February 28, 2013 – Through 2012, the TGIF ‘Thank Goodness it’s Festival!’ kickoff party opened French Quarter Festival weekend. For 2013, French Quarter Festivals, Inc. and the 30th Anniversary Committee presents the first French Quarter Festival 30th Anniversary Gala, Thursday, April 11th at Antoine’s Restaurant. The gala will open with the Patron Party at 7 p.m. and will continue with the Gala from 8 – 10 p.m. Guests will enjoy dinner from Antoine’s and other festival favorites, with an open bar, courtesy of Abita Brewing Company and Republic Beverages. Live entertainment will be provided by Jeremy Davenport, Harmonouche, The Roots of Music, and special guests.

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at www.fqfi.org/frenchquarterfest/gala.html or by calling (504) 227-3124.Patron tickets are $250 and Gala tickets are $150. Purchase tickets before March 31st to take advantage of discounted Gala tickets at $125. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Roots of Music (therootsofmusic.com).

Visit www.fqfi.org or call (504) 522-5730 for more information about French Quarter Festival and other events produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc.

Festival Sponsors for the 30th annual French Quarter Festival include: Chevron (Title Sponsor), Capital One Bank , Abita Brewing Company, Ford Motor Company, WWL-TV, Rouses Market, Harrah’s Foundation, Pepsi, Tropical Isle, French Market Corporation, Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation, Popeye’s, Musician’s Performance Fund, House of Blues, Louisiana State Museum, PJ’s Coffee and Tea of New Orleans, Louisiana Lottery, BMI, Hotel Monteleone, United Airlines, Pat O’Brien’s, Dickie Brennan & Company, Palm Court Jazz Café, Windsor Court Hotel, Court of Two Sisters, Tulane Medical Center, Tulane Hospital for Children at Tulane Medical Center, Hermann Grima House, Applitite, 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, Preservation Hall, The Historic New Orleans Collection, St. Louis Cathedral, The Royal Sonesta, WWNO 89.9 FM, WYES, Entercom New Orleans, Clear Channel, Sunburst Media, Louisiana Cookin’, Kids and Family New Orleans, Inthenola.com, Where Magazine, Curve Magazine, New Orleans Magazine, Louisiana Life Magazine, Acadian Profile, MyNewOrleans.com, St. Charles Avenue Magazine, New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles, DownBeat Magazine, 96.1 The River, 101.5 WYNK, 102.5 WFMF, and 1150AM WJOB.

French Quarter Festival is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (www.fqfi.org), the 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, which also produces Satchmo Summer Fest in August and Christmas New Orleans Style in December. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. promotes the Vieux Carré and the City of New Orleans through high quality special events and activities that showcase the culture and heritage of this unique city, contribute to the economic well being of the community, and instill increased pride in the people of New Orleans.