| Fest Tips: Enoy your Fest |
| Go to the Official Fest page. Here is all the official Fest information about schedules, message boards, FAQs, and just about anything you might want to know about the Fest: The Official Home of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival |
| Parking: You can park on the fairgrounds, but that is expensive, and a little difficult to get in and out of. On-street parking in the neighborhood isn't recommended. The safety of your person and that of your car are paramount. Public transportation from your Fest digs may be the wisest way to go. Buses and cabs are convenient and pretty cheap. You can also pay residents to park in their yards. We were lucky and found a great place to park (it ain't cheap but it's cool) in a fenced yard right across from the main gate. |
| Gear for the Compleat Festgoer: what to take. SUNGLASSES, HAT, BANDANAS:: Sun protection is essential. Wear bandanas cowboy style and use 'em like the Boy Scout manual said: I often wear two. Protect the back of your neck from the sun, use as a dust mask or sun screen over your nose, as a towel or washcloth, or just wet it and use it to cool yourself. RAIN GEAR : It's rain or shine and no refunds folks, so be prepared to stick it out. SHORTS, and STURDY, COMFORTABLE WALKING SHOES: It's REALLY hot and you're going to be on your feet for a long day. SPARE (THICK) SOCKS: Comfy ones that cushion your feet for a long hot day, in case it rains. BELT WALLET with zippers and snaps : I have this nylon one with a belt loop, zipper compartments and a snap that closes it all up. I can't lose it, and my pocket can't be picked. It's good down in the city too. MONEY: Filthy stuff, but you need it for food and drink. No credit cards for that. ID: So you can remember who you are and prove it to someone else who may want to know. CREDIT CARD: So you can buy CDs, tees, and memorabilia. They take plastic for those. SEATING, e.g. concert chair, beach towel, tarp, sheet, etc. SHADE? WARNING: "Pole" and "Beach" umbrellas with metal poles, sun tents, etc., are restricted but you see regular umbrellas all over the place. FANNY PACK or BACKPACK: I often take both to keep all this stuff. WATER BOTTLE: Fill it from the fountains so you don't have to pay $2 for a small bottled water. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO STAY HYDRATED!!! We've all seen folks being attended because of heat exhaustion. SOFT COLLAPSIBLE COOLER: WARNING: No hard coolers. They won't let you in with a hard ice chest, but you can get by with a cloth one that folds up. You can get ice from the folks at the beer tents, if you buy beer from them. SPRAY BOTTLE, with or without battery operated fan: Some folks have these high tech jobs with little electric fans, but others just use the trigger kind you spray plants with. Quite refreshing they are too. SUNSCREEN: Never mind how tan you are, you're gonna be looking into the sun a lot, and you need it. LIP BALM With SUNSCREEN: Very important, and I won't let you use mine unless you kiss me! ANTACID: Cajun and other spicy food and beer and stuff, ooh, you may need it. ASPIRIN, IBUPROFEN, etc.: Sun, dust, noise, beer, fatigue, could get a headache ya know. TRAVEL WIPES: The things you wipe baby butts with, but they are handy for quick cleanups or refreshers. TOILET PAPER: It''s recommend that you take some of your own, especially if you're female. TALCUM POWDER, with or without cornstarch: In your socks or down your shorts to soak up that chafing sweat. CAMERA, FILM, SPARE BATTERIES: You can take still cameras, but no audio or video recording devices. BINOCULARS: The crowds are REALLY deep at the two large stages. CELL PHONE: There are phones available on the grounds, but you might want people to be able to call you. INEXPENSIVE WALKIE-TALKIES: Forget 'em. They work but the air is jammed with silly talk. POCKET NOTEBOOK or 3 x 5 CARDS, PEN/PENCIL: You're gonna meet people, hear about bands and other stuff, and you will want to write down names, email addresses, web sites, names of CDs, performers, restaurants, street addresses, and all sorts of stuff. I get asked to borrow mine all the time. MAP of the festival grounds and stages: Find one on the Fest home page, www.nojazzfest.com, along with other travel information. SCHEDULE with times and stage locations (This will be published on the official Fest page. Print out the daily schedule "Cubes" before you go and carry them with you. If you forget them, you should be able to pick up a free Offbeat magazine on the way in or you can buy a souvenir program when you get on the grounds. Both will have the daily schedules.) "How ya gonna clap" JAZZ FEST CAN COOSIE: There is usually this nice lady right by the main gate selling these. Convenient neck strap so you can be hands free. I replaced the one that my dog ate, so I shouldn't have to get a new one this year. TOTEM with support pole (flag, wind sock, mobile, puppet, etc.) SEE CAUTION BELOW! People carry flags or some other ornaments on long poles. For many this is a way of marking location so others can find them, and for others it's just a means of self-expression. WARNING: Metal poles are on the forbidden list. Many use telescoping fishing poles or PVC pipe, and there are a number of ways of supporting the poles. OPEN MIND: This one is hard to find, and even harder to keep. |
| Check out the new 2002 admission policies, and then consider the items on our list that you might want. |