L.O.C.A.L.S. Fest returns to Louis Armstrong Park on Saturday, September 26. The festival begins at 11 a.m., general admission is free, and free parking is available at the park. A $50 VIP pass includes air-conditioned bathrooms, drink tickets, and access to an elevated viewing area, according to Gambit.
Where the music will be
The festival will use three locations in the park: the NOTCF Stage in Congo Square, the Revolution Stage on the east side of the Municipal Auditorium, and the Block Party Stage near St. Philip Street, Gambit reports.
The schedule includes New Orleans-rooted acts and DJs across the three areas. The NOTCF Stage lineup includes DJ Spin Griffey, Krewe Debauchery, Bo Dollis Jr. and the Wild Magnolias, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, and Raw Revolution. Knockaz, Keep It Rolling, Tidal Wave, Sporty’s, and DJ 504 Millz are set for the Revolution Stage, while Kid Kamillion, Mikey Offline, RQ Away, and DJ G are booked for the Block Party Stage, which emphasizes DJs and dance music, according to Gambit.
Food, vendors and the festival’s purpose
Why Congo Square matters
The festival’s setting carries a history tied to Black music and cultural gatherings. According to the National Park Service, the area later became known as Congo Square and was associated with African dances and the preservation of African musical and cultural elements.
A National Register of Historic Places document says the city’s development of Louis Armstrong Park in the 1970s joined the essentially adjacent Congo Square to the park, linking the historic gathering space with the larger public park.
Alongside the performances, the event is expected to include food and drink vendors, artists, craftspeople, and other small-business booths. The festival also accepts band submissions, creating an opportunity for newer musicians to perform for a public audience, according to Gambit.
The name L.O.C.A.L.S. stands for Loving Our Community As Louisiana. Ryan Batiste, a Dillard University graduate who performs as Shaggadelic, launched the festival in 2019 to showcase New Orleans musicians, small businesses, and grassroots culture, according to New Orleans Magazine.
