Drum circle at Congo Square Rhythms festival, 2012, photo by Kim Welsh.

Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival and the Congo Square Rhythms Festival combine for March weekend

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Two of the most popular festivals of New Orleans are now combining into one event. The Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival and the Congo Square Rhythms Festival will happen concurrently on the weekend of March 25 to 27. Both events are celebrating the Faubourg Tremé neighborhood as the birthplace of both jazz and much of the cherished local culture of New Orleans.

The festivals will held throughout Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square on Saturday, March 26, and Sunday, March 27, with multiple performance stages, food vendors and an art market. Admission is free and open to the public. The festivities will open with John Boutté and Family, featuring special guests Tanya Boutté and Arséne DeLay, live in concert at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center, 1225 N. Rampart Street, on Friday, March 25. Tickets for that show are $10 and may be purchased in advance.

Two full days of music are scheduled from 10:45 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 26

Congo Square Rhythms Stage

10:45 a.m.–11:45 a.m. Drum Circle

11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Margie & Sula Present the Wanderfuls

12:45–1:45 p.m. Casmé

2–3:15 p.m. Caesar Brothers Funk Box

3:30–4:45 p.m. Erika Falls

5–6:15 p.m. Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles

6:30–7:30 p.m. Cyril Neville featuring Omari Neville & the Fuel Tremé

Tremé Creole Gumbo Stage

11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Paulin Brothers Brass Band

12:30–1:45 p.m. The Stooges Brass Band

2–3 p.m. Tonya Boyd-Cannon

3:15–4:15 p.m. Kings of Brass

4:30–5:30 p.m. James Andrews

5:45–7 p.m. Rebirth Brass Band

SUNDAY, MARCH 27

Congo Square Rhythms Stage

10:45 a.m.–11:45 p.m. Drum Circle

12–1 p.m. African Dance Tekrema N’Kafu n Culu Kumbuka Dance Collective N’Fungola Sibo

2:30–3:30 p.m. Bamboula 2000

3:45–4:30 p.m. Mardi Gras Indian Battle

4:45–6:15 p.m. Cha Wa

Tremé Creole Gumbo Stage

11 a.m. –12:15 p.m. Gerald French & the Original Tuxedo Brass Band

12:30–2 p.m. Treme Brass Band

2:15–3:30 p.m. Charmaine Neville

3:45–4:45 p.m. Kinfolk Brass Band

5–6 p.m. Original Pinettes Brass Band

6:15–7:30 p.m. Hot 8 Brass Band

Audio or video recording of any performances is prohibited at the festival. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation will follow COVID-19 protocols established by the City of New Orleans Health Department guidelines. For more information, visit here.