The following post provides dozens of things to do in New Orleans in March 2024.
We include family-friendly, nighttime, as well as free events and attractions.
- Top 10
- Things to Do at Night
- Free Things to Do
- Family-Friendly Activities
- How's the Weather?
- Free Tours By Foot
In this section, we will cover the most popular activities you can enjoy during the month of March in New Orleans.
Make sure to read our master post covering the best things to do in New Orleans.
For tips on the most popular activities in New Orleans, check out our other posts:
Visitors who are looking to save money on the most well-known attractions should consider getting a New Orleans Tourist Pass.
1. Go to a Concert
You can't help but think about music when you're in New Orleans.
The city is loaded with talented musicians, and you can find a performance just about anywhere in the city.
Concerts
- Olivia Rodrigo | March 2nd
- Sleater-Kinney | March 8th
- AJ Croco | March 24th
Music Festivals
- Danny Baker Banjo & Guitar Festival 2024 | March 6th-10th
Check here for even more concerts in New Orleans in March.
2. Attend a Sporting Event
If you’re a basketball fan, there will be several great NBA and NCAA games to attend in March.
Basketball
Professional Basketball
Otro
- Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party | March 9th, 10th
- Crescent City Classic 10K | March 30th
For even more great sports in the area, please check this list of even more New Orleans sporting events in March.
3. Enjoy a Walking Tour
It probably won’t be too hot in New Orleans in March, making this an excellent time to take one of our pay-what-you-want walking tours.
The following outings will be available this month:
- French Quarter
- Garden District
- St. Louis Cemetery #1
- Frenchman Street
- Cocktail Tour
- Voodoo Tour
- Ghost Tour
- Treme
In addition to these options, we also offer several self-guided tours and GPS audio guides,
You can use them to learn more about the city as you explore at your own leisure.
4. Enjoy Some Stand-Up Comedy
If you’re looking for a laugh, there are a few great comics you can see in NOLA in March.
Comedians
- Jim Gaffigan | March 18th
- Jimmy Carr | March 22nd
- David Spade | March 23rd
Group Comedy Tours
- We Them One's Comedy Tour | March 17th
Comedy Clubs
If you're looking for a free show, check out this list of free stand-up comedy shows in NOLA to find a location and time that fits your itinerary.
For more free comedy shows in New Orleans, check out our post about free things to do in New Orleans.
To see what else is happening in the area, check this list of comedy shows in New Orleans during March.
5. See Fiddler on the Rood
New Orleans has a surprisingly vibrant theater scene.
Here's what's on tap for March:
Musicals/Theatre/Dance
- Ain't Too Proud | March 1st, 2nd, 3rd
- Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance - 25th Anniversary Tour | March 28th
Family-Friendly
- Champions of Magic | March 8th, 9th
- Disney On Ice: Frozen and Encanto | March 28th, 29th, 30th
Find other theatrical productions in March in NOLA here.
6. Celebrate Easter Weekend
Easter marks the end of Lent for the many Catholics who populate New Orleans, and the city celebrates big with parades and other family-friendly activities.
There are at least three parades in the French Quarter on Easter Sunday (March 31st, 2024).
1. The Historic Fench Quarter Easter Parade is largely made up of mule-drawn carriages with riders handing out stuffed Easter bunnies for the children. It starts at Antoine's restaurant around 9:30/9:45 am.
2. The French Quarter Easter Parade (originally called the Chris Owens French Quarter Easter Parade) will make its way through the French Quarter. This usually starts at 1:00 PM.
3. The Gay Easter Parade will stroll through the French Quarter late afternoon passing by every gay bar and local gay retail shop in the neighborhood. It typically starts around 5:30 PM.
In addition to all the fun, many restaurants will have special Easter Sunday brunch menus. Don’t forget to wear your best Easter bonnet!
7. Save Money With a Tourist Pass
If you’re planning to visit a lot of popular attractions or take more than one tour, you may want to consider using a tourist pass to save money on tickets.
Depending on how you use these services, you could easily save 50% off general admission prices – or more!
There are currently two different types of tourist pass in New Orleans: flex pass and all-inclusive.
A flex pass will allow you to pay one flat price for a set number of attractions (2, 3, 4, 5, or 6).
An all-inclusive pass covers admission to dozens of activities for a specific amount of time (1, 2, 3, or 5 days).
An all-inclusive pass is great if you’re planning to enjoy a variety of different activities during your trip to New Orleans.
You’ll need to use it for at least 4-5 attractions or tours per day in order to get the biggest discount.
On the other hand, a flex pass will cost approximately $19 per attraction, so you’ll save the most money with this service when you use it for the most expensive activities possible.
We recommend that you take a look at each pass and pick the one that has more attractions or tours you want to enjoy.
Here are a few of the best activities and locations you can visit with these passes:
- Hop on Hop off Bus Tour |
$39 - Creole Queen Jazz Cruise |
$48 - Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour w/ Transportation |
$52 - Audubon Butterfly Garden & Insectarium |
$23 - Audubon Aquarium of the Americas |
$30 - National WWII Museum |
$29 - Mardi Gras World |
$21.50 - Houmas House |
$24 - Audubon Zoo |
$23 - Oak Alley |
$27 - And more!
For more details about these services, please read our post covering New Orleans tourist passes.
If you'd like to purchase a discount pass, you can find one here: All Inclusive - Nashville Go City | Day Pass - New Orleans Sightseeing | Flex Pass - New Orleans Sightseeing
8. Attend a Literary Festival
Booklovers will be happy to discover there are two literary festivals in New Orleans in March!
The 38th annual Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literature Festival takes place from March 20th-24th.
Tickets can be purchased here.
The 3nd annual New Orleans Book Festival takes place at Tulane University from March 14th-16th.
Over 100 authors are expected. A family day is planned for March 16th.
Tickets can be purchased here.
9. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
If you thought the party would stop with Mardi Gras, you clearly underestimate how much this town loves to celebrate.
In New Orleans, St. Patrick’s Day is a multi-week celebration complete with parades and block parties.
While many of the festivities are hosted by pubs and include plenty of drinking, you’ll still find great activities to do with the whole family.
The Irish Channel Parade on March 16th in the Garden District is one of the largest and most interesting parades to attend in New Orleans.
Visitors who are looking for more adult fun should head to Parasol’s Block Party Celebration, a recurring event that takes place in March.
This party lasts for 10 hours, and it’s entirely free to attend.
You might want to bring some money for food and drinks, but the music won’t cost you a dime.
10. See Wildlife in the Swamps
With the weather getting warmer, March might be a good time to head out to the swamps surrounding New Orleans.
This is an excellent opportunity is available in two locations: Bayou Sauvage and Jean Lafitte National Historical Park.
Both sites offer maps, trails and sometimes even special events throughout the year that are free to enjoy.
All you have to do is drive out and enjoy the natural splendor of the swamplands!
Visitors who would rather get a closer look may want to consider going on a professionally guided swamp tour instead.
For more activities you won’t have to pay a dime to enjoy, read our section covering free things to do in New Orleans in March.
TIP: Don’t forget that there are tours of the Jean Lafitte Swamp included with New Orleans tourist passes.
Attend the Freret Street Festival
Held annually in April, the Freret Street Festival was launched in the early 1990s as a celebration of the rebirth of a once dull district.
Locals refer to this area which connects downtown to uptown as “The Middle Passage.”
This free festival extends six blocks and features plenty of live music, food & drink vendors and local art. Over the years the festival has even become very kid-friendly with the addition of a petting zoo, arts & crafts and more.
If you’re looking for more activities and events that won’t cost you a dime, make sure to check our free things to do section.
In 2024 the event is expected to take place again in March.
Visit the Freret Street Festival website for more information.
THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN MARCH
In the following section, we will provide several great activities that you can enjoy in New Orleans after dark in March.
If you’re looking for even more things to do, make sure to check our other sections for even more ideas.
Some of the best nighttime activities in this city are actually included in major New Orleans tourist passes.
For even more great ideas, don’t forget to read our post covering things to do at night in New Orleans.
Go on a Ghost Tour
With over 300 years of history, New Orleans is a city full of tales about the supernatural.
There are many locations that are considered to be haunted, and you can visit many of these sites on our pay-what-you-want French Quarter Ghost Tour.
This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the darker side of NOLA without worrying about your budget.
We also offer a pay-what-you-wish voodoo tour that covers the history behind this spiritual movement and its place in New Orleans culture.
In addition to these opportunities, there are several tour companies that provide similar services in New Orleans, and some of those tours are included with various tourist passes.
A reminder that you can purchase discount tourist passes here: All Inclusive - Nashville Go City | Day Pass - New Orleans Sightseeing | Flex Pass - New Orleans Sightseeing
Attend a St. Patrick Day Balcony Party
This event takes place at night, far above the crowds on Bourbon Street at Cornet Restaurant.
Regular tickets include unlimited premium brand mixed drinks, import & domestic beer. VIP tickets are also available.
The fun takes place on March 17th between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm.
Play Putt Putt After dark.
New Orleans City Park has a lot of wonderful attractions to see, but City Putt is a particularly excellent spot to visit when the sun goes down.
This fairly new putt-putt golf course is open until 10 pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends, ensuring you can visit pretty much whenever you want.
This is an excellent activity for families, but it could also make a pretty fun date night as well.
Tickets are affordable, so you won’t have to worry about breaking the budget.
There are a total of two themed courses to golf with 36 holes to sink.
For more nighttime activities, please read our section devoted to things to do at night in New Orleans this March.
Go to a Jazz Concert
The Ritz-Carlton offers jazz shows multiple times per week.
Jeremy Davenport performs for a live audience on select nights.
NOTE: If you can’t attend one of these shows, you might still have an opportunity to hear some live jazz at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
In the following section, we will provide a selection of the most interesting activities and events available in New Orleans throughout the month of March.
You can find additional ideas for affordable activities on our full post covering free and cheap things to do in New Orleans and in the video below.
Experience Wednesday at the Square
Sponsored by the Young Leadership Council of New Orleans, Wednesday at the Square is a free 12-week concert series every Wednesday at Lafayette Square.
In March 2024, the dates are the 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th.
There are a few chances to catch a show this month, showcasing a variety of local artists who will play everything from jazz, funk, swamp-pop, Latin, rock, and many more genres.
Guests are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets to set up for seating.
There will also be a variety of inexpensive food booths offering local culinary specialties.
Concerts start at 5:00 pm and run until just around 8:00 pm, which makes this a pretty good activity to enjoy at night.
Be sure to check out our post on Tips for Live Music in New Orleans for even more great opportunities to catch live acts this month.
Walk Bourbon Street
This famous street in the French Quarter is always bustling, but especially so in February, while Mardi Gras celebrations are underway.
Just two of the many iconic bars include Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop and the Old Absinthe House.
You can find many places to hear live jazz, but perhaps the most popular takes place in a 200-year-old building, Fritzel’s European Jazz Club.
Read our post on things to do on Bourbon Street.
Celebrate Super Sunday
In most places throughout the country “Super Sunday” refers to the Sunday in which the NFL Super Bowl is played.
However, in New Orleans Super Sunday is a traditional celebration of the Mardi Gras Indian tribes.
It is believed that these tribes date back to antebellum times when escaped slaves lived among Indian tribes in the South, thus adopting much of their customs.
Held as close as possible to St. Joseph’s Day, Super Sunday and its parade will likely take place in March, beginning in A.L. Davis Park.
The procession features around 50 tribes that will be dressed in colorful displays of Native American ceremonial attire.
This spectacle features rituals, dances, and chants as each tribe competes to outdo one another for spectators.
All of the activities of Super Sunday are free and open to the public.
If you’re looking for something fun to do after St. Patrick’s Day, this is an excellent opportunity you won’t want to miss!
Stop by the Mardi Gras Museum
This museum is located at the famous Arnaud’s Restaurant and includes more than two dozen historic costumes and other memorabilia.
If you’re interested in learning about the history of Mardi Gras, this is the perfect time of year to do it! Stop by during restaurant hours to see the collection for free.
See the Mardi Gras Museum website for more information.
Enjoy a Free Wine Tasting Session
Whether you’re interested in learning more about wine or you just want to try some new flavors, this is an excellent opportunity you won’t want to miss.
Every Wednesday, Faubourg Wines provides a free wine tasting event that covers four different wines.
This is a great way to find out about brands and vintages you’ve never tried before.
This service takes place from 5 pm – 7 pm on Wednesday nights. They do not require reservations, so all you have to do is drop in and join the group.
Faubourg Wines recommends arriving before 6:30 pm to ensure that you don’t miss out on any drinks.
With somewhat later hours, this could be a great idea for a nighttime activity.
For more ideas, check out our full post covering free and cheap things to do in New Orleans and in the video below.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN MARCH
This section will include several different activities that you can enjoy with your family in New Orleans during the month of March.
Check our other sections for even more ideas like Wednesday at the Square, Super Sunday, basketball games, musicals, putt-putt golf and more.
Some of the best attractions for kids are included with various New Orleans tourist passes.
If you plan on visiting locations such as the Audubon Zoo, Mardi Gras World or the Louisiana Children’s Museum, these services are a great way to save some money.
We also have a guide to New Orleans with kids for more family-friendly ideas for any time of year.
See the Tulips in City Park
In January, the staff at City Park plants thousands of tulip bulbs around Big Lake. These flowers take about a month and a half to bloom.
March is prime time to see the colorful assortments of these gorgeous flowers all along the lake, and the weather in New Orleans is usually comfortably warm in early spring.
Taking the kids out for a walk or picnic during this spectacular season of the blossom is a great way to spend the day.
While you’re visiting City Park, stop in at Morning Call for beignets, a deep-fried pastry with powdered sugar on top.
Visit our post to find out more about the Best Beignets in New Orleans.
Make the Most of Crawfish Season
March is peak season for a Louisiana favorite – crawfish!
These crustaceans, which resemble small lobsters, are at their highest in population and are large enough to make preparing them worthwhile during the early spring.
Many New Orleans restaurants host crawfish boils this month and include them in a variety of dishes including Gumbo, Jambalaya, and Crawfish Pie.
Being so close to the water, this is one town where you can be sure that your seafood will be fresh and delicious.
Visit our post on Crawfish in New Orleans for tips on where to find the best seafood in the Big Easy this March.
TIP: If you’re interested in learning more about this popular dish, you might want to consider taking our French Quarter Food Tour.
Attend the St. Joseph’s Day Parade
In addition to the Irish Channel Parade, there will also be a similar event in the Italian American St. Joseph’s Day Parade.
This celebration commemorates the relief St. Joseph provided to Sicilian immigrants during a famine in Sicily.
The event features the construction of elaborate altars, ceremonial foods, and of course, the parade.
The parade takes place in the French Quarter and features traditional Italian music backing marchers in black tuxedos, bustling through the streets.
In addition to the classic tunes, there will also be silk flowers, beads and fava beans thrown off the floats.
Hosted by the American Italian Marching Club, this is widely considered to be the largest ethnic group organization in the Southeastern United States.
Go to Carousel Gardens
Although they are closed during the winter, this the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park offers early openings beginning in March.
This popular City Park attraction is basically a theme playground with several different structures related to popular fairy tale characters that children can interact with.
They have over a dozen different rides available, including popular options such as the ferris wheel, the tilt-a-whirl, bumper cars, and – yes – a carousel
NOTE: Admission is free for visitors who purchase tickets to Storyland.
You may also want to consider taking the kids to City Putt, a great mini-golf complex in the park that is open until 10 pm on weekdays.
See Live Music at the National WW2 Museum
Aside from all the fantastic exhibits on display at this museum, they also have a great venue where you can enjoy some great live music.
On March 3rd, the Victory Belles are returning to BB’s Stage Door Canteen. This group of singers performs some of the most popular music from the 1940s.
On March 7th, 13th, 20th and 27th the Lady Legends Matinee Luncheon takes place honoring female singing groups from the 1930s-1960s.
If you want to visit the museum as well, keep in mind that admission is included with both the New Orleans Pass and the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass.
We also have a guide to New Orleans with kids for more family-friendly ideas for any time of year.
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