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*in Lafayette or extra days in New Orleans Provisional Itinerary

25th Anniversary French Quarter Festival

Monday 7th April
Check-in at your departure airport in time for your indirect flight to New Orleans. On arrival you will be transferred to The Inn on Bourbon, situated on Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter (Vieux Carre). Welcome reception on arrival.

Tuesday 8th April
Familiarisation Walk (Included)
This morning all participants are invited to join a guided orientation / refresher walk around the sites of the French Quarter.
Cabildo (Included)
A guided tour of the Louisiana State Museum, housing thousands of artifacts and works of art reflecting Louisiana’s legacy of historic events and cultural diversity. Jazz themed. Guided by Charles Chamberlain (Curator).
Welcome Party (Included)
Tonight it is time to enjoy your first jazz event, which will be held at the world-famous Preservation Hall with their in-house band. This is a unique and truly special venue and one of the many musical highlights of the tour.

Wednesday 9th April
Cradle of Jazz Tour (Included)
John McCusker, a Times Picayune journalist, jazz historian and friend of the Ken Colyer Trust narrates this tour, which sets the scene for the rest of your time in New Orleans. With music as you travel, John tells the history of jazz, shows where legendary pioneers lived, plus the people and locations associated with Ken Colyer. Exclusive to our tour.
Pool Party (Included)
Enjoy a drink around the pool with the rest of the group while the musicians on the tour entertain you with an ad hoc jazz session. Great fun!
An evening with John McCusker (Included) This evening John McCusker will give a presentation with photo’s and music.

Thursday 10th April
Pre Festival Concert (Optional – tour participation dependant)
A special band at a special venue – The Dew Drop Hall in Mandeville, a popular
dance hall in the roaring 20’s, where the likes of Buddy Petit and Bunk Johnson played. The band traditionally includes great local musicians.

Friday 11th April (Festival Opens)
French Quarter Festival & Parade (Included)
Second Line in the opening Parade of the French Quarter Festival, behind Andrew Hall’s Society Brass Band – our own local band for the parade. The Festival is the largest free music festival in Louisiana, a veritable cultural showcase of food, music and fun, with over 140 bands playing on 14 stages throughout the Vieux Carré. The festival continues well into the evening.

Saturday 12th April (Festival)
The Festival continues all day. Don’t miss the Battle of Bands!

Sunday 13th April (Festival Closes)
Inter-Continental Jazz Brunch (Optional)
A culinary delight and another high point of the tour. Feast on an amazing array of Southern dishes and champagne plus excellent live jazz from their famous resident band including Detroit Brooks, Greg Stafford and Michael White (as seen at Ascona). A day to skip breakfast!

Monday 14th April
Short Tour group transfers from the hotel to the airport in time for your overnight flight home.
Louisiana Music Factory (Included)
Barry Smith, owner of this famous jazz emporium throws opens his store for us laying on a Jazz Band and free drinks, whilst we browse for those hard to find recordings.

Tuesday 15th April
Short Tour group arrives in the UK.

Jean Lafitte Park Visit (Optional)
Today enjoy a trip out to the Barataria Preserve. Spend some time in the visitor centre, viewing the exhibits and watching a 25 minute film before taking a stroll along the 2.5 miles of boardwalk allowing you to visit the variety that is the Bayou. After a picnic lunch we shall take a visit to George Lewis’s grave with chance to explore Algiers, home to so many jazz greats.

Wednesday 16th April
Day at leisure.

Farewell Party (Included)
Exact details currently remain a “surprise”, but expect a fabulous time with music and more with our jazz friends in New Orleans.

Thursday 17th April
Standard Tour group transfers from the hotel to the airport in time for their overnight flight home.

Extended New Orleans group – time to relax for the next three days or spend more time exploring the local area -these days are unaccompanied.

Lafayette group – transfer to Lafayette with Chris & Bill, stopping for lunch en route at Breaux Bridge (own expense). Check in at America’s Best Suites, staying here for the next three nights on a bed and full American breakfast basis. Afternoon visit to Lake Martin Wildlife Reserve. Dinner tonight at a local restaurant (included).

Friday 18th April – the 80th anniversary of Ken’s birth
Standard Tour group arrives in the UK.

Lafayette group – Enjoy a day trip to local attractions such as The Shadows on the Teche Plantation, Bunk Johnson’s Museum or Konriko Rice Mill. Enjoy “Downtown Alive!” Live entertainment from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Saturday 19th April
Lafayette group -Early morning visit to Fred’s Lounge in Mamou for four hours of authentic Cajun music. Tonight enjoy dinner and dancing at a Cajun Restaurant (included).

Sunday 20th April
Lafayette group and New Orleans extended group – transfers from your hotels to New Orleans airport for the overnight flight home.

Monday 21st April
Extended groups arrive in the UK.
 

What's Included

Not Included