The 2024 New Orleans festival season was one for the books, and Messina’s Catering & Events was at the heart of it all! From the lively beats of Jazz Fest to the flavors of Creole Tomato Fest, our team was honored to manage beverage and catering services at some of the city’s most iconic events. Under the leadership of Andrew Messina, Director of Festival Management, Messina’s staffed and operated beverage and catering services at 13 local festivals, employing over 200 team members annually to ensure each event ran seamlessly.
Here’s a look back at some of the season’s highlights:
Family Gras | February 2 – 4, 2024
For over 15 years, Messina’s has proudly been the Beverage Management Partner for Family Gras, Jefferson Parish’s premier Mardi Gras celebration. This free, family-friendly event featured parades, concerts, local cuisine, and kid-friendly activities. Messina’s served refreshing drinks to revelers enjoying performances by Amy Grant, Amanda Shaw, Cheap Trick, and headliner Tyler Hubbard.
Lundi Gras Festival | February 12, 2024
Messina’s returned as the exclusive beverage partner for the 38th Annual Riverwalk Lundi Gras Festival, a celebration held at the newly renovated Spanish Plaza. As Rex and the King of Zulu arrived for their grand meeting, festivalgoers enjoyed live music across three stages, delicious food, and refreshing beverages served by our team.
French Quarter Festival | April 11 – 14, 2024
Welcoming an estimated 950,000 guests, the 41st Annual French Quarter Festival set attendance records in 2024! Messina’s was proud to celebrate 13 years as the festival’s exclusive Beverage Manager, operating 56 beverage outlets from the Aquarium to Esplanade Avenue. Our team handled all beverage logistics, staffing, and coordination, working alongside the festival’s incredible volunteers. This year’s signature cocktails, Lynchburg Lemonade and El Jimador Margarita were a hit with festivalgoers!
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival | April 25 – 28 & May 2 – 5, 2024
With over 500,000 attendees, Jazz Fest 2024 brought world-class music and food to New Orleans. Messina’s partnered with Jazz Fest’s private event Hospitality Tents, and the all-new Sky Cabanas, providing premium catering and bar services. Guests enjoyed Louisiana-inspired dishes like Boudin Balls, Alligator Sausage, BBQ Brisket, and Crawfish Pies. At the same time, the Sky Cabanas elevated the festival experience with themed menus, lounge seating, and music streaming capabilities.
Creole Tomato Festival | June 8 – 9, 2024
Despite the scorching summer heat, festivalgoers flocked to the French Market’s Creole Tomato Festival to celebrate Louisiana’s famous summer staple. Messina’s served up the freshest Bloody Marys in the French Quarter, perfectly complementing the festival’s farm-fresh produce and delicious tomato-inspired dishes.
Looking Ahead
As we close out another incredible festival season, we want to thank our clients, partners, and hardworking team for making it all possible. We’re already gearing up for the next big event—Jefferson Parish’s Uncle Sam Jam on July 3, 2024, at Lafreniere Park!
Until then, cheers to another successful season celebrating New Orleans’ vibrant culture, music, and flavors!
