72nd Annual Spring Fiesta & Historic Home Tours March 29-April 6
Springtime in New Orleans is a special time when the weather is warm and pleasant, the flowers are in full bloom and nature’s life cycles are reborn. It is also, very appropriately, the time when New Orleans opens its hearts and homes in a celebration of its colorful history and unique culture.
The 72nd Annual Spring Fiesta and Historic Homes Tour is a once-a-year event that invites visitors to come and explore some of the Crescent City’s finest homes, enchanting courtyards and elegant gardens.
Locals and visitors can tour these magnificent French Quarter, Garden District and Uptown homes, patios and gardens between March 29 and April 6, 2008. French Quarter walking tours are also offered, and you can also experience the majesty of the presentation of the Spring Fiesta Queen in Jackson Square. A total of twenty homes not usually open to the public will be part of this year's tours. Relive the grandeur of the past as you walk through these exquisite, meticulously preserved homes.
Visitors also have the option of attending an opening day brunch at Commander’s Palace Restaurant in the Garden District, one of the most elegant dining experiences in the city. The weekend also features the “Night in Old New Orleans” parade, one of the favorite local traditions, in which horse-drawn carriages make their way through the Vieux Carre.
The complete Spring Fiesta schedule is as follows:
Saturday, March 29
10:00 AM – French Quarter Walking Tour I. $12-$15. Begins at 826 St. Ann Street.
11:30 AM – Brunch at Commander’s Palace. Advance reservations required. $68 includes three-course lunch and tour of Garden District homes.
1:00 – 4:00 PM – Garden District Home Tour. $18-$20. Begins at 1429 Seventh Street.
Sunday, March 30
10:00 AM – French Quarter Walking Tour II. $12-$15. Begins at 826 St. Ann Street.
1:00 – 4:00 PM – French Quarter Home Tour I. $18-$20. Begins at 1032 Esplanade Avenue.
Friday, April 4
1:00 – 4:00 PM, French Quarter Home Tour II. $18-$20. Begins at 826 St. Ann Street.
Saturday, April 5
10:00 AM, French Quarter Walking Tour III. $12-$15. Begins at 826 St. Ann Street.
2:30 PM, Presentation of Queen and Court at Jackson Square.
4:30 PM, “Night in Old New Orleans” Parade, French Quarter
Sunday, April 6
10:00 AM, French Quarter Walking Tour IV. $12-$15. Begins at 826 St. Ann Street.
1:00 – 4:00 PM, Uptown Home Tour. $18-$20. Begins at 5624 St. Charles Avenue.
For more information, ticket prices and maps of the festival, call the Spring Fiesta Office at 1-800-550-8450, visit the website at www.springfiesta.com, or email neworleansspringfiesta@yahoo.com. Reservations can be made online and tickets can be ordered online with major credit cards. The Spring Fiesta Association is located at 826 St. Ann Street, New Orleans, LA 70116. |
