The month of April looks pretty busy. I always associate April with tax time – but that’s only part of the story. Let’s take a look at what’s shaking in NOLA this year.

FIRST

There’s the GAY EASTER PARADE that’s held on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020 and was started as a fun way to showcase the fashion and creativity of the LGBT (the acronym for Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian or Transgender) community.

The parade is from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. It takes a leisurely route through the French Quarter – passing every gay bar plus many gay-owned restaurants and retail shops. The folks in the parade ride horse-drawn carriages (a glam touch) and floats while wearing showy versions of their Easter Sunday finest. Spectators can expect to see and catch beads and other throws.

SECOND

Moving on to Thursday, April 16th to Sunday, April 19th we have the FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL, a free, four-day music festival that takes place in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans (the oldest neighborhood in the city, founded in 1718). This event also takes place in Woldenberg Park, Jackson Square and the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

On Thursday and Sunday, the festival is from 11 am to 7 pm. On Friday and Saturday the music runs from 11 am to 9 pm. You’ll have access to a varied and mind-boggling musical feast that includes: jazz, funk, Latin rhythms, Cajun, brass bands and R&B.

THIRD

Now, we’re heading for the end of the month and the 51st NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL that takes place from Thursday, April 23rd to Sunday, April 26th plus from Thursday, April 30th to Sunday, May 3rd. CLICK HERE to read our write-up about Jazz Fest in 2019 – you’ll find lots of interesting info.

Take Note: The French Quarter Fest and Jazz Fest 2020 will be held on back-to-back weekends – this is a change from the past.

FOURTH

Now, let’s take a look at other special days in the month of April. There’s APRIL FOOLS’ DAY on Wednesday, April 1st. This, as you undoubtedly know, is a day in which people play practical jokes and good-natured pranks on each other. This day isn’t a holiday in any of the countries where it is observed BUT it’s been popular since the 19th century. In France it’s known as April Fish and, on this day folks attempt to attach paper fish to the backs of unsuspecting friends and colleagues.

April Fools’ Day in Ireland is much the same as in Britain: one comes up with a prank and if someone falls for it, he or she is finally exposed by a loud shout of “April Fool!” However, the playing of pranks has to cease at noon. Anyone who attempts a prank after that time is, instead, making an instant April Fool out of him or herself – these are the local rules of the game.

Another tradition in Ireland is the “Newsflash” that is usually jokingly released by the media on the first day of April. But the public is now so used to this joke that any attempts by the media to pull this off usually fall flat. But wait: in the 1980s a West Berlin newspaper reported that the British Sector of Berlin would soon adopt driving on the left. Lots of ticked off and befuddled folks fell for it!

FIFTH

This year PALM SUNDAY is on April 5th and EASTER SUNDAY, which is the culmination of Holy Week, is on April 12th. This day celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The date of Easter changes each year.

So there you have it. The month of April is a very big deal in NOLA and elsewhere.

Shaun Nelson-Henrick