Freret Street is fast becoming one of the liveliest and rapidly-growing neighborhoods in town, with new stores, restaurants and other hip businesses coming in regularly. Last year’s Freret Street Festival was the biggest in the event’s 16-year history, and this Saturday’s 2013 edition promises to surpass it.

www.freretstreetfestival.com

A full day of music, food and crafts is planned at the stretch between Napoleon and Jefferson on Freret this Saturday, April 6. We can certainly get behind the music line-up, which is all free, all local, and spread among four stages. The Creole String Beans, featured in this month’s OffBeat, play the Ochner Stage (at Freret and Valmont) at 1:45pm; Eric Lindell headlines the same stage at 6pm. The Cure stage (outside that cocktail emporium at Upperline St.) has a mix of Latin (Vivaz!), funk (Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes) and songwriting (Mia Borders). Mardi Gras Indian legends the Wild Magnolias headline the Zeus Place stage (on Cadiz St.) at 4:45pm, while the New Freret Stage (Freret & Napoleon) presents a full day of brass bands, with Lagniappe closing at 5pm. View the full music line-up here.

Uptown's Freret Street Neighborhood with be jumpin' this Saturday!

It would make us far too hungry to list all the food vendors, suffice to say there’ll be everything from fish tacos to cupcakes, and you can find the full list of edible offerings at this year’s Freret Street Festival here. You’ll also find a wide range of crafts by local artists (more than 200 vendors will be represented), and a flea market with used CDs and other goodies.  Plus, pets are welcome! The festival is not intended only for humans: The pet store Zeus’ Place will have a pit-stop “VIP” area set up for dogs, and will also be doing adoptions that day. What can be better to see a day of music, eat a lot and come home with a new friend?

Freret Street Festival

Saturday, April 6

12pm – 6pm

FREE Admission, All Ages

More Info: www.freretstreetfestival.com