Satchmo SummerFest Accessibility Guide

French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is always making strides to be more accessible so 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 Ave. and Decatur St. Please look for festival signage and have your state-issued accessibility hangtag clearly visible. NOPD will be stationed in this location to monitor and assist.

Festival Entrances

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

Security

Security will be conducting bag searches at the entrances. Necessary medications, medical supplies and a small amount of personal food items for persons with dietary restrictions will be allowed. 

Accommodations Available on the Festival Grounds

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

ADA Accessible Bathrooms

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

Viewing Areas

Please look for ADA signage for ramp access to stage areas on elevated lawns. There is a designated accessibility viewing area at both outdoor stages. These viewing areas are reserved for guests with mobility disabilities who use wheelchairs, scooters or other mobility devices. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guests using these areas are allowed one companion.

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

Service animals are welcome – verification is conducted by NOPD at all entrance gates. Service animals must be under control and with their handler at all times. If they are not, the handler will be asked to remove the animal from the festival grounds. Pets, Comfort, and Emotional Support animals will not be allowed.

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 FRONTDESK@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.