29th anniversary celebration to deliver new kinds of fun for festivalgoers

Tourism officials call French Quarter Festival ‘the kickoff to festival season in New Orleans,’ and what started as a neighborhood festival and a ‘locals event’ has grown into one of the largest music festivals in the United States. The 2011 French Quarter Festival hosted over 500,000 local and out-of-town visitors and had an economic impact of over $245 million. ‘Locals’ Lagniappe Day’ was launched in 2011 and French Quarter Festival officially became a four-day event. In 2012, there is even more festival to enjoy, with extended hours on opening day, Thursday, April 12. And, next year brings the 30th anniversary of this exciting and beloved festival.

Remaining dedicated to New Orleans Music and our Musicians

On twenty (of its twenty-one) music stages, only Louisiana artists are featured (the festival hosts one ‘International Stage’ where traditional jazz bands from all over the world perform.) Part of the great appeal of French Quarter Festival is that attendees get a true and authentic New Orleans experience – locals and visitors can hear a broad range of artists and a diverse variety of musical styles and genres. French Quarter Festival is committed to keeping Traditional Jazz alive, and features New Orleans’ finest artists throughout the four days of festival, on stages all over the French Quarter. A new music stage has been added in 2012, bringing the total to twenty-one. A Cabaret Stage debuts at this year’s festival and will have its home at the beautifully renovated Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone. The Hotel Monteleone is a sponsor of the festival and its ‘official hotel’.

French Quarter Festivals, Inc. recently launched the Musician Sponsorship Program, in which the community was invited to ‘adopt an artist’ at French Quarter Festival. The response has been incredible and corporations, foundations and individuals from all over the United States – from Minneapolis to Maryland – have joined the program and are helping to keep French Quarter Festival FREE for the community, as it remains one of the largest music festivals in the United States. The 2012 French Quarter Festival will feature over 800 local artists. The musician program will continue to seek sponsorships.

2012 French Quarter Festival – little changes that will make a big difference!

• The festival has added a full, fourth day – dubbed ‘Locals’ Lagniappe Day.’ The festival opens Thursday, April 12 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. in Jackson Square (one stage) and Woldenberg Riverfront Park, with four stages. New Orleans’ finest restaurants –otherwise known as ‘The World’s Largest Jazz Brunch’ will be serving classic New Orleans dishes throughout the festival.
• In partnership with Applitite, the French Quarter Festival iPhone App is back, along with a new DROID App – and this year it is FREE, courtesy of Capital One Bank. Fans can receive up to the minute announcements, downloadable music schedules, complete menus, special events, merchandise updates, shuttle information and unique offers to enhance their festival experience. The application will be available for download in March, prior to French Quarter Festival.
• The Capital One Bank Second Line Shuttle is growing with the French Quarter Festival audience! A sixth bus will be added to help transport local fans to the festival Friday through Sunday. Parking will be offered in the Central Business District along O’Keefe Street for just $10 per day and the shuttle ride is FREE, courtesy of Capital One Bank.
• Fireworks are back! 2012 brings the return of the beloved fireworks display on the Mississippi River – last seen at French Quarter Festival in April 2005 (pre-Katrina). This major sponsorship is courtesy of Tropical Isle, a long time participant and friend of French Quarter Festival. The elaborate show will begin at 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 14. Local fireworks producer Pyrotecnico will produce the show for French Quarter Festivals, Inc.
• In 2011, New Orleans food critic, radio host, and author – Tom Fitzmorris – called French Quarter Festival’s World’s Largest Jazz Brunch one of the top three food events in New Orleans (the other two are the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience and FQFI’s Reveillon menus). In recognition of the major food event that the festival has become, local award-winning author Kit Wohl tipped her hat by doing a special edition of her new book New Orleans Classic Brunches especially for French Quarter Festival. In the book, Wohl features Jazz Brunch restaurants – with beloved local recipes, cocktails and lore. The special-edition signed and numbered book will be on sale at French Quarter Festival. A portion of the sales will benefit the non-profit French Quarter Festivals, Inc.
• The ever-popular Children’s Headquarters will be expanded for 2012. Festival-goers can enjoy two completely different familyfun experiences on Saturday and Sunday: The newest addition is the beautiful courtyard of the Hermann-Grima House, located at 820 St. Louis Street. Major local museums will offer fascinating and fun hands-on activities. In addition, young visitors will learn how to churn butter, tend a garden, and more. Built in 1831, Hermann-Grima House is one of the most significant residences in New Orleans. Its courtyard garden boasts the only horse stable and functional 1830s outdoor kitchen in the French Quarter. The outdoor hearth kitchen, with its view of the antique roses, citrus and parterre gardens, provides a dynamic experience for visitors. Families can also enjoy a riverfront kids area at the Audubon Aquarium Riverfront Plaza, made possible in part through an exciting partnership with Chevron, Tulane Hospital for Children and the New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park. Anchoring the riverfront Children’s Headquarters is a Kids’ Performance Tent with live music.
• French Quarter Festivals, Inc. works closely with New Orleans Police and a private security company (FESS, Inc.) to ensure that visitors have a safe an enjoyable experience at French Quarter Festival. New for 2012, the festival is pleased to welcome the New Orleans Guardian Angels Bike Team to French Quarter Festival. Bike teams will patrol the French Quarter and Riverfront and will also provide EMS support. Guardian Angels work closely with the New Orleans Police Department.
• The TGIF ‘Thank Goodness it’s Festival!’ kickoff fundraiser takes place Wednesday, April 11, from 6-9 p.m. at the House of Blues, with Jon Cleary and the Philthy Phew in the Music Hall and Traditional Jazz in the VooDoo Garden.

Strong partnerships are a major part of French Quarter Festival

In order to keep French Quarter Festival free and open to the public, the organization relies heavily on the contributions of sponsors and partners, beverage and merchandise sales, and vendor fees. For 2012, the festival is thrilled to welcome back Capital One Bank, as Presenting Sponsor.

In collaboration with BMI, French Quarter Festival welcomes back for its third year the BMI Singer Songwriter Stage at The Historic New Orleans Collection on Royal Street. Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI) is an American performing rights organization that represents more than 400,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 6.5 million works. On Saturday and Sunday of the festival, the BMI Songwriter Stage will feature the region’s finest up-and-comers.

2012 also welcomes the return of dance lessons at the French Market Traditional Jazz Stage; Zydeco dance lessons at the Cajun Zydeco Riverfront Stage; and second line dance lessons in the Children’s Headquarters near Audubon Aquarium. Between musical breaks, festival patrons are invited to learn traditional dance-styles such as the Charleston, Swing, Zydeco and Second-line. Instructors from NOLA Jitterbugs will demonstrate and educate visitors on these various dance styles.

Festival Sponsors for the 29th annual French Quarter Festival as of February 9, 2012 include: Capital One Bank (Presenting Sponsor), Abita Brewing Company, WWL-TV, Tropical Isle, Rouses Market, Harrah’s Foundation, French Market Corporation, Chevron, New TUMS Freshers, Louisiana Office of Tourism, City of New Orleans, Brown Foundation, Musician’s Performance Fund, Louisiana State Museum, PJ’s Coffee, nola.com, Louisiana Lottery, House of Blues, Hotel Monteleone, United Airlines, Pat O’s on the River, Hard Rock Café, Windsor Court Hotel, BMI, Court of Two Sisters, Tulane Medical Center, Tulane Hospital for Children at Tulane Medical Center, Hermann Grima House, Applitite, Musical Legends Park, New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park, Rolland Lock and Safe, Pelican Ice, SDT, OffBeat Magazine, Where Y’at Magazine, New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, NOLA Jitterbugs, NOTV, NOLA Baby & Family Magazine, Musical Legends Park, Preservation Hall, The Historic New Orleans Collection, St. Louis Cathedral, Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse, NewOrleans.com, Louisiana Cookin’, Kids and Family New Orleans, IntheKnowla.com, Where Magazine, Curve Magazine, Ambush Magazine, New Orleans Magazine, Louisiana Life Magazine, Acadian Profile, MyNewOrleans.com, St. Charles Avenue Magazine, New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles, 96.1 The River, 101.5 WYNK, 102.5 WFMF, and 1150AM WJOB.

French Quarter Festivals, Inc. announces the launch of the 2012 Musician Sponsorship Program, a new initiative designed to help keep the „largest free music festival in the South‟ a high quality event that celebrates the best of New Orleans culture, while keeping it accessible to everyone and contributing to the economic well being of the French Quarter, the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana.

French Quarter Festival, now in its 29th year, has grown to be the largest free music festival in the South, attracting over 500,000 people to the historic neighborhood each year. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is a self-sustaining non-profit organization. Festivals are made possible through sponsorship, participation fees and onsite beverage and merchandise sales. The production budget for this free event is over a million dollars, including costs for employing NOPD officers, sanitation, firewatch and EMS personnel.

Musician Sponsorship Program:
taking good care of local musicians and building for the future

Nineteen of the twenty stages at French Quarter Festival feature Louisiana Artists exclusively! The 20th stage is an „International Stage‟ featuring Traditional Jazz musicians from around the world. Over 800 local musicians perform annually at French Quarter Festival. For decades, entertainment sponsors have been third parties who agree to pay musicians for their performance in exchange for publicity and various other sponsor benefits. A recent survey of musicians showed an unbelievable myriad of „payments‟ – everything from online fundraising, Facebook appeals for sponsorship, to gift certificates, shopping sprees, studio time, a weekend stay at a camp across the lake, a restaurant tab – even babysitting. Notwithstanding, the survey revealed one vital fact – musicians absolutely love playing French Quarter Festival and look forward to it every year. In response to the survey, artists also conveyed just how much they look forward to the new Musician Sponsorship Program that French Quarter Festivals, Inc. will manage, removing the sponsorship burden from them.

French Quarter Festival‟s new program will facilitate the relationship between Artists and Sponsors, eliminating the Musician‟s responsibility in securing a Sponsor and freeing them to focus on their performance. Because French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, sponsorships are tax deductible – another great benefit for sponsors.

With the launch of this program, Louisiana businesses are invited to truly participate in this annual community celebration, making a major impact, and enjoying the benefits of sponsorship. Contrary to what many think, a free music festival is not really „free‟, but the French Quarter Festival has grown to become the „largest free music festival in the South‟. It continues to be voted „locals favorite festival‟ year after year and is third in economic impact for the City of New Orleans (Mardi Gras ranks number one and the Super Bowl is number two, when it is held in New Orleans).

French Quarter Festival is not just a fun, high quality event. It annually generates over $300 million in economic impact with over $15 million in direct tax revenue going to the city and the state as a direct result of the festival. Over 500,000 people attended French Quarter Festival in 2011.

According to Marci Schramm, Executive Director of French Quarter Festivals, Inc., “There is something very special about this type of support. Music sponsors come from all corners of our community and from all over the state. They share a love of local culture and care about preserving what makes Louisiana so special.” Current music sponsors include everyone from beloved brands like Zapp‟s, to heavy hitters like Chevron and Northrup Grumman Corporation. The family of music sponsors also includes law and accounting firms, doctors, veterinarians, restaurants, hotels, retail shops and many more. “Like the diverse styles of music heard at French Quarter Festival, we also embrace an eclectic mix of sponsors who love the celebration and what it does for the community,” added Schramm. “Music sponsorship is rewarding and fun for those who participate – a sponsor can do as much (or as little) as they wish to tell the world that they support French Quarter Festival. Some sponsors love to get up on stage and introduce „their‟ band while some just like to hang a banner during the sponsored act‟s set.”

Sponsors may sign up at the „Shorty‟ level ($500) or as „Pops‟ ($20,000) – or anything in between. Supporters truly help keep New Orleans music alive, while being recognized by over half a million people at the annual French Quarter Festival.

Contact French Quarter Festivals, Inc. at 504-522-5730 (email: georgia@fqfi.org) for more information about the Musician Sponsorship Program.

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana–(April 13, 2011) April 7- 10 marked the 28th anniversary of French Quarter Festival presented by Capital One Bank. This year’s attendance figures indicate that approximately 533,000* festival-goers enjoyed the music, food, special events and of course, the historic French Quarter.

The new opening day of Festival, dubbed ‘Locals Lagniappe Day’, on Thursday, April 7th was well received and well attended. Audiences enjoyed The Preservation HallStars, New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra, Benny Grunch and the Bunch, Los Hombres Calientes, Lillian Boutte, Bag of Donuts, Bonerama and other favorites of the local music scene. Festival organizers were thrilled with the response to the additional day. Executive Director Marci Schramm commented, “We were eager to see if locals and visitors would embrace the addition of Thursday. They came out early and stayed until the last note played. Our new opening day also helped to make our Friday run smoother operationally and brought large crowds who arrived early to enjoy the opening parade and the French Quarter Festival AllStars featuring Pete Fountain on the Jackson Square Stage. The new Thursday was a true winner for everyone!”
“The French Quarter Festival is great for New Orleans in so many ways — as a celebration of a one-of-a-kind neighborhood in America, as a showcase for our city’s wonderful music, cuisine and architecture, and as a
boost to our local economy,” said Steve Hemperley, Greater New Orleans Market President for Capital One Bank. Capital One Bank is proud to be the presenting sponsor of this very special New Orleans event.”

This award-winning festival, which began in 1984, has grown to become the largest free music festival in the South. A record 20 music 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 a musical stage for children. Over 90 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 throughout its entire 28-year history.

FQFI officials worked with Capital One Bank and Hotard to continue free shuttle service to the festival for a second year. Free to ride all weekend, Capital One Bank sponsored the ‘Second Line Shuttle’, which was routed from the Convention Center parking lot to Canal Street. To accommodate the many people attending the festival on both Saturday and Sunday, the New Orleans Police Department closed down North Peters and Decatur Street – creating a pedestrian mall from Canal Street all the way to the French Market – ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for locals and visitors alike.

French Quarter Festival relies on strong community support to present the ‘kickoff to festival season in New Orleans’ – with over 1,800 volunteers, over 260 musical acts, numerous generous sponsors – including the New Orleans Musicians Union AFM Local 174-496, corporations from all over the state who sponsor musical acts at festival, New Orleans Police and Fire Departments, EMS, permitting assistance from the City of New Orleans and partnerships with Parks and Parkways, Audubon Institute and the Louisiana State Museum, among others.

Over 700 guests attended the festival’s kickoff party: ‘TGIF’ – Thank Goodness it’s Festival! – at the House of Blues. Festival goers attended a variety of free special events throughout the weekend, including the International Music Colloquium; Swing Dance lessons at two stages; children’s music and activities at the Audubon Aquarium riverfront plaza; a Pirate’s Alley Juried Art Show; Rouses World Championship Crawfish Eating Contest; Battle of the Bands; and Sunday’s ‘Dancing at Dusk’, which filled the 400 block of Royal Street and beyond with dancers.

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 about any of these events, call (504) 522-5730 or visit www.fqfi.org.

Sponsors for French Quarter Festival include: Capital One Bank (Presenting Sponsor), Harrah’s Foundation, Abita Brewing Company, Pernod Ricard: Absolut, Malibu, Jameson, Jacob’s Creek Reserve, General Motors Corporation (GMC Trucks), Coca-Cola, WWL-TV, New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, Rouses Market, French Market Corporation, Cox Business Louisiana, Chevron, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Musician’s Performance Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, Louisiana State Museum, Community Coffee, Community Arts Grant made possible by the City of New Orleans as administered by the Arts Council of New Orleans, nola.com, Louisiana Lottery, BMI, Continental Airlines, Pat O’s on the River, Hard Rock Café, Court of Two Sisters, Tulane Medical Center, Tulane Hospital for Children at Tulane Medical Center, applitite, New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park, Rolland Lock and Safe, Whole Foods, TRS – The Registration System, WWOZ 90.7 FM, OffBeat magazine, Where Y’at magazine, Windsor Court Hotel, Café Beignet, NOLA Jitterbugs, Fleur de Lindy, dancingman504.com, dancequarter.com, NOLA Baby & Family Magazine, Musical Legends Park, Preservation Hall, The Historic New Orleans Collection, Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse, University of New Orleans Hospitality Research Center, NewOrleans.com, Louisiana Cookin’, Louisiana’s Health & Fitness Magazine, Vocero USA, The New Orleans Levee, Taste of the South Magazine, WWNO 89.9FM, WWL AM870, 102.5 WFMF, 96.1 KRVE, AM1150 WJBO, 101.5 WYNK, 107.5 KCIL, 106.3 KXOR, 96.7 KMYO, and 1490AM KJIN.

New Orleans, LA – French Quarter Festivals, Inc. unveils the 28th annual French Quarter Festival Poster by artist Tami Curtis-Ellis. Each year, the festival’s Merchandise Committee selects a painting that portrays the fun, festive, atmosphere of French Quarter Festival and one that both locals and tourists will identify with. Consideration is given only to local artists. To keep the festival free and open to the public, French Quarter Festival relies heavily on merchandise and poster sales, sponsorships, and beverage sales to generate its operating budget.

For the 2011 poster, renowned local mixed-media artist, Tami Curtis-Ellis, draws inspiration from legendary New Orleans clarinetist, Pete Fountain and the French Quarter Festival’s All-Stars band including coronetist Connie Jones and clarinetist Tim Laughlin. Tami brings the food, music and culture alive by including elements that personify New Orleans and the French Quarter through her use of rich color, multi dimensional paint application and spontaneous brush stroke technique.

Tami attended Louisiana Tech University in Ruston where she received her BA in art education and a BFA in graphic design. She taught art in the public school system and in private institutions, served as education coordinator for the New Orleans Museum of Art, and has owned art based businesses involving pottery, hand-painted fabric items, art licensing and two dimensional art. Tami created posters for the 2008 Satchmo SummerFest poster, the 2009 Bayou Boogaloo, the 2007 Coastal Wine Tour (Southern Breeze magazine), and was the featured artist for the Louisiana Lt. Governor’s Global Economic Forum.

Editions:

1750 Artist-signed & numbered prints, $45
250 Artist Proofs & numbered prints, $65
Image Size 19″ x 28.5″
Poster Size 22” x 34”

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA (February 9, 2011) – Last year was full of historic moments – the Saints won the Super Bowl, a new
Mayor took office, and French Quarter Festival broke records. The 2010 French Quarter Festival surpassed all attendance
expectations, with an estimated 512,000 local and out-of-town visitors.

Mardi Gras, Super Bowl and French Quarter Festival – by the numbers

The 2010 French Quarter Festival moved to the forefront of events as a leader in economic impact for the city and state. According to
the University of New Orleans Hospitality Research Center, the 2010 French Quarter Festival had a $316 million dollar economic
impact. This places it third in economic impact for 2010, just behind Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl (when it is in New Orleans).

New Orleans last hosted the Super Bowl in 2002. The event is estimated to have had a $292 million economic impact including
spending on entertainment, shopping, lodging and transportation according to Dr. Janet Speyrer, an associate dean for research and
an economics and professor at the University of New Orleans. Speyrer further said UNO has estimated the impact of the 2013 game
at $350 million to $400 million with the great variation attributable to large unknown factors like changes in the attitude toward
corporate travel and hotel room rates.

According to the Times-Picayune, the 2009 Mardi Gras celebration resulted in a direct economic impact of $145.7 million and an
indirect impact of $322 million in the city of New Orleans, as found by a study commissioned by a group of Carnival krewe captains
and conducted by Tulane University professors Toni Weiss and Paul Spindt.

New Orleans Tourism officials have publicly stated that New Orleans has finally moved beyond Katrina – in terms of media and visitor
perception. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is proud to be a partner in helping to produce quality events for the community while
stimulating tourism, economic growth and generating tax dollars for the city and state.

2011 French Quarter Festival – a year of growth, with focus on maintaining a high quality event

In preparation for the 2011 French Quarter Festival locals and visitors alike will experience changes that should improve their festival
experience:

• For the first time in its history, the festival has added an additional day. Dubbed ‘Locals Lagniappe Day,’ Thursday, April 7th will open the festival. An eclectic mix of artists, chosen because they are local favorites, include: Los Hombres Calientes, Benny Grunch and the Bunch, Kipori Woods, and The Preservation Hall-Stars will play opening day. Jackson Square will be open from noon to 5 p.m. and the Riverfront (Woldenberg Riverfront Park), with four stages, will run from 3 – 7 p.m. New Orleans’ finest restaurants – otherwise known as ‘The World’s Largest Jazz Brunch’ will be serving in Jackson Square and on the Riverfront.
• The House of Blues has joined the festival as a sponsor and partner. New for 2011 will be a House of Blues Stage on Decatur Street in close proximity to the venue. The TGIF ‘Thank Goodness it’s Festival!’ kickoff party on Wednesday, April 6th moves to the House of Blues for the first time, and takes place from 7-10 p.m. with Bluesman Little Freddie King in the VooDoo Garden and Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters in the Music Hall. A special Gospel Brunch menu will be served. In addition, House of Blues will continue to host its food booth on the Riverfront and will become an ‘official’ merchandise outlet of the French Quarter Festival.
• For 2011, the Monteleone Hotel has joined the festival as the official hotel sponsor. The always popular Classical Music Stage, will move to the Monteleone this year with performances on Saturday and Sunday. The Classical Stage features performances by some of the most respected performers from the area including: Harpist Rachel Van Voorhees, Guitarist John Rankin, members of the New Orleans Opera, the Louisiana Philharmonic and more. It has been said that ‘the French Quarter begins in the lobby of the Hotel Monteleone’. This beautiful and historic hotel sits majestically at the foot of Royal Street.
• 2011 brings the return of the Latin World Stage to French Quarter Festival. The popular high energy stage returns to the Old U.S. Mint and will feature artists such as Freddie Omar con su Banda, Los Po-Boy-Citos, Ensemble Fatien featuring Seguenon Kone, Ovi-G and the Froggies, Zion Trinity, Higher Heights Reggae and Mas Mamones.
• The ever-popular Children’s Headquarters will be expanded on the Audubon Aquarium Riverfront Plaza and made possible in part through an exciting partnership with Chevron and Audubon Institute. Anchoring the Children’s Headquarters will be a new Kids’ Performance Tent and interactive family activities, including hands-on cooking demonstrations with Whole Foods; yoga and karate for kids; face painting and activities courtesy of Tulane Hospital for Children; Junior Rangers activities sponsored by the New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park, and more. This year, the Children’s Headquarters will once again focus on educating families about ‘healthy kids’ programs in a fun and interactive way. Performances in the Kids Tent are sponsored by Tulane Hospital for Children and the New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park.

Great partnerships return to French Quarter Festival

In order to keep French Quarter Festival free and open to the public, the organization relies heavily on the contributions of sponsors and partners, beverage and merchandise sales, and vendor fees. For 2011, the festival is thrilled to welcome back Capital One Bank, as Presenting Sponsor. “The French Quarter Festival is a vibrant, fun event that celebrates one of America’s most historic and cherished neighborhoods, the French Quarter, in a style that is distinctly New Orleans,” said Steve Hemperley, Capital One Bank’s New Orleans Market President. “Capital One Bank is proud to return as presenting sponsor of this great local festival, which offers world-class music and food and provides a significant and positive economic impact to our city, state and region. At Capital One Bank, we are committed to investing in greater New Orleans to help it grow and thrive, and by supporting the French Quarter Festival we’re supporting our local economy.” In addition to their sponsorship of the festival, Capital One Bank will once again host the Second Line Shuttle, providing free shuttle transportation for festival goers three days of festival (Friday through Sunday). Additional busses will run in 2011 to better accommodate festival guests.

In collaboration with BMI, French Quarter Festival welcomes back for its second year the BMI Singer Songwriter Stage at The Historic New Orleans Collection on Royal Street. Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI) is an American performing rights organization that represents more than 400,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music and more than 6.5 million works. On Saturday and Sunday of the festival, the BMI Songwriter Stage will feature the region’s finest up-and-comers.

Catering to the technology-savvy festival-goer, the 2011 French Quarter Festival will once again have its own iPhone application. Made possible through a partnership with Applitite, iPhone users will have a personal French Quarter Festival Guide at their fingertips. Applitite, the leader in music festival mobile application providers and also avid festival lovers, has created an application that allows revelers to plan their agenda, get up-to-the-minute updates about the event, and access the festival map and music schedule directly from iPhones and iPod Touches. The application will be available for download prior to French Quarter Festival and can be downloaded through the Apple’s iTunes Store.

2011 also welcomes the return of traditional dance lessons at the French Market Traditional Jazz Stage; Zydeco dance lessons at the Cajun Zydeco Riverfront Stage; and second line dance lessons in the Children’s Headquarters near Audubon Aquarium. Between musical breaks, festival patrons are invited to learn traditional dance-styles such as the Charleston, Swing, Zydeco and Second-line.  Instructors from NOLA Jitterbugs, Fleur de Lindy, Dance Quarter and Dancing Man 504 will be on hand demonstrating and educating visitors on these various dance styles.

Out-of-town festival goers are encouraged to book their travel accommodations now; as many area hotels have reported they have
been enjoying strong reservations since December 2010. April marks the kickoff to festival season in New Orleans. As always, there
is no finer time to visit New Orleans as the spring, especially during the weekend of French Quarter Festival – the largest free music
festival in the South.

Sponsors for French Quarter Festival include: Capital One Bank (Presenting Sponsor), Harrah’s Foundation, Abita Brewing Company, Southern Comfort, General Motors Corporation (GMC Trucks), Coca-Cola, WWL-TV, New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, Rouses Market, French Market Corporation, Cox Business Louisiana, Chevron, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Musician’s Performance Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, Louisiana State Museum, Community Coffee, Community Arts Grant made possible by the City of New Orleans as administered by the Arts Council of New Orleans, nola.com, Louisiana Lottery, BMI, Continental Airlines, Pat O’s on the River, Hard Rock Café, Court of Two Sisters, Tulane Medical Center, Tulane Hospital for Children at Tulane Medical Center, applitite, New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park, Rolland Lock and Safe, Whole Foods, TRS – The Registration System, WWOZ 90.7 FM, OffBeat magazine, Where Y’at magazine, Windsor Court Hotel, Café Beignet, NOLA Jitterbugs, Fleur de Lindy, dancingman504.com, dancequarter.com, NOLA Baby & Family Magazine, Musical Legends Park, Preservation Hall, The Historic New Orleans Collection, Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse, University of New Orleans Hospitality Research Center, NewOrleans.com, Louisiana Cookin’, Louisiana’s Health & Fitness Magazine, Vocero USA, The New Orleans Levee, Taste of the South Magazine, WWNO 89.9FM, WWL AM870, 102.5 WFMF, 96.1 KRVE, AM1150 WJBO, 101.5 WYNK, 107.5 KCIL, 106.3 KXOR, 96.7 KMYO, and 1490AM KJIN.

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 about any of these events, call (504) 522-5730 or visit www.fqfi.org.

NEW ORLEANS – Traffic will be rolling like the mighty Mississippi during the 2011 French Quarter Festival, Thursday, April 7 through Sunday, April 10, 2011.

The ‘Capital One Bank Second Line Shuttle’ at French Quarter Festival
In partnership with Capital One Bank, French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is proud to announce the exciting return of the festival shuttle – renamed the ‘Capital One Bank Second Line Shuttle’. In their commitment to keep French Quarter Festival a quality free event for the community, Capital One will offer FREE round-trip shuttle service throughout festival weekend. “In a city known for letting the good times roll, the French Quarter Festival serves up a huge portion of fun with a distinct New Orleans flavor,” said Steve Hemperley, Greater New Orleans Market President for Capital One Bank. “The main ingredients are legendary music and great, local food — mix them together, and you have a recipe for an unforgettable four-day weekend in one of America’s most historic and charming neighborhoods. And all of us at Capital One Bank are honored to play such a role in an event that showcases so much of what makes our city truly special.”

SHUTTLE SPECIFICS
Official shuttle parking will begin in lot F – located across from the Convention Center at Convention Center Boulevard near Henderson Street. Over 1,700 parking spaces are available and special event parking is only $10 per day per vehicle. Drop off will be on Canal Street at North Peters. Shuttles will run from 10:30 am – 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 10:30 am – 8 pm on Sunday. Parking is based on availability and festival goers are encouraged to begin their day early to take advantage of this convenience. Shuttle service will be provided by Hotard. Capital One Bank is offering priority boarding on its free Second-Line Shuttles to anyone who visits a New Orleans area Capital One Bank branch to pick up a Q-Pass. Q-Pass holders will also receive 10% off Festival merchandise.

New Orleans Police Traffic Control will be out in force during festival weekend to keep traffic moving, so festival-goers can get to-andfrom the festival as quickly and as safely as possible. According to Traffic Control, the major traffic rule during French Quarter Festival is: NO LEFT TURNS ON NORTH PETERS or DECATUR STREET. These streets may also be temporarily closed and then reopened as traffic is controlled by NOPD Traffic Patrol. Festival-goers entering the French Quarter should enter from Esplanade. Festival goers heading to Woldenberg Park should enter from Canal Street.

According to Marci Schramm, FQFI executive director, “Streetcars are running and we encourage people to utilize the Capital One Bank Shuttle or park and ride the streetcar from Uptown, Mid-City, and the CBD. There are also several parking lots in and around the French Quarter and the Central Business District, as well as lots at the Hilton Riverside, that can readily accommodate festival-goers. Lots along Rampart also offer easy in and out. Additionally, Central Parking and the French Market have lots along Decatur Street that provide ample spaces and the RTA Riverfront Streetcars are another great way to get from one end of the festival to the other.” The 2011 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.