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NOLA Music History Tour
Friday, May 19 | 12:30 p.m.
$150 per person
Through dynamic interactive exhibits, multi-generational educational programming, research facilities and engaging musical performances, the music New Orleans made famous is explored in all its forms.
Housed in the historic Old U.S. Mint, strategically located at the intersection of the French Quarter and the Frenchmen Street live music corridor, the New Orleans Jazz Museum is in the heart of the city’s vibrant music scene.
Through partnerships with local, national and international educational institutions, the New Orleans Jazz Museum promotes the global understanding of jazz as one of the most innovative, historically pivotal musical art forms in world history.
Following your visit to the New Orleans Jazz Museum, the guide, specializing in Music History will take you on an exhilarating tour music history in NOLA.
Throughout the tour, the guide makes a compelling case for the origins of a myriad of musical genres, and how each has its roots in Louisiana. There are stories of opera and country, jazz and blues, rock ‘n’ roll and even rap music, with a rich tapestry that includes Elvis and Jimmy Buffett, musician incarcerations and Mr. Bojangles, six hour stints of freedom from slavery with intense musical rituals and more.
The journey continues through Congo Square in Armstrong Park, providing connect-ons of modern day music to the cries of warriors over the beats of percussions. And, as was the case all along the journey, the guide doesn’t just tell the story, they become the story.
The last stop is the location that was, once upon a time, a famous recording studio, where enthralled listeners learn more about the roots of rock ‘n’ roll, the early recordings of countless music icons, and a downright hilarious gem about Ernie K-Doe and the mother-in-law he made famous (or infamous?) in his most celebrated, number one hit.
The stories he tells over the two hour trek through the streets of New Orleans are intriguing, insightful and downright bizarre, laced with sweet nuggets of irony, Louisiana politics and historic oddities.
Tour includes:
- Lunch
- Tour of the New Orleans Jazz Museum
- Narrated Music History Tour through the French Quarter
- Deluxe Roundtrip Transportation
Louisiana Flatboat Swamp Tour
Friday, May 19 | 12:30 p.m.
$150 per person
Forget about the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter and experience another kind of “wildlife”. Enter the land of swamps and marshes, home to hundreds of species of unique and interesting animals while discovering the land that gave birth to Cajun culture and cuisine.
Boarding a specially designed pontoon boat, this excursion starts on a bayou… local parlance for a small rivulet or stream. Gnarled and twisted cypress stumps and branches lushly draped with Spanish moss line the banks of this waterway. On this meandering cruise, the captain, a native of the region, provides an interesting and entertaining narrative of the history of this massive swampland.
Catch a glimpse of any number of animals that inhabit the area: bald eagles, alligators, blue herons, snappin’ turtles and water snakes – the list goes on. You will even get a peek at an authentic Cajun “trapper’s shack” nestled in this beautiful swampland. For a truly fun and fantastic visit outside of the city, visit Louisiana’s other wildlife!
Tour includes:
- Lunch
- Narrated tour on the water through Jean Lafitte National Park and Swamp
- Deluxe Roundtrip Transportation
The "Big Easy" City Tour with Mardi Gras World
Friday, May 19 | 12:30 p.m.
$150 per person
Get an insider’s look at the magic of Mardi Gras by stepping into the studios of Blaine Kern and his team of world-renowned masters of float-building and Carnival! Marvel at towering floats, created by these skilled artists. The history and the craft are explained as guests enjoy the wonder of Mardi Gras World.
Tour includes:
- Lunch
- Admission and Private Tour of Mardi Gras World
- Narrated New Orleans Uptown Mardi Gras Parade Route Tour
- Deluxe Roundtrip Transportation
Update on spouse tour - please read the announcement about the spouse tour. The spouse/guest evening event package is still available and now includes the Wednesday lunch which includes several break out groups - such as Women in Industry - to make sure spouses feel part of the event. Also included in the spouse/guest evening package Opening Reception, Expo & Reception, Awards Reception & Dinner.
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