More cathedral concerts, new Reveillon menus, and festive events!
It’s an exciting time to come out and play in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS- French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI), in partnership with New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation presents the 23rd annual Christmas New Orleans Style. Throughout the month of December, FQFI actively enlists local businesses, restaurants, hotels, and community organizations to produce quality holiday events and a celebration that is uniquely New Orleans. Originally founded as a way to attract tourists during the traditionally slow month of December, Christmas New Orleans Style has grown into a very successful month-long festival helping New Orleans businesses, arts community, and the tourism industry – with activities drawing in locals and visitors alike, generating tremendous economic impact for the city and state. FQFI Executive Director Marci Schramm commented, “People who visit us in December enjoy not only the wide array of activities, but also enjoy the incredible sense of tradition, southern hospitality, and community celebration. We also can’t forget the beautiful weather in Louisiana during this festive time of year.”
Christmas New Orleans Style continues the popular tradition of free concerts at St. Louis Cathedral -with music for every taste; candlelight caroling in Jackson Square is an annual favorite, along with events such as: nightly excursions through the magnificent lighting display at City Park’s Celebration in the Oaks; free cooking demonstrations at Canal Place; levee bonfire celebrations welcoming Papa Noel; family activities including children’s teas and craft workshops; historic characters strolling and caroling in the French Quarter, holiday cruises on the Steamboat Natchez; festive theatrical and musical performances; special tours of private residences decked out in holiday cheer; tours of antebellum homes dressed in 19th century holiday finery; museums, bowl games, great shopping, and more! Visitors can learn the secrets of local cuisine from acclaimed chefs from throughout the area as they share their favorite recipes at free cooking demonstrations with samplings that are guaranteed to spice up the holidays. More than 100 activities are planned, with plenty of opportunities to come out and play in New Orleans during Christmas New Orleans Style.
Reveillon Dinners
Reveillon, an adaptation of a traditional Creole holiday dining custom, will be celebrated nightly during the Christmas season in 36 restaurants throughout the city. Menus combine ageless Creole cuisine with more contemporary New Orleans dishes, and the spirit of the past remains. In fact, four of the Reveillon restaurants – Antoine’s, Commander’s Palace, Galatoire’s and Tujague’s – are more than 100 years old! Reveillon menus are only offered once a year, during December, and guests can enjoy the authentic taste of New Orleans during Christmas New Orleans Style.
Cathedral Concerts
Throughout the month of December, jazz musicians, gospel choirs, classical ensembles and other New Orleans musical groups herald in the season with concerts in one of the country’s most historic churches, St. Louis Cathedral, in the heart of the French Quarter on Jackson Square. This year’s concerts take place at 6:00 p.m. on December 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, and 23, 2008
Cooking Demonstrations
Throughout the month of December, Christmas New Orleans Style offers up a series of free cooking demonstration by some of the finest chefs from New Orleans’ most beloved restaurants. French Quarter Festivals, Inc, in partnership with New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, and The Shops at Canal Place, bring 12 unique dishes and acclaimed chefs from throughout the area including Chef Ben Thibodeaux of Palace Cafe, Chef Isaac Pappion of The New Orleans Grill at the Windsor Court, and Zoe’s Chef Robert Bustillo Jr. to share their favorite holiday recipes at free cooking demonstrations and samplings that are guaranteed to spice up the holidays. The Chef’s Holiday Cooking Demonstrations take place at the Shops at Canal Place, on weekdays at 3 p.m. and 10 a.m. on Saturdays. Cooking demonstrations are December 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 2008.
Papa Noel Rates
Christmas New Orleans Style offers visitors (and locals too) an exciting and memorable holiday encounter that can only be experienced in New Orleans. Travelers can take advantage of special offers at over 40 of the city’s finest hotels as they offer very attractive Papa Noel discount rates to visitors as their gift of the season.
For complete information and schedules, visit www.neworleansonline.com or www.fqfi.org. For a free booklet and calendar, call 504-522-5730, e-mail info@fqfi.org, or write to French Quarter Festivals, Inc., 400 North Peters Street, Suite 205 New Orleans, LA, 70130.
For more information about all the things to see, do and eat year-round in New Orleans, visit: www.neworleansonline.com, the official tourism website for the city. For more information about French Quarter Festivals, Inc., please visit www.fqfi.org or call 504-522-5730.
Call for Musicians!
French Quarter Festival – April 17-19, 2009
NEW ORLEANS – French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) is now accepting applications for local musicians interested in performing at the 26th annual French Quarter Festival, the Largest Free Festival in the South, to be held April 17-19, 2009. Interested performers are encouraged to access an application online at www.fqfi.org or to call Greg Schatz at 504-522-5730 ext. 208 to request an application by mail. The deadline for applying is November 30, 2008.
The 2009 festival will be expanded to feature over 250 hours of free music across at least 18 stages throughout the historic French Quarter. The 2008 festival hosted over 450 local performers, continuing FQFI’s mission to showcase the culture and heritage of New Orleans. From traditional and contemporary jazz, to rhythm and blues, New Orleans funk to brass bands, folk, gospel, classical, and even opera – French Quarter Festival’s Entertainment Committee selects music for every listener.
Members of the local Musicians Union may perform under the Music Performance Fund sponsorship. Non-union musicians are welcome to apply after securing a performance sponsor.
Each year, volunteers help with crucial festival operations including stage management. A volunteer application may be accessed at www.fqfi.org or call the FQFI office at 504-522-5730.
French Quarter Festival is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc., the 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, which also produces Satchmo SummerFest in August and Christmas New Orleans Style in December.
For more information, call the French Quarter Festivals, Inc. office at 504-522-5730 or contact greg@fqfi.org.
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New Orleans (October 16, 2008) – It was only a matter of time before people began to take notice. So it came as no surprise when New Orleans Magazine named French Quarter Festivals Executive Director, Marci Schramm to the 2008 class of People to Watch. The “People to Watch”, an award highly coveted amongst local professionals, is described as a new face who is doing something interesting with their lives that’s worthy of our awareness; or, in some cases, familiar faces moving in a different direction. People originally began taking notice when Marci was executive director with the New Orleans Opera and now she’s able to demonstrate her production skills and love of entertainment as director of French Quarter Festivals, Inc. Amelie Lebreton, New Orleans Magazine writer, had the following to say about Schramm: “Whether it’s the World’s Largest Jazz Brunch or second-lining at the Satchmo Club Strut, Schramm creates fun times for all. For the French Quarter Festival in April, she erected 18 stages of music, and then blended art, food and music during Satchmo SummerFest in August.” With Marci at the helm, it appears that French Quarter Festivals will continue defending the title of the “Largest Free Music Festival in the South” for years to come.
To read the full excerpt, visit NewOrleansMagazine.com.
French Quarter Festivals, Inc. welcomes new Entertainment Manager, Greg Schatz
October 13, 2008 – New Orleans, LA - French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is pleased to welcome Mr. Greg Schatz as Entertainment Manager for French Quarter Festivals, Inc. – producers of French Quarter Festival, Satchmo SummerFest , and Christmas New Orleans Style. With thirteen years of music industry experience in New Orleans, Greg has worked as a musician, producer, label founder, and band manager. As a bass player, accordionist, keyboard player and vocalist, he has performed with several local ensembles and also at clubs and festivals in Europe and around the U.S., including the French Quarter Festival and JazzFest. During 2005, he played with Jeremy Lyons and the Deltabilly Boys, touring the U.S. with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Greg then made his debut at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fischer Hall in 2006 during the CMJ Music Conference. As manager of ‘Schatzy’ and founder of Hot Spazz Records, Greg has overseen the release of multiple albums, wearing the hats of both musician and producer.
A graduate of Cornell University and native of Ithaca, New York, Schatz moved to New Orleans in 1995 to pursue a career in music. After honing his craft playing accordion on the streets of the French Quarter, he joined Jeremy Lyons and the Deltabilly Boys, a group he continues to play with. Greg has also performed with local favorites such as the Morning 40 Federation, Dave James Banned, Big Mess Blues Band, and others.
As Entertainment Managerr at French Quarter Festivals, Greg will have the impressive task of booking and coordinating over 450 musicians to perform more than 250 hours of music during French Quarter Festival, organizing programming for the Satchmo SummerFest stages and seminars, and providing support for Cathedral Concerts during Christmas New Orleans Style. French Quarter Festivals Executive Director Marci Schramm commented, “We are so excited to welcome Greg to our team. His talent, experience, enthusiasm, and great relationships in this community will help us take all of our festivals to the next level.”
French Quarter Festivals, Inc. annually produces three festivals: French Quarter Festival (the largest free music festival in the South), Satchmo SummerFest, and Christmas New Orleans Style. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2008.
For more information on French Quarter Festival, call 504-522-5730 or visit online at www.fqfi.org.
New Orleans, Louisiana - The International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) paid tribute to French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) on September 10th during the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Ceremony held at the IFEA’s 53rd Annual Convention and Expo in Boise, Idaho September 8-12, 2008, where FQFI took home four awards in the prestigious competition. Honors were given in the following categories, for events with budgets ranging from $750,000 to $1.5 million. The 2008 professional competition drew 1,428 entries from among the world’s top festivals and events.
Gold for best pin
French quarter festival’s 25th anniversary Pin-pendant
by wellington & company Silver for best company image piece
french quarter festival’s 25th anniversary logo by philip bascle bronze for best commemorative poster
french quarter festival’s 25th anniversary poster by gail hickman bronze for best direct mail piece
french quarter festival’s 25th anniversary save-the-date card
“We would like to thank our friends, community partners, and merchandise chair, Joann Abbott-Thaxton, who certainly helped us to win these coveted awards – including French Quarter jeweler Wellington and Company, who designed and produced the beautiful 25th Anniversary pin-pendant; festival poster artist Gail Hickman; and long-time friend and festival artist, Philip Bascle- designer of the French Quarter Festival 25th Anniversary logo” commented French Quarter Festivals, Inc.’s Executive Director Marci Schramm. “We would like to congratulate all of our winners for their outstanding entries into this year’s competition,” said IFEA President & CEO, Steven Wood Schmader, CFEE. “The Pinnacle Awards represent the hallmark of excellence in the festivals and events industry. Entries in every budget category, from every corner of the globe, allow us to recognize the best in our business while raising the standards and quality of media promotions and events across the board.”
Winning entries came from organizations as diverse as 500 Festival, Indianapolis, IN; St. Luke’s Women’s Fitness Celebration, Boise, ID; Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival, Richardson, TX; Disney Destinations, LLC – Special Events Management, Lake Buena Vista, FL; French Quarter Festival, New Orleans, LA; Riverbend Festival, Chattanooga, TN; Bumbershoot, Seattle, WA; Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Pasadena, CA; Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, Canton, OH; The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia, PA.
International contenders included such diverse event organizations as Daegaya Experience Festival, South Korea; Ludwig Van Beethoven Easter Festival, Poland; Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Australia; Singapore Garden Festival, Singapore; Ottawa Bluesfest, Canada; The Hague Festivals, The Netherlands; Divina Comedia Prod. Artisicas Ltda, Brazil; China Hohhot Zhaojun Art Festival, China; Festival Lent, Slovenia. Entries included posters, merchandise, websites, print and broadcast ads, volunteer programs, community outreach programs, and many other categories.
For a complete list of winners and more information on the IFEA, go to www.ifea.com.
For more information about French Quarter Festivals, Inc., or to view the award-winning merchandise, please visit www.fqfi.org or call French Quarter Festivals, Inc. at 504-522-5730.
New Orleans Magazine is now collecting votes for their 2008 ‘Best Of’ issue and we need your help. Click the link below and vote for French Quarter Festival and as ‘Best Festival’ and ‘Best Local Event’!!
When you caste your vote, you will be registered into a drawing for brunch for two at Court of Two Sisters or an overnight stay at the Omni Royal Orleans. (You DO NOT have to vote for every category to be eligible).
So please show your support and vote now and vote often.
