What do tickets cost?
2008 prices are $35 plus a hefty service fee per day presale (thru Jan 22), $40 in advance after that. Gate price is $50. Tickets for Thursday are $10 cheaper. Children's tickets (age 2-11) are $5, in advance or at the gate. Under 2 get in free. It's really a pretty good value when you realize that for that price, you can see many acts, each of whom usually charge $20, $30, $50 or more for their concerts.
There are several acts I want to see at the Festival. Do I need a separate ticket for each?
One ticket gets you in to the Festival and will let you see as many performers at as many stages as you like.
Do I need a separate ticket for each day?
Yes, each day requires a new ticket. Note that 1st weekend tickets are good for any day on the 1st weekend. 2nd weekend tickets are good for any day on the 2nd weekend. The cheaper Thursday tickets are good only on that one day.
Re-entry? Can you leave and get back in on the same day?
No, there is no In and Out allowed. Re-entry will require a new ticket.
Is there a multi-day festival pass?
Not if you're looking to save money. But if you want to help a good cause, for a $375 donation, WWOZ, a public radio station that's the official station of the Fest, will give you a Brass Pass that give you unlimited entrance to the Heritage Festival (including in/out privileges), plus access to the WWOZ Hospitality Tent at the Fest (free water and fruit and clean port-o-johns). The Brass Pass is non-transferable, but for $450, you can get a transferable WWOZ Over-Pass. Details at wwoz.org.
VIP Packages?
The Big Chief VIP package provides VIP privileges for $600 for each weekend, including elevated seating at the main stages. Info here.
New for 2008, the Grand Marshal VIP package includes access to a private up-front standing area.
Group Discounts?
If your group will be purchasing 50 or more tickets for the same weekend, call the Festival's Ticket Manager at (504) 410-4100. Expect a 5% discount of the regular advanced ticket price, but with no per-ticket fees. The 2008 discount is $2/ticket ($38 v $40).
Is there reserved seating?
Not at the Heritage Festival. It's all general admission.
Will it sell out?
No, they'll just keep selling tickets and packing them in. Even when a really popular act plays. Record single day attendance was 160,000 for the Dave Matthews Band and Mystikal on Second Saturday, 2001 - but that day was an aberration, still the only time they've passed 100,000. The old record was 98,000 on Second Saturday in 1998, when Jimmy Buffett headlined (a great set, by the way). Typical attendance is 60,000 on a weekday, 80-90,000 on a weekend. See recent attendance numbers here.
When do tickets go on sale?
For the 2008 festival, tickets went on sale starting Nov. 15, 2007. Presale (at a $5 discount) was available until Jan. 22.
How do I get advance tickets?
Through Ticketmaster. Either online or by phone, or in person in the Louisiana area. With any of these methods, they'll hit you up with a hefty per ticket "convenience" charge (about $7/ticket for 2007), plus a per-order delivery fee.
Yikes! I really really really hate Ticketmaster. How can I avoid their surcharge?
The mail order option to avoid the surcharge has not been offered since 2005.
If you are local, or arriving early, New Orleans Arena box office sells advance Fest tickets with as little as a $2/ticket service fee for cash purchases, or $3.20 if paying by credit card. These must be purchased by the day before each weekend starts (by Thursday for 1st weekend; by Wednesday for 2nd weekend). The box office closes daily at 4:30 pm.
Late update (4/21/08): No official confirmation yet, but I'm told that they have move the advanced ticket sales for the 2008 fest from the Arena to the Superdome box office on Poydras St. Prices and hours are the same.
Hey, Swag, I bought my tickets a while ago, but I haven't gotten them yet, and I leave for New Orleans tomorrow! What now?
Relax. Unless you ordered pretty far in advance, they hold the tickets at Will-Call. (If you live outside the USA, they hold them at Will Call no matter how early you order). There's a Will-Call window at each of the entrances to the Heritage Festival. Just bring your photo id.
You can call Ticketmaster at (504) 566-0065 to be sure. If you do call, ask for a confirmation number - that'll save a minute or two when you pick them up.
Page last updated May 23, 2008