New Orleans experiences spring-like weather in March, which means that the azaleas and bridal wreath are in bloom and the sun is out. One of the most comfortable times of the year, especially for all the outdoor events and celebrations that take over the city in March, is due to the mild weather.
Both Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day are significant celebrations that draw large crowds of locals and tourists to the French Quarter. But keep in mind that because of these occasions, you’ll need to make your reservations well in advance, pay more for your hotel and airfare, and deal with large tourist crowds. However, the crowds of New Orleans in March are much less intense after Mardi Gras ends in February.
New Orleans Weather In March
The month of March is a beautiful time to travel to New Orleans. Without the oppressive humidity that stifles the city in the summer, the weather is agreeable, largely sunny, and pleasantly warm. Even the evening temperatures are pleasant for being outside, making it simple to stroll around in a T-shirt and jeans during the day.
- Average High Temperature: 73 degrees F (23 degrees C)
- Average Low Temperature: 54 degrees F (12 degrees C)
While it won’t be as wet and stormy as the summer, March typically gets about 4 inches of rain, so some rain is likely to fall during your trip. March is not a month of prolonged rain; instead, it is a month of light, brief bursts of precipitation.
March Events In New Orleans
There are many things to do in New Orleans throughout the springtime, but March is particularly packed with events, festivals, and activities.
- Mardi Gras: This is by far the largest celebration in NOLA; be prepared for numerous parades, vibrant costumes, live music, and free-flowing alcohol (in the bars and on the streets). In 2023, Mardi Gras will end on February 21.
- Soul Fest at the Audubon Zoo: Live jazz, blues, and gospel performances are being held at the Zoo’s Capital One Bank Stage as part of this event, which is being sponsored by AARP Real Possibilities. There will also be delicious soul food available.
- New Orleans Home & Garden Show: Held atthe Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, this annual event offers seminars and exhibitors about all things related to gardening, plus a Bayou Battle of the Build competition among local high schools. March 24–26, 2023 will see the Home & Garden Show.
- St. Patrick’s Day: Parades in the Mardi Gras style, an Irish Channel block party, and a holiday festival are all held in the days preceding March 17 as part of the festivities.
- St. Joseph’s Day: Italian-American Street Joseph’s Day Parade in the French Quarter features floats, marching bands, and more. The parade typically takes place on the weekend closest to the holiday, which falls on March 19.
- Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival: Heldin the One of the largest book festivals in the country has been held in the French Quarter since 1986., designed for readers, writers, theater lovers, and New Orleans fans.
- The Buku Project: Hip-hop, indie rock, electronic dance music, and other genres can be heard at this comprehensive arts and music festival in March.
- Spring Fiesta: Experience a local spring custom in New Orleans. At Jackson Square, the Spring Fiesta Queen and her court are presented as part of the festival, which also features a parade of horse-drawn carriages through the French Quarter. Historic residences and gardens can also be toured.
- Top Taco: Foodies and gourmet taco fans should visit Woldenberg Park to sample some of the best New Orleans restaurants’ signature cocktails and gourmet tacos. The PLEASE Foundation receives the money and uses it to mentor at-risk students and provide them with leadership development opportunities and scholarships.
15 Things To Do In New Orleans In March Every Year
Cheer On Some Weenies At The Fair Grounds
You’re in for a treat if all you expected from the track was horse racing. The seventh annual Wiener Dog Racingcompetition takes place on at the New Orleans Fair Grounds on March 7, 2020. A group of more than 40 purebred dachshunds compete for cash awards each year. Four semi-final heats of twelve dogs each are created for the dogs. The first, second, and third place wieners of each heat will then compete for the championship in the final race. Ever see some wiener dogs run in a group? Your heart will undoubtedly be warmed by it. Entry into the clubhouse costs $11.50 in addition to the $6.50 general admission fee. Younger children (12 and under) are not charged.
Dine Outdoors With An Extra Hour Of Sunlight
The end of winter and the unofficial beginning of spring are both marked by Daylight Saving Time in March. In March, New Orleans experiences beautiful weather, so why not take advantage of the extra hour of daylight to eat outside? Enjoy a few happy hours or look for a table on the balcony at one of the best restaurants in the area. Bring your agendas, and begin planning how you’re going to spend this jam-packed NOLA spring.
Slurp Up A Snowball
Winter hibernation lasts from November through February, and with spring just around the corner, local seasonal snowball shops reopen their doors (or windows). Snowballs are still available in the off-season, but purists prefer to save these special treats for the spring and summer. Locals are very devoted to their favorite snowball stands, many of which are ingrained in the community (such as Hansen’s and Plum Street Snowballs). Bring some cash to your favorite snowball vendor and choose from the many flavors. In addition to strawberry and bubble gum, more sophisticated flavors are becoming more popular (my current favorite is Pandora’s praline cream with condensed milk).
Fill Up On Tacos At Top Taco
Top Taco returns for its fourth year celebrating its namesake, the taco. The festival takes place in March at Woldenberg Park, and admission includes endless samplings of tacos and specialty drinks from participating restaurants like Baru, Central City BBQ, El Pavo Real, La Casita, and more. The PLEASE Foundation, which gives at-risk New Orleans students mentoring, leadership development, and scholarships, will gain from Top Taco.
Indulge In Seafood During Lent
Lent, a solemn season during which Catholics abstain from indulgence, begins on Ash Wednesday (February 26). Catholics fast and avoid meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays as part of their Lenten observance, frequently choosing seafood instead. In New Orleans, this may or may not be considered a hardship because our seafood is seasoned to perfection and world-renowned. Take advantage of the chance to eat out in March at one of the many seafood restaurants in the area, such as Casamento’s, Frankie and Johnny’s, GW Fins, or Pêche. As an alternative, stop by one of the many po-boy restaurants in the area and get a fried shrimp or oyster po-boy. Or, go really casual and enjoy a platter of crawfish at a local establishment like Markey’s or Mid City Yacht Club (suck the heads like the locals do). Throughout the entire month of March, the Lenten season continues.
Wear Green For St. Patrick’s Day
Just when you thought you would have to wait another year to revel at a parade, St. Observances of St. Patrick’s Day begin. The biggest celebrations in New Orleans take place over the weekend of March 13–15 and feature block parties at Parasol’s and Tracy’s in the Irish Channel (March 14), as well as parades: catch throws like cabbage and Irish Spring soap performing at the Irish Channel parade on March 14 at 1:00 p.m.), or sip a frozen Irish coffee is served during the Irish Parade at Molly’s at the Market on March 13 at 6:00 p.m.). Beginning in March, the Downtown Irish Club marches from Markey’s and Bud Rip’s in the Bywater to the French Quarter.
Sip A Good Drink At The Bourbon Festival
The fourth annual New Orleans Bourbon Festival is ideal if you enjoy fine bourbon and are looking for a classy evening out. The festival features seminars on subjects like Bourbon History, grand tastings, bourbon pairing dinners, a Trixie Minx burlesque show, and more in addition to tastings in a setting reminiscent of a 1920s speakeasy.
Lose Yourself At Buku Music + Art Project
The BUKU Music + Art Project, also known as BUKU, is an underground/house party-themed music festival. Numerous musicians, particularly those from the EDM, hip-hop, and indie rock genres, perform on the stages at Mardi Gras World in March. The lineup for this year features artists like Tyler the Creator, Flume, Illenium, Glass Animals, Megan Thee Stallion, Charli XCX, and others. The festival will also feature pop-up street performers and art exhibits in addition to music.
Celebrate The Super Sunday Tradition
The most significant day of the year for “gangs” of Mardi Gras Indians is March 15; they will parade through the streets decked out in feathers and sequins. Mardi Gras Indians, a subculture of regional Carnival customs that developed amid racial tensions in the 1800s, are today a beloved component of the city’s living heritage. The Mardi Gras Indian Council hosts the biggest and most renowned celebration, which kicks off in Central City at A.L. around noon. Davis Park is located at the intersection of Washington Avenue and LaSalle Street. Visit Super Sunday to see the elaborate handmade suits that the Indians spend the entire year crafting and to enjoy the street dancing. Respectfully, you should only take pictures of Indians with their permission.
You Can Purchase Fava Beans At The St. Joseph’s Day Parade
Sicily is said to have experienced a drought during the Middle Ages. Those in need prayed to St. Their patron saint for rain is Joseph. The fava bean provided food for the people during this trying time, and after the drought was over and the rains came, they made a vow to give thanks annually on the Feast of St. In the middle of the 1800s, Sicilian immigrants brought their mythology and tradition to New Orleans. local St. Patrick’s Day festivities today Joseph’s Day is celebrated with a parade and altars in Catholic homes and churches all over the city (many of which are open to the public). The Italian-American St. John’s Parade was organized by them every year. Catch a kiss, if you want it, or a lucky fava bean, from a marching man wearing a tuxedo in Joseph’s Society.
Indulge In The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience
The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience brings over a thousand wines from all over the world together in one location every spring. Throughout the festival, savor grand tastings, stroll through the French Quarter, and partake in special dining occasions. Learn from wine experts about their trade, party in style at the Tournament of Roses, and finish the festival with a burlesque show and brunch. NOWFE is held in the month of March in the heart of New Orleans.
Marvel At Local Church Architecture
Whether or not you consider yourself religious, Lent is a great time to visit some of New Orleans’ historic churches and other religious structures. New Orleans was and continues to be a heavily Catholic city as a result of its colonial history under French, Spanish, and then French rule again. Churches were constructed to serve the local Catholic communities as the neighborhoods surrounding the city grew and expanded. Numerous places of worship, including Immaculate Conception and St. It is still possible to visit Holy Name of Jesus and Augustine. However, as neighborhoods’ demographics have changed, some churches have inevitably lost their religious following but have been renovated for other uses. Examples of this kind include the Felicity Church and the Marigny Opera House.
Celebrate Dance In New Orleans
Ballet performances in New Orleans are at their best in March. Spring Collection, an evening of contemporary and Neo-classical works by acclaimed local and international choreographers, is the New Orleans Ballet Theater’s return performance for the spring season. The New Orleans Ballet Association will host Houston Ballet, which will perform at the Mahalia Jackson Theater on March 28. This will be the company’s first visit to New Orleans in more than ten years. After a sold-out performance on March 27 at the Marigny Opera House in 2018, Marigny Opera Ballet’s Follies of 1915 is back.
Attend The Tennessee Williams Festival
The 34th edition of the annual Tennessee Williams Literary Festival is planned for March. A celebration of the life and works of playwright Tennessee Williams, best known for his play A Streetcar Named Desire, the festival will includes writer’s craft sessions, panel discussions, celebrity interviews, theater, food, and music events, walking tours, a book fair, and more.
Eat Up At Hogs For The Cause
Hogs for the Cause, an annual event, is the place to satisfy your cravings if you love meat. Hogs has quickly become a favored local event. Its goal is to raise money to support the families of children with brain cancer. The festival, which is slated for March, is focused on a friendly competition between barbecue chefs. 85 local and regional barbecue chefs, both professional and amateur, compete yearly in seven categories: Whole Hog, Ribs, Pork Butt/Shoulder, Porkpourri, Sauce, Fan Favorite, and Fundraising Champion. Live music and local beer go well with the barbecue.
March Travel Tips In New Orleans
- Since March is a popular month to visit New Orleans, plan ahead by booking your travel arrangements and lodging well in advance. In particular, if Mardi Gras falls during the month, be ready for large tourist crowds. Wait times in restaurants could be very long.
- Even though it should be a beautiful day, you never know when a light rain might start, so as you explore the area, pack an umbrella or rain jacket.
- Although New Orleans is a great city for exploring on foot, visitors can also use buses, ferries, streetcars, and rideshare services. During significant events like Mardi Gras, ridesharing vehicles may charge higher rates.
