Wednesday at the Square

One of my favorite rituals of spring in New Orleans, (and as of a few years ago, it returns in the Fall too). It’s a weekly fundraiser for the Young Leadership Council so even though its a free concert series, bring plenty of cash. You’ll need it for the drinks, the food and the crafts. You can’t bring in your own food/​drinks because they do try to enforce that at the major entrances, and why would you? It’s a fundraiser and its free entertinament that you would likely pay a hefty cover charge to see elsewhere. Grab a blanket or a chair and claim a piece of ground for 3 hours of the top talent of local musicians every Wednesday from 5 – 8 pm.

Tourist or local, this is a fun, tame, family friendly way to experience New Orleans in a a nutshell, or a Square in this case.
This concert series is primo for anyone working in the area since it’s starts right at 5pm. If you don’t work in the area, bite the bullet, and pay to park in a lot or else you’ll be missing out for about an hour or so scavenging for a parking spot.
Also don’t plan on bringing that XL double shot White Russian in… the concessions keep the music free.
I always enjoy bringing out-​of-​towners to Wednesdays at the Square because while Wednesday in New Orleans isn’t devoid of a music scene, it’s a great way to get your weekend started early, like midweek early. It’s also a great place to meet up with a big group of friends or catch up with friends from all walks of life. I’ve never met a pup at WATS that wasn’t friendly, and my favorite food vendor is Crepes A La Cart, ’cause it’s just so handy when you still want to jive, drink a beer, and eat at the same time. I know they’ve brought in artist/​craft vendors before, but I’m not sure how well it’s worked out. I think it’s great for the out of towners to get a super mini version of what our art festivals might look like. I’ve always enjoyed checking them out though I’m usually saving all my cashola for brews and bites.
If anything, you need to stay to the end. The headliners usually stay on a bit longer, and put on a great show. And, like I said, it’s free.

I love Wednesday at the a Square! I don’t work downtown so I will always drive in for it.
Many people seem to love it also they bring their kids and dogs. I love the food but some options can be pricey selections range from $ 3 – 8. You can sample food from Lucy’s to Theo’s pizza here. I love trying food from vendors who don’t have their restaurants yet like Miss Linda Yakamein Lady and Cook Me Somethin Mister Jambalaya.
I love that some of the sponsors are The New Orleans Saints and Pelicans so you get an opportunity to see Gumbo or the Dance Squads and take photos of or with them. If you are lucky you may even catch a shirt that they shoot with a blaster in the Crowd.
The only drawback to the Park I think is not enough seating area closer to the stage.
This is my favorite way of discovering bands unfamiliar to me! I highly recommend it to locals and tourist if you happen to be nearby on Wednesdays during Spring/​Summer/​Fall

A great place to land after a day at work or for an enjoyable mid week adventure. The Square is beautiful with lots of trees and places to stand or sit. All while listening to some great local music with no admission cost.
In addition there is food, beer, and artwork. Companies set up tents and, if invited, the affair can really be nice. That way the accoutrements can be even better.
The weather is now cooperating big time with the outing. And one of the best experiences of all at the event is the pets that participants bring to enjoy the music and the people.

Wednesday at the Square is an awesome event, especially if you work in the CBD. It starts right after most people finish work, and there is plenty of food and drinks. The music acts are usually pretty good, and it’s FREE to get in!
They only ask that you don’t bring outside food and drink because concession sales help fund the concerts. I’m more than happy to oblige.

Great spring festival concert series featuring local artists and great food.

Was in NOLA for business and was told about this little gem. Cheap beer. Cheap food provided by a variety of venders that make some amazing food. Add in lots of local musicians.
Solid gold.

Went to the Trombone Shorty concert last night. Perfect way to relax after a long day at work. Bring a blanket/​chairs and whatever/​whomever else makes you happy. Good place to watch people dancing and having a good time. There’s one more concert left for this year (I think).
The food is awesome because you can try the flavors of popular restaurants in the area without committing to a whole dinning experience. Each booth takes tickets; prices range anywhere from 4 – 12 tickets. You can buy tickets with cash or credit cards.

I really wish we had something like this in Atlanta (where I live). Good music, food, and brews. It’s a great way to spend an evening when the weather is fine.

This is a really nice free event. It’s a great way to try out a bunch of delightful food from little shops all over the city. And while you’re doing that you can enjoy some good music and a fun crowd and some Abita. Sure there were other drinks, but I always try to support the local brewery. When they’re awesome, it’s easy to do.

If you are looking for something fun and inexpensive o do mid-​week during the spring go to WATS! You need to buy tix o get food/​drink but all sales go towards the Young Leadership Council. I’ve seen some great local bonds here.

A police officer directing traffic told us about the Wednesday night concerts at the Square. We walked over and had the best time. It was like a mini mini Jazz Festival. Lots of food vendors, live music on a big stage and vendors selling arts and crafts. We got there late but had a great time in that atmosphere. We brought chairs and were glad we did.

One of the best events in Nola – free music, great time of the year and all the best food/​drinks, all on the streetcar line. You can bring a chair or a blanket and sit in the chair area or stand next to the stage or anywhere around the square to take in the show. There are artist and community group booths to visit as well.
Marcia Ball plays every year, which is pretty amazing. This year she even had a special guest appearance from Irma Thomas. This kind of talent for free, really? Even better, the crowds are never too horrible and people are so friendly. I wanted some pictures close to the acts and the people in front of me were more than gracious letting me get closer. I wish all concerts were like that. Proceeds benefit Young Leadership Council which is a group focused on supporting civic projects in New Orleans. Free music and good food/​drinks for a good cause.

there is no place like New Orleans
Okay, FREE music from TOP ACTS during the MID-​WEEK? So much talent and entertainment in this city it is overflowing. This is a GREAT opportunity to bring the casual music fan or expose kids to the wonderful performers this city is home to.
Whats even more mind-​blowing is that when this ends, Wednesday at the Point will be kicking off not long after it (MORE FREE FREAKING MUSIC!!!)
Here are highlights from the first night in 2013
If you are contemplating attending (and why wouldn’t you?) make sure you go April 17^th when the Revivalists play… they will DELIVER!

October in Louisiana is the perfect time for outdoor events.
The Square is the best place to kick back on a Wednesday afternoon.
The New Orleans Second Harvest receives proceeds from this concert.
The food venders were diverse, beer and wine were available and bringing my own chair made it a perfect night.
Relax, listen, drink, laugh and enjoy October.

Today is the first day of summer and WATS is done with until fall– leaving us to actually pay for our amazing music for a while.
Wednesday at the Square (Lafayette Sq) is so special. It is super awesome that the shows are all free (i know, crazy!), the bands are all super good (I finally got to see Galactic here!), and the people all come together really well to have a good time.
Feel free to bring a chair or blanket or just wander around on foot. You’ll see families with small children all the way up to older folks enjoying themselves every Wednesday afternoon. I don’t usually love a super crowded hot area (no one down here gives you personal space like they do up North) but people are usually really respectful and just out to have a good time while letting you have yours.
No outside food or drink is allowed but they have tons of vendors selling everything from beer to feather earrings. Trust me and show up once, you’ll have a good time with the rest of your city and it’s free!

Another wonderful way to enjoy some FREE live music in a smoke-​free environment, but this time on a Wednesday evening, downtown at Lafayette Square. The line up is consistently Stellar. The food selection includes a nice variety of stuff for all eating styles. For libations, you get a wide range of options like, beer, iced coffee, wine & cocktails, daiquiris, plus sodas and water. But you HAVE to hit the ticket booth first! ($ 4 for an abita, and $ 5 – 8 for the food choices.)
There is a small arts market set up on the opposite side from the music giving you a FULL-​ON festival experience. And with any festival, if you need a campsite you should get there early, but floating around is a good route to go if you want to see your friends.
Arts & crafts, food, beverages, and FREE MUSIC… I LOVE this town!

Come every Wednesday during the season for free live music and great food! It’s free to attend. Event parking is about $ 10 at area lots. Also, I highly suggest that you bring cash to buy tickets for food/​drinks: $ 1 per ticket. Although they have a portable ATM, that line is long. There is also have a bike valet, to park your bikes.
Overall, this is a wonderful after-​work mini vacay in the CBD, where you can sample local yummy-​goodness, buy locally created art/​jewelry/​clothing and hear local musicians croon the evening away.

This is a cool event. Kudos to the YLC for putting on this great event.
The 12 week free concert series takes place in Lafayette Square and has great local vendors and great music. At the last event the Radiators played and talked about retirement. Of course the have been threatening retirement since at least 1994, but they put on a great show anyway.
For the food and drinks you need tickets. Each ticket is $ 1, and beers are four tickets. Abita was on hand with Jockamo IPA, Amber and another kind I can’t remember.
There are several parking garages and lots in the area. Just remember not to park in front of the courthouse or you will be towed.

Wednesday at the Square has become a rite of spring in New Orleans, and I look forward to the concert series every year. And I’m pretty sure I’m not alone…
Wednesday at the Square, fondly known as WATS among staff and volunteers, is a free 12-​week concert series in Lafayette Square that takes place each spring from April-​June. It’s been around for, almost 10 years now, I think, and was originally started by the Downtown Development District. The Young Leadership Council, who traditionally provided volunteers for the event, took it over entirely post-​Katrina when the DDD was forced to scale back and focus on things like clean, safe streets and other recovery-​related issues.
The YLC took WATS to unprecedented levels of success (which, I think, was partly fueled by the post-​K desire for community and positive events, which this is an excellent example of), and this concert series effectively doubled the nonprofit’s yearly operating budget. How do I know all this? Because I used to work for YLC, and had the distinct pleasure of working on WATS for 2 ½ seasons, right when they made the transition from DDD to YLC management.
Working on an event like WATS, with the 3 person staff that YLC had at the time, was a tremendous amount of work, but I still miss the days when I was running around the Square paying security/​bands/​vendors, coordinating the armored truck and, once, figuring out how to operate a fire hydrant. It was definitely an adventure.
The best part about being involved with WATS, though, was the fact that I could say, as a nonprofit employee, my salary is *entirely* funded by beer sales. Which makes the YLC’s annual Role Model Awards Gala, their other major source of operating funds, an event whose revenue goes 100% to programs. It’s pretty cool to see. The YLC is a great organization in general, WATS is an amazing cultural asset that New Orleans offers, and it’s awesome that things have worked out the way that they have.
About the event itself: the concerts are free, and are paid for by food and beer sales (as well as sponsorship dollars). As a result, no outside food or drinks are allowed, and I believe the event recently became non-​smoking, as well.
Food vendors range from Sushi to Lucy’s to Rotolo’s pizza, and Abita Amber, Abita Light, Purple Haze and Turbo Dog are available for 3 tickets. (FYI, you can’t buy food or booze with cash at the Square – you have to buy tickets, which are used as currency. They’re good for the entire series, but once the season is over, your tickets can no longer be used. i.e. You can’t use 2009 tickets for the 2010 series. Don’t even try.)
The lineup is usually announced several weeks in advance, and you can visit
for updates and information. You may even be able to purchase tickets in advance via the website.
There is, of course, a full bar available in addition to beer, plus snowballs and sometimes daiquiris and coffee. You’re welcome to bring your kids, your dog, your friends and family, coworkers, etc. WATS is in the heart of the CBD, goes from 5 – 7:30 p.m., and therefore is much beloved by the after-​work crowd. (Though I know for a fact that people come from the Northshore and Mississippi just for these events.)
The show DOES go on, rain or shine, so if you’re wondering about that pending thunderstorm, don’t bother. WATS will happen no matter how hard it’s raining. And usually only the most hardcore of fans brave the rain. More often than not, though, it only looks like it’ll rain, and the weather ends up being gorgeous.
You can attempt to find parking on the street (good luck), or there’s a garage on the Square that offers discounted parking on Wednesday nights. It’s about $ 4, I think.
Post-​WATS people head to Lucy’s and, now, Capdeville, both of which get PACKED after the Square.
What else? No cash, buy tickets (you can use credit cards now!), bring your dog, don’t bring beer… I think that pretty much covers it. And know that your fun and beer money is going to support a very worthwhile organization, so it’s a win-​win-​win for everybody.