Photo by Jeff Anding                                             

What to do in NOLA during the 2024 Fall Convention

The Fall National College Media Convention is coming to NOLA for a weekend of celebrating excellent student journalism. The convention is bringing top-notch speakers, informational sessions and networking opportunities to a city known for its unique culture and history. The Convention takes place over Halloween, making it the perfect chance to spend a spooky evening celebrating in New Orleans. 

Here is a preview of some of the amazing things the city has to offer!

Music

A trip to New Orleans is not complete without at least a few musical performances. The city is known as the birthplace of jazz, but that is far from the only genre on display daily. You can easily find R&B, soul and brass musicians throughout the city. There are countless restaurants with daily live music performances, so you can eat some iconic dishes while being serenaded with excellent music.

  • Preservation Hall
  • Tipitina’s
  • Kermit’s Mother-in-Law Lounge
  • Maple Leaf Bar
  • Snug Harbor
  • Candlelight Lounge
  • Vaughan’s Lounge 

Food

From gumbo to po-boys to powdered sugar-covered beignets, mouthwateringly-good food in New Orleans is easy to find. New Orleans is home to an astonishing array of iconic dishes. If you are into sea food, be sure to check out bountiful shellfish offerings. Here are some iconic dishes to look out for:

  • Gumbo
  • Po-boys
  • Beignets
  • Jambalaya
  • Crawfish Etouffee
  • Muffaletta
  • Bananas Foster

Sightseeing

There is no shortage of sights to see in the city, ranging from the historic French Quarter to the National World War II Museum to the Garden District. The French Quarter is one of the city’s most historic neighborhoods — the streets are lined with restaurants, old architecture, intriguing museums and cultural landmarks. No trip is complete without a walk through the neighborhood. Here are some highlights you don’t want to miss:

  • French Quarter
  • New Orleans City Park
  • National WWII Museum
  • New Orleans Museum of Art
  • Riverboats and streetcars
  • Garden District
  • Lower 9th Ward Living Museum

 For more sites to see and things to do, check out this list.