Annual French Quarter Fest Reschedules 2021 Dates

After being canceled in 2020, the French Quarter Festival set for April 2021 has been rescheduled to the fall. The new dates, September 30 to October 3, coincide with a new layout to follow guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Although French Quarter Fest typically takes place in April, the ongoing COVID crisis has made it necessary for us to remain flexible," said Emily Madero, CEO of FQFI. "As one of the largest free music and food festivals in the United States, we always want to ensure our impact is in the best interest of the City and our French Quarter neighbors and businesses."

Around 825,000 people attended the last festival in 2019, bringing in around $200 million to the city. The celebration of Louisiana music, food, and culture hires typically hires more than 1,500 local musicians to entertain attendees from all over. Due to the ongoing pandemic and desire to host a live event, the festival could potentially be scaled back. Madero said organizers will continue working with community leaders to ensure the event can be held safely.

"We're excited to continue our 38-year partnership with Louisiana musical artists, chefs, businesses, and volunteers for our 2021 season," said Madero. "We appreciate our partners and fans for their continued support, and we look forward to celebrating Louisiana's incredible culture together in October."

The 2022 Festival is set to return its normal dates in April.

Photo: Getty Images