Down here in New Orleans, we don’t just drink beer—we celebrate it like it’s Carnival season every dang weekend. From backyard brews to bayou beer bashes, the Crescent City’s got a festival for every kind of beer lover. Whether you’re sippin’ something spicy with your crawfish or groovin’ to blues with a barrel-aged stout, we got you covered like a fresh beignet in powdered sugar.
So grab your go-cup, dust off that lawn chair, and let’s take a stroll through the top 10 craft beer events in New Orleans, Louisiana-style.
1. Brews, Boils & Bubbles Festival
📅 When: March 30, 2025 • 12–8 PM
📍 Where: 5000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA
🍺 What’s the Deal: A crawfish boil, local beer, and champagne? Now that’s a trifecta we can toast to. DJs, games, and NOLA food faves round out this lakeside soirée.
🚗 Parking: Plentiful near Lakeshore, but bring patience and maybe a folding fan.
💃 Crowd Pleasers: VIP picnic setups, Instagrammable backdrops, oversized yard games, and that unmistakable springtime breeze off the lake.
2. NOLA on Tap
📅 When: Coming back soon—check their site!
📍 Where: Usually at Lafreniere Park, Metairie
🍺 What’s the Deal: The South’s largest beer fest with hundreds of local and national brews, live music, doggo parades, and more food than your Maw Maw’s Sunday spread.
🚗 Parking: Free at the park, but it fills up faster than a crawfish pot—come early or carpool.
💃 Crowd Pleasers: Giant Jenga, beer pong tourneys, VIP beer tents, and did we mention… dogs?
3. Taproom Takeovers & Brewery Parties
📍 Where: NOLA Brewing, Zony Mash, Urban South, Second Line, Parleaux, and more
🍺 What’s the Deal: Weekly releases, trivia nights, food truck feasts, and surprise collabs. These local legends are the heartbeat of the NOLA beer scene.
🚗 Parking: Varies by ‘hood—Uptown and Bywater can be tight. Bike or Uber if you’re feelin’ fancy.
💃 Crowd Pleasers: Meet-the-brewer nights, pop-up crawfish boils, live brass bands, and beer fresh out the barrel.
4. Jazz Fest Beer Gardens
📅 When: Late April to Early May
📍 Where: Fair Grounds Race Course, Gentilly
🍺 What’s the Deal: You came for the music, but the beer gardens here are underrated gold—cold local brews to wash down crawfish bread while Big Freedia bumps nearby.
🚗 Parking: Parking lots fill up quick—your best bet’s the streetcar or rideshare.
💃 Crowd Pleasers: Legendary music, world-famous eats, shady beer tents, and that unbeatable NOLA vibe.
5. French Quarter Festival
📅 When: Mid-April
📍 Where: All through the French Quarter
🍺 What’s the Deal: It’s free, it’s festive, and it’s full of Louisiana brews and bands. No ticket, no problem. Just stroll, sip, and dance by the river.
🚗 Parking: Just…don’t. Take the ferry, the RTA, or your own two feet.
💃 Crowd Pleasers: Beer booths from every region, oyster-eating contests, street stages, and sunsets on the Mississippi.
6. Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
📅 When: October
📍 Where: Lafayette Square
🍺 What’s the Deal: Slow-smoked meat meets smooth guitar riffs and sudsy local pours. It’s got soul, spice, and a whole lotta smoke.
🚗 Parking: Street and lot options nearby. Bring cash and good walking shoes.
💃 Crowd Pleasers: BBQ sauce competitions, shaded seating, blues legends, and plenty of ice-cold brew.
7. Treme Creole Gumbo Festival
📅 When: Spring
📍 Where: Louis Armstrong Park
🍺 What’s the Deal: Spicy gumbo from every corner of the city—paired with crisp beers made for Southern heat.
🚗 Parking: You’ll want to park in nearby paid lots or hop off at Rampart streetcar.
💃 Crowd Pleasers: Cultural pride, second lines, gumbo cook-offs, and thirst-quenching beer stations.
8. Larry Brew Fest
📅 When: June 21, 2025
📍 Where: Castine Center, Mandeville (just across the lake!)
🍺 What’s the Deal: Small town, big heart—this one’s all about local breweries, pet charities, and toe-tappin’ tunes.
🚗 Parking: Plenty on-site—just follow the signs and the smell of hops.
💃 Crowd Pleasers: Pet adoptions, unlimited beer tastings, food trucks, and air-conditioned bathrooms (we ain’t savages).
9. Mardi Gras Beer Releases & Pop-Ups
📅 When: Feb–March (Carnival Season)
📍 Where: All over—check brewery calendars
🍺 What’s the Deal: You thought king cake was the only thing worth celebrating? Local breweries drop limited-edition beers fit for a krewe.
🚗 Parking: Parade season is chaos. Don’t drive.
💃 Crowd Pleasers: Beads, costumes, and parade route beer tents. Some breweries even throw their own mini-Mardi Gras parties.
10. Holiday Ale Fests & Winter Markets
📅 When: November–December
📍 Where: Convention Center District
🍺 What’s the Deal: Spiced porters, peppermint stouts, and warming winter ales—plus festive markets for local gifts and ornaments with a buzz.
🚗 Parking: Convention Center garages or rideshare.
💃 Crowd Pleasers: Live jazz carolers, fire pits, boozy eggnog, and photo ops with Beer Claus.
🎺 Final Toast: Ain’t No Beer Scene Like a NOLA Beer Scene
New Orleans knows how to party—and when it comes to beer festivals, we turn that dial all the way up to “hold my pint.” Whether it’s spring crawfish and cold lagers or Mardi Gras stouts and funky pop-ups, the beer in this city is as lively as its people.
So next time you’re thirsty for more than just a good pour, hit up one of these festivals, meet the folks behind the foam, and let your taste buds dance like it’s Frenchmen Street at midnight.
Until then, sip slow, dance hard, and don’t forget to hydrate, darlin’. Santé! 🍻
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