How to Get Tickets for the New Orleans Jazz Fest

The New Orleans Jazz Fest is one of the most popular music festivals of the year—anywhere in the world. There are enough tickets to go around. The main trouble is deciding which day or days to get tickets for.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A credit card or cash

1. Set a budget. Tickets are $35 a day for adults and $5 for kids 2-11. Don’t wait too long: after April 26 (the day before the Fest) tickets go up to $45.
2. Decide which weekend and which day(s) you want to go to: April 27-29 or May 4-6 or both. On the first weekend you can catch Rod Stewart, Dr. John, Van Morrison, Norah Jones, Jerry Lee Lewis, Pharaoh Saunders, Lucinda Williams, and others. On the second weekend there’s Harry Connick Jr., ZZ Top, Counting Crows, George Benson, Steely Dan, Allman Brothers, and a lot more. Tough choice.
3. Go to the Jazz Fest website to purchase tickets (www.nojazzfest.com) or else go straight to the source: www.ticketmaster.com, or call 1-800-488-5252. You can also buy tickets at the gate, at the New Orleans Arena. No refunds or exchanges on tickets so make sure it’s the day you want.
4. Buy good seats. Wait, you don’t have to do that. Seats are first come, first serve. Festival seating means you should get there early if you want a good spot to see a favorite artist.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can afford it, check out the Big Chief VIP Experience: access to VIP areas at popular shows, reentry privileges, access to an air conditioned lounge, on-site parking, and a program. See the Jazz Fest in style. Tickets go for $600 a weekend or $700 a weekend plus parking.
• Once you decide which weekend to go to, you then have to decide which groups to see: a lot of bands are playing at once. A musical sample platter is a good idea—see a few songs by a number of different bands.