The Court of Two Sisters, Tulane Medical Center, Musical Legends Park, Pat O’Briens, The Transportation Revolution – Vespa New Orleans, Renew Our Music, Acme Oyster House, Renaissance Publishing, neworleansrestaurants.com, Royal Sonesta Hotel, WWL AM870, WWOZ 90.7FM, Renaissance Publishing, Clear Channel Radio,
Herencia Hispana, and KGLA 1540.
The event was produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc., (FQFI) the 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, which also produces Satchmo SummerFest in August and Christmas New Orleans Style in December. For more information about any of these events, call (504) 522-5730 or visit www.fqfi.org.
*Attendance numbers are calculated based on actual counts (that are adjusted down by percentage to account for repeat entrances and exits). Fess Security counts at entry and exit points of major stages. This number does not include attendance at the French Quarter Festival Royal and Bourbon Street stages, Children’s Headquarters, Battle of the Bands, Dancing at Dusk, Preservation Hall, Legends Park and other special events. The organization is pleased to report record sales of food, beverages and merchandise.
French Quarter Festival Sponsors said…
“Zatarain’s is the nation’s leading marketer of New Orleans-Style foods, priding ourselves on great taste, high quality and a devotion to the city’s cuisine,” said Jim Pearse, General Manager of Zatarain’s. “It was a natural fit for us to help sponsor the French Quarter Festival because of its commitment to the fun and flavor of New Orleans.”
David Blossman, President of Abita Brewing Company said, “French Quarter Festival was a big success for Abita Beer. When New Orleans favorite beer gets together with New Orleans favorite local festival it’s a win-win situation for everyone. The nice weather, hard working volunteers and Abita Beer lovers helped us set a new French Quarter Festival record for beer sales. In fact, Abita Beer sold 32% more than the 2007 beer sponsor. We’re glad Abita Beer was on-hand for all the great food, great music and great times and we’re looking forward to Satchmo Summerfest in August.”
“The French Quarter Festival continues to be both a great opportunity for us to showcase the very best of our authentic culture to the world, and a very important economic boost for our French Quarter merchants,” said Stephen Perry, President and CEO the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We are proud to be a part of one of the best events on the city’s calendar for residents and visitors alike.”
