The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival; A Very Accessible and Inclusive Event

Candy B. Harrington

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is a must-do for music lovers of all genres. There’s certainly no shortage of good jazz at the festival; but it also attracts a generous sampling of gospel, rock, country, blues and rap artists. Add in a healthy dose of finger-licking good food prepared by some of Louisiana’s best chefs, a large collection of handcrafted art work and some educational and entertaining cooking demonstrations, and you have all the ingredients for a fun-filled weekend.

Access is excellent at the festival too, as it’s a very inclusive event. You’ll find people of all sizes, shapes, colors and ages there; with the unifying element being the music. Since the festivals inception in 1970, access has continually improved every year, which makes this annual event a great option for wheelers and slow walkers.

The 2012 festival runs from April 27 – 29 and May 3 – 6, and it’s never too early to start planning your attendance. This is especially true if access is an issue. Rest assured though, even though the festival attracts large crowds, it’s a much tamer scene than Mardi Gras. So make plans now to party down in the Big Easy at JazzFest 2012.

Getting There

The festival is held at the Fair Grounds, which is just a short drive from the French Quarter. The easiest way to get there is to take the JazzFest Express shuttle bus, which runs between the French Quarter and the Fair Grounds. Wheelchair-accessible buses are available with advance notice. Best bet is to contact the folks at JazzFest Express (800-233-2628) to make sure they will be able to accommodate you before you buy your shuttle tickets.

If you'd prefer to drive to the Fair Grounds, accessible parking is available on a first-come basis near the Gentilly entrance. In order to use this lot you have to have a disabled placard or plate and purchase a parking pass. It's the only general admission parking available at the festival, so arrive early if you plan to use it.

Getting Around

Access at the festival is excellent, with level access to the Gentilly entrance from the accessible parking area. From there, it’s just a short roll to the Paralyzed Veterans of America Access Center, located near the grandstand. Make this your first stop, so you can pick up an access map and get more information from the volunteers that man the booth. Manual wheelchairs are also available for loan here, on a first-come basis.

You can also pick up a key to one of the wheelchair-accessible portable toilets at the Access Center. The locations of the wheelchair-accessible toilets are indicated on the access map, and they’re locked so that only people that really need them will have access to them. At the end of the day, you can either return the key to the Access Center, or just drop it in one of the return boxes at the exits.

Getting around the Fair Grounds is fairly east as there are mats over the track crossings. The festival is largely held in the infield, which is a level grassy area. There are a few ruts and holes here and there, however they’re marked with orange paint, so they’re easy to avoid.

Don’t forget to pack a sun hat and some sunscreen, as it can get hot during the afternoon. And if you need to get out of the sun, then come chill out on the first floor of the grandstand. You'll also find accessible restrooms with running water there.

Read the rest of this article in the Winter 2011 issue of Emerging Horizons. Subscribe today!