History

River Fest encourages guests to invest thought and action into the preservation of the community that gathered to celebrate. Free and open to the public for the last 10 years, River Fest is unique among other Louisiana festivals in that it is as educational as it is entertaining.

In addition to providing a variety of local cuisine and music performances in years past, the Jazz Museum hosts several educational panels, walking tours, and children’s activities focused on the seafood industry, coastal restoration, and sustainability.

The accessibility of the panels exposes these visitors to first-hand accounts from leaders in business sustainability, water management, urban reforestation, fishing, and water transportation. These educational opportunities emphasize the responsibility that individuals share in preserving their culture and community. Because the festival draws visitation from both locals and tourists, the ideas learned in these discussions have a direct impact on both the local community and beyond.

River Fest is strengthened by the community partnerships that made it possible, giving organizations a unique opportunity for cross-industry learning for both attendees and participants. River Fest is a great collaborative effort from a range of environmental, educational, economic, and cultural institutions, including RESTORE The Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana Seafood Board, National Wildlife Federation, Tulane University, and the Water Collaborative of New Orleans. The result is a call to action for all involved in the festival to be more conscious and deliberate participants in the future of the Mississippi River community.