Wednesday at the Square
March 14 - May 30, 2012

When: Wednesdays from March 14 - May 30, 2012 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Where: Lafayette Square Cost: FREE! More Info: Click Here Watch a fun video about Wednesdays at the Square

Looking for something free and exciting to do in downtown New Orleans on a Wednesday afternoon in the spring? Come to Lafayette Square for a taste of great New Orleans music, food and fun!

Wednesday at the Square, sponsored by the Young Leadership Council of New Orleans, presents a series of free outdoor concerts by well-known New Orleans and Louisiana artists that will liven up your spirits and maybe even get you into a dancing mood. Elevated above the crowd on a big sound stage, bands perform a wide variety of indigenous musical styles, including jazz, rock, gospel, funk, swamp pop, Latin rhythms and more. In addition, you will be treated to the sounds of some of New Orleans' most famous brass bands.
You can bring your own chairs or blankets and sit on the ground. The front of the stage is reserved for dancing.

Musical Entertainment

The YLC recently announced the dates for the Spring 2012 Wednesday at the Square concert series. The dates and lineup is as follows:

• March 14 - Honey Island Swamp Band + The Soulabilly Swamp Boogie Band
• March 21 - Tea Leaf Green + Colin Lake
• March 28 - Big Sam's Funky Nation + The Wise Guys
• April 4 - Dirty Dozen Brass Band + Gravy
• April 11 - Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk + Brass-A-Holics "Gogo Brass Funk" Band
• April 18 - Theresa Andersson + Mia Borders
• April 25 - Tab Benoit's Swampland Jam + Amanda Shaw and the Cute Guys
• May 2 - Marcia Ball + The Pinettes Brass Band
• May 9 - Karl Denson's Tiny Universe + Robin Barnes
• May 16 - Jeremy Davenport + Breton Sound
• May 23 - Trombone Shorty + Hot 8 Brass Band
• May 30 - Walter Wolfman Washington + Billy Iuso

Concerts are held rain or shine. If rain is in the forecast wear your raincoat or poncho and a hat. The show will go on regardless. The list of participating musicians will be announced and published in February.

The shows start at 5:00 p.m. and end at 8:00, an hour later this year than in the past.

Food Booths and Concessions

All around Lafayette Square are food booths and concessions offering local culinary specialties: everything from fabulous entrée items to yummy desserts. And, to wash it all down, a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are also offered for sale.

All food and beverage items must be purchased with tickets that are sold on the grounds. Food and beverage tickets may also be purchased in advance, which will allow you to avoid long lines at the on-site ticket counters. This can be done online through the YLC by clicking here. There is an advance order minimum of $20.

Food and beverage sales are what help sponsor the events and keep them admission-free. For this reason no outside food or beverages may be brought in to any of the events.

Artist's Village

In addition to some of the world's best food and music, New Orleans also boasts a thriving community of artists and artisans. You will meet many of these talented individuals at the Wednesday at the Square Artist's Village, a grouping of booths and tents featuring their work and offering it for sale.

At any given time you are as likely to see colorfully imaginative abstract paintings as you are to see standard artwork showing popular New Orleans landmarks. Skilled craftspersons will be offering fabulous jewelry creations and souvenir knickknacks that will forever remind you of your visit to this charming city. And, from the Cajun Country to the west of New Orleans, you are likely to see realistic-looking duck decoys and other creative wood carvings, all offered for sale at reasonable prices.

Other Details

Lafayette Square is located just one block off of Poydras Street, between St. Charles Avenue and Camp Street, opposite the Federal Court buildings. It is within convenient walking distance from all downtown hotels.

For those who drive to the event, parking is available in nearby garages or on the adjacent streets where there are parking meters. Paid, on-street parking ends at 6:00 p.m. If you arrive before that time bring enough quarters to feed the meters or the nearest automated parking machine until 6:00. Six quarters ($1.50) will cover you for one hour. Cars parked by expired meters or not displaying a paid parking receipt on the dashboard will be ticketed. Cars blocking driveways, parked too close to corners or in other restricted zones may be towed. For more information on parking regulations and restrictions click here.

Pets are allowed in the square during the concerts, provided they are on a leash no longer than six feet at all times. If they display aggressive behavior the owner may be asked to remove them.