Every spring — late April & early May

JAZZ FEST NOLA

Music. Food. Friends. All weekend. The definitive guide to experiencing Jazz & Heritage Festival with your whole crew.

Get the Guide

Why Bring Your Crew to Jazz Fest

🎶

14 Stages of Music

From legends to local brass bands. Split up, explore, meet back up. There's something for everyone.

🍽

Festival Food

Crawfish bread, cochon de lait, mango freeze. The food alone is worth the trip.

🏠

Private Base Camp

Private villas with pools for recovery between festival days. No hotel crowds.

The Two Weekends

Jazz Fest Schedule

Weekend 1

The Opening

Last weekend of April. Typically features huge headliners and the classic opening ceremonies.

  • Thursday - Sunday
  • Fair Grounds Race Course
  • Gates open at 11am daily
  • Music ends at 7pm
Weekend 2

The Finale

First weekend of May. Often has the biggest names and the most epic closing sets.

  • Thursday - Sunday
  • Same venue, same format
  • Locals' favorite weekend
  • Sunday finale is legendary
Base Camp

Where Your Crew Stays

Modern villa with private pool and lawn at Castleday Retreats in the Bywater, New Orleans

Private Villas with Pools

After a full day at the festival, you need space to recover. Private villas with heated pools, chef's kitchens, and a real bed for everyone — bring 16 and most of your crew gets their own room.

  • Private heated pools & hot tubs for post-fest recovery
  • Up to 12 bedrooms & 17 real beds per villa
  • Chef's kitchens for group meals
  • Bywater base — live-music spots like Bacchanal & Vaughan's within walking distance
  • No hotel parking nightmares
See Properties
Word from the Crew

Groups Who've Stayed

"Thank you Max and the CastleDay team... The area is more residential but with several places with live music that are walking distance... we didn't have any issues getting Ubers for 25."

Verified guest review

25 guests from across the US • June 2025

"If you're considering this property for a large gathering of any type, stop considering and just book. 10/10!"

Verified guest review

15-person family reunion • July 2025

"A stunning, modern space… beautifully decorated with vibrant colors that instantly uplifted our mood. This is a hidden gem."

Verified guest review

Group of 16 • March 2025

"We'd give this 10/5 stars if we could."

Verified guest review

20-person wedding • March 2026

Real reviews from guests at Castleday Retreats, our featured property — rated 4.98 across 99 stays.

Book Early for Jazz Fest

Jazz Fest weekends are some of the most in-demand dates in New Orleans — villas that hold 14-30 people are scarce and book months out.

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