Satchmo SummerFest Accessibility Guide

French Quarter Festivals, Inc. continually strives to increase accessibility at our events, ensuring that all attendees can be included, supported, and celebrated. Please see below for information about the accessibility accommodations offered throughout the festival.

ADA Drop Off and Pick Up Location

There is a designated accessibility drop-off and pick-up location at the corner of Esplanade Avenue and Decatur Street. Please look for festival signage and have your state-issued accessibility hangtag clearly visible. NOPD will be stationed in this location to monitor and provide assistance.

Festival Entrances

Due to the festival site’s historic nature, the entrance terrain is rough cobblestone. There will be a path for smoother access at the Esplanade Avenue entrance. For guests in wheelchairs, we recommend entering the site from Barracks Street (either gate), which is relatively easier to navigate. 

Security

Security will conduct bag searches at the entrances. Necessary medications, medical supplies, and a limited quantity of personal food items for individuals with dietary restrictions will be permitted.

Accommodations Available on the Festival Grounds

Guests can visit the Festival Check-In Tent, located next to the First Aid Tent on the Barracks Street side of the building, or the Info Desk, located indoors on the first floor of the museum, for information and to ask questions specific to the Accessibility Program.

Food and Beverage

Please look for signage indicating ramp access to food areas on elevated lawns. If you need assistance while conducting business with a vendor, please request it from the vendor or any festival staff member.

Accessible Bathrooms

• Corner of Esplanade Ave at N. Peters Street – Accessible Portable Restroom
• Corner Barracks Street at N. Peters Street – Accessible Portable Restroom
• By Festival Check-In Tent, Barracks Riverside Alcove – Accessible Portable Restroom
• Indoor bathrooms at the New Orleans Jazz Museum (1st and 2nd floors)

Viewing Areas

All of our accessible viewing areas are first-come, first-served. For the safety of all patrons, each viewing area will have a posted maximum capacity. When the area is full, our security and Access Team staff will no longer allow patrons to enter the space until there is space according to the posted capacity. We request that our patrons with disabilities be mindful with their companions in the Accessible Viewing Areas so that everyone has an opportunity to enjoy the event.

Looking for a place to cool down?

Please visit the New Orleans Jazz Museum, which is fully air-conditioned and has accessible indoor restrooms. The 2nd and 3rd floors have elevator access. 

Service Animals

Satchmo SummerFest welcomes all patrons, including those who experience our event with the assistance of a Service Animal. A Service Animal is one that has been trained to perform one (or more) specific task(s) for the person with a disability that it serves. Please understand, emotional support or therapy animals are not allowed into the festival for the safety of all of our patrons. Pets of any kind will not be allowed into the festival, no exceptions.

A few notes about bringing your Service Animal to the event:
1.) When passing through the gates, you will receive a short & respectful screening by either the French Quarter Fest Access Team or NOPD. You will not be asked for any documentation. A band will then be placed on the collar or harness of your Service Animal. This band is purely a visual alert to all our staff that you have already been screened, and ensures that you are not stopped and asked multiple times in the different areas of the event. This tag is only for your ease of movement throughout the festival.

2.) Your Service Animal must always remain with you & it must be your service animal.

3.) Your Service Animal must be always under your control & have a collar, harness & lead.

4.) Handlers must clean up after their service animal; trash receptacles are available throughout each site.

5.) If (for some reason) your Service Animal displays unsafe behavior of any kind, we reserve the right to ask you to remove the animal from the festival.

6.) If you have any other further inquiries regarding your Service Animal, please email access@fqfi.org.

Benny’s Sensory Activation Vehicle

Benny’s Sensory Activation Vehicle makes events more inclusive for individuals with sensory processing disorders often associated with autism and other conditions. The fully equipped, tow-along trailer provides a safe space of respite and decompression for those who may become overwhelmed from the sights, sounds and crowds at many of the city’s beloved, local events. So much of New Orleans is about gathering to enjoy the culture. The Beignet Fest Foundation built Benny’s Sensory Activation Vehicle with proceeds from Beignet Fest with the hope that families will feel like they can bring along their loved ones who may need a place to take a break, explore, and reset.

Have questions or feedback? Please contact us at ACCESS@FQFI.ORG.

NOTE: FQFI is unable to provide personal care, golf cart rides, or push service. Please plan ahead and bring attendants, if needed. In addition, the festival does not provide wheelchairs for rent or loan. Please make arrangements in advance if a wheelchair is needed.