Mirliton Festival

This Saturday’s Mirliton Festival, located in the Bywater neighborhood, will feature a variety of genuine New Orleans music, food and culture.

The Bywater neighborhood, located beside the Marigny past the French Quarter, is an oft-overlooked, old-school Creole neighborhood. The culturally-rich neighborhood is replete with Victorian homes and Mom-and-Pop groceries. Walking down its streets, festival-goers will be able to take in a piece of New Orleans history while enjoying some of the city’s best offerings.

The neighborhood’s restaurants — which happen to be some of the most acclaimed in the city — will post their tents in full force on the streets. Bywater favorite The Joint, which was recently added to Playboy Magazine’s list of “America’s Best Barbecue,” will be serving slow-cooked pulled pork sandwiches, chorizo sausage sandwiches and homemade coleslaw alongside other local barbecue and Creole eateries.

The festival will also host an eclectic slew of local and regional musicians. From folk rock to Hip Hop to experimental indie, there will surely be an act to suit every festival attendee’s tastes. The peculiar Valparaiso Men’s Chorus, who accurately describe themselves as a “caterwalling chorus of drunken sailors,” will be singing their upbeat, folksy anthems. Additionally, New Orleans-based but nationally-influential DJ Jubilee will be in attendance. Jubilee will be spinning and rapping his trademark bounce rap, a homegrown New Orleans style of Hip Hop club music. And naturally, several quality jazz and blues acts will also take the stage.

The event will include an art market with unique works from local talent and opportunities to purchase Bywater merchandise.

The festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Marley Park at the corner of Piety and Royal streets.