5 Things To Do in New Orleans in autumn

New Orleans is known around the world for its incredible music heritage, and October’s Music Month shines a spotlight on the city’s diverse musical traditions, while celebrating contemporary talent and highlighting the stars of tomorrow. With a three-day music industry conference, nightly live shows and a series of weekend festivals, this city-wide event draws visitors from around the world in recognition of its importance as a centre for music innovation, education and business.

NOLAxNOLA kicks off Music Month in late September with 10 days of wall-to-wall music, comedy and cabaret, performed in more than 50 bars, clubs, hotels and music halls, promoting The Big Easy’s thriving and diverse entertainment scene. From trad jazz to rock and rap, name a music genre, and a venue somewhere in New Orleans will be showcasing it in one of the city’s historic venues, or on a street corner in the French Quarter and beyond.

Make the most of more comfortable climes and head outside for an adventure. Designated a bicycle-friendly city by The League of American Bicyclists, New Orleans is perfect for exploring on two wheels, with little elevation, plenty of rental shops offering pedal and e-bikes, narrow streets and slow traffic.  Ride along the levees on the banks of the Mississippi, cycle under the oak trees at Audubon Park, explore City Park and Lake Pontchartrain, or join a guided bike tour of the French Quarter, Antebellum Garden District, Warehouse Arts District and beyond.

Prefer to explore on two feet? Take a leisurely stroll through some of the parks such as Lafitte Greenway with its farmers markets or the sculpture garden at City Park which offers intriguing outdoor art installations.

Cool off in the shade of the swamp with a tour, or explore under your own steam by kayak. There are so many ways to make the most of the fresh air here.

Sitting on the banks of the legendary Mississippi River and overlooking the largest inland body of water in Louisiana, Lake Pontchartrain, you’re never far from a water-based adventure in the “Crescent City”, nicknamed after the bend in the river.

The second-longest river in North America, the Mississippi is a critical transportation route, and The Port of New Orleans is one of the world’s busiest ports. A steamboat cruise is a must, and by joining a jazz lunch, brunch or dinner on one of NOLA’s historic ships, like Steamboat Natchez, you’ll be celebrating one of the city’s oldest traditions.

Take a sunset cruise of Lake Pontchartrain, or paddle along Cane Bayou, following in the wake of the region’s Native American peoples, and explore the lake’s shores by kayak or canoe. Lake Pontchartrain and Bayou St. John are excellent spots for paddle boarders, too, with NOLA Paddleboards offering SUP hire and instruction.

It may be a city of nearly 360,000 people, but in New Orleans, you’re never far from Louisiana’s natural wonders.

NOLA’s ancient, Spanish moss-draped oak trees offer a constant, comforting nod to the resilience of nature, and you’ll find some of the oldest in City Park, where oaks have stood for up to 900 years. The park has a birding trail and botanical garden, too, while Audubon Park is a mecca for wading birds including herons, ibis and egrets.

Known for its Creole cottages, Esplanade Avenue is a peaceful, tree-lined boulevard to savour some quiet time in the city, and Longue Vue House & Gardens hosts concerts, autumn festivals and yoga sessions in the sanctuary of its 15 gorgeous gardens.

With more than 26,000 acres of wildly beautiful wetlands, Barataria Preserve in the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve offers incredible wildlife viewing, with the chance to see alligators, turtles, hummingbirds and more.

What better time for a foodie feast than in the autumn? Food is a big deal in The Big Easy, and NOLA celebrates its culinary traditions with exciting festivals across the city.

Krewe of Boo! Parade kicks off Halloween season which sees a parade of creatively designed floats pass by with riders throwing tricks and treats to the crowd below. The festivities also include other fun activities such as a Zombie Run.

There’s also the Beignet Fest at City Park, with endless flavours filling the traditional deep-fried pastries, pronounced “ben-yey”, introduced by French-Creoles in the 18th century.

Hispanic Heritage Month showcases the restaurants keeping Hispanic culture alive, long after the Spanish left New Orleans in 1802, while Oktoberfest, presented by Deutsches Haus in Mid-City, celebrates Germany, with music, dancing, beers and authentic German foods including sausages, sauerkraut, Bavarian-style pretzels and cheeses. Even the city’s favourite Po’ Boy – a stuffed-to-bursting French-bread sandwich – is honoured at the annual Oak Street Po-Boy Festival, with more than 40 vendors, music and a parade.