Festival road trips – What to see and do at Jazz Fest and Festival International

With festival season upon us, it’s time to start planning now for two of the biggest music celebrations in Louisiana at the end of the month. And we’re perfectly positioned in Baton Rouge—just about an hour’s drive from both.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival spans two weekends at the Fair Grounds. Festival International de Louisiane is held that first weekend in downtown Lafayette. Both offer stellar lineups worth your time and in recent years, many musicians have hopped between both locations to play for the crowds.

Read on for tips on how to experience the best of both worlds.

Online: nojazzfest.com
Dates: April 25-27, May 1-4
Getting there: Take the streetcar, bus or Jazz Fest Express shuttle from downtown. Street parking will be a mess.
Tickets: Advance single-day passes start at $55.
Lineup snapshot: Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Arcade Fire, Santana, Robin Thicke, Vampire Weekend, Trombone Shorty

Nom nom nom:
There are few music festivals that take food as seriously as Jazz Fest, and the long lines at the food booths seem to reflect that. You can’t experience the music without also grubbing down on Crawfish Monica, a cochon de lait poboy, a muffuletta or some Ya Ka Mein. But pace yourself and snack all day.

Cool off and rise up:
When you get tired of the crowds (or the sun) at the main stages, duck into one of the performance tents at Heritage Square, find a seat under a mist machine and take in some stellar gospel, blues and jazz while you cool off.

Get cultured:
The African Marketplace on the edge of Congo Square has some amazing finds that are worth it just to browse. The nearby Louisiana Folklife Village offers educational booths as well as daily performances.

Dress for comfort:
Last year, the Fair Grounds were a muddy, muddy mess. If the skies are clear this year, the grounds will be dusty. Don’t wear anything you couldn’t bear to see dirtied. It’ll probably be warm, too, so ladies, break out the large floppy hats. Dudes, use their floppy hats for shade.

Don’t overdo it:
We’re not just talking booze. The lineup is huge, so balance out the big names with some smaller, local bands or someone you’ve never heard before. You’ll be glad you did when navigating the lawn chair maze on the way to see The Boss.

Online: festivalinternational.com
Dates: April 23-27
Getting there: Use the free and frequent shuttle from Cajun Field. Street parking will be a mess.
Tickets: Free entry.
Lineup snapshot: The Funky Meters, Bombino, Tinariwen, Zachary Richard, BeauSoleil, Pine Leaf Boys, Radio Radio, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars

Young talents:
Check out Sweet Crude, a percussive indie-pop band from New Orleans that slides easily from French to English, playing the Saturday night (April 26) slot at the TV5Monde stage, which has historically been the showcase of hip, young Louisiana bands like GIVERS and Royal Teeth.

After hours:
Speaking of Royal Teeth, they’re playing a set Friday night at NiteTown, a venue right in the middle of all the action. Blue Moon Saloon and Artmosphere are walking distance from the festival stages, and that’s where you’ll find local bands and international acts getting together for late-night jam sessions.

Beer garden of delights:
The LUS LA Craft Biergarten off Jefferson Street features taps from Parish Brewing, Bayou Teche, Tin Roof and more, plus several Lafayette food trucks. Don’t miss Viva La Waffle’s popular waffle sandwiches; grab a beer and find a table in the shade to take a breather from all the two-stepping.

Art walk it:
Three expansive arts and crafts markets offer some colorful finds from visiting artisans. Several galleries downtown open their doors as well for festivalgoers to check out new works.

Shop local:
In downtown Lafayette, there are several gems of shops worth your time, like Parish Ink, with its cleverly designed graphic T-shirts and cool vibe, Genterie Supply Co., with a well-edited collection of stylish—but not fussy—men’s clothes and accessories, and Sans Souci Fine Crafts Gallery’s eclectic local art and crafts.