10 Ways New Orleans Is Celebrating 300 Years
2018 marks New Orleans' Tricentennial — 300 years since Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville sailed 100 miles up the Mississippi River and founded the city of La Nouvelle-Orléans. In celebration, the city is hosting cultural events all year long, events that capture the melting pot that makes up the city's cultural makeup. New Orleans has been preparing for its 300th anniversary with massive projects like a brand-new airport terminal, the announcement of a Four Seasons Hotel, expanding the streetcar line and many other city-wide projects. From fireworks shows to Navy Week and multiple festivals, the city will be bustling with the joie de vivre that it's known for all of 2018.
1. Belgian Saxophone Sculpture Dedication
Namur, Belgium, is honoring the world's jazz capital by dedicating a sculpture of a saxophone to the city of New Orleans. Namur, a region in Belgium, is the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone. The sculpture was painted by Dimitri Perpete and will be presented to the city known as the birthplace of jazz. (April 5)
2. French Quarter Festival
This annual festival occurs two weeks before Jazz Fest. It's the largest showcase of Louisiana music in the world — and a more laid-back version of Jazz Fest with lighter crowds that's free to the public, making it Louisiana's largest free music festival. This year marks the fest's 35th year and will have multiple tricentennial experiences, including a Tricentennial Homecoming Pavilion, which will feature notable figures from the city's history and a One Time in NOLA story booth. Hilton will also sponsor a Tricentennial Stage at the fest. On Saturday, April 14, the festival will wrap up with a fireworks show in honor of the Tricentennial. (April 12-15)
3. NOLA Navy Week
On April 19, ships from the Navy as well as Tall Ships will meet in the Mississippi River near downtown New Orleans. Both sets of ships will be available for the public to tour (free admission) and the Tall Ships will be setting sail on Lake Pontchartrain later in the week. The event will wrap up with a Blessing of the Fleet before they ship out on the high seas. (April 19-25)
4. International Weekend
This weekend will be a celebration of the international influences on the city. International dignitaries from around the world will meet at Gallier Hall, the city's former City Hall and political center. (April 20-22)
5. Voices of Congo Square
This event will take place one night only at the historical Orpheum Theater in downtown New Orleans. It's a unique stage production that's produced by Shaka and Naimah Zulu of Golden Feather Mardi Gras Indian Gallery. The show was created "to address a need in the market for a comprehensive artistic articulation of the evolution of New Orleans music, dance and performance.” The show will bring to life the "rhythmic traditional movement" of the dancers who shaped Carnival as we know it today. (April 20)
6. New Orleans Tricentennial Dog Parade
Parade your furry friends around City Park at this event put on by GambitWeekly and NOLA City Bark. The first 300 dogs to register will have their photo featured in Gambit's Tricentennial issue. In addition to the parade, there will be a costume contest for the most "NOLA-centric" dog costumes. After the parade and contest, celebrate with all the "lucky dogs" in NOLA. (April 22)
7. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Jazz Fest, which has become one of the premiere jazz events around the world, will go beyond the culture and music this year and will include an area dedicated to the multicultural fabric of the city. The fest spans two weekends — the last weekend in April and first weekend in May — and the tricentennial event at the fest will highlight some of the lesser-known influences of the city. The seven-day fest will wrap up with a fireworks show to mark the end of the Jazz & Heritage Festival. (April 27 - May 6)
8. Nola4Women Global Summit on Women and Girls
This month-long global summit will spotlight the challenges women in New Orleans and the surrounding areas still face. The summit will be headlined by women's groups and notable women from around the world to highlight how local women still face struggles 300 years after the city was founded. The event provides a forum for women to speak freely and in the hopes of creating a future where New Orleans women can reach their full potential. (June 1 - 30)
9. Tricentennial Fête des Fromages
This festival celebrates everyone's favorite dairy product: cheese! The festival, hosted by the French-American Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Coast Chapter, will celebrate cheeses from around the world. The event will be held in the French Quarter and will celebrate French culture with wine, music and, of course, cheese. (November 17)
10. Luna Fête
New Orleans will wrap up its 300-year celebration with a festival of lights put on by the New Orleans Art Council. This is different than the average light show: buildings with uniquely NOLA architecture will be used as the canvas for large-scale video and light mapping technology. Luna Fête keeps the New Orleans tradition of street-based celebrations alive with this contemporary light show unlike anywhere else in the world. (December 1 - 31)
Featured photo by Peeter Viisimaa/Getty Images
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.