Down in the Tremé
Tremé Fall Festival returns this weekend
It may still be 90 degrees outside, but Fall has arrived in New Orleans. The pumpkin spice candles are lit and dreams of wearing scarves are dancing in our heads. In the meantime though, we’ll keep dancing in the streets, especially this weekend at the second annual Tremé Fall Festival.
Produced by the Historic Faubourg Tremé Association, the festival benefits the cultural institutions in the neighborhood, especially St. Augustine Catholic Church. Tremé is one of the most important communities in New Orleans. For over two hundred years, it has been a critical nexus of economics, politics, music, food and culture and is known as “America’s Oldest African American Neighborhood”.
The festival has events over three days, starting Friday, Sept. 30 and ending Sunday, Oct. 2. Friday’s event is a ticketed Patron Party and Sunday’s event is St. Augustine Church’s 175th Anniversary Celebration Mass, which will be officiated by the Archbishop of New Orleans, Archbishop Reverend Gregory Aymond.
Saturday is the free Street Festival that will radiate out from the 1100 block of Henriette Delille Street. The arts and crafts market has 20 vendors lined up, offering jewelry, fashion, fine art and handmade pieces that celebrate New Orleans and African traditions. Seven official food vendors will offer Creole and soul food favorites. Two of my favorite ladies, Ms. Linda and Ms. Loretta, will be there with their ya-ka-mein and pralines, respectively.
The music lineup for Saturday is spectacular. If anything signifies the importance of this neighborhood, it’s the world-class musicians participating, many of whom grew up, worked or currently live in Tremé.
11 a.m. – Doreen Ketchins
11:45 a.m. – Zulu Connection African Drumming and Stilt Walkers
12 p.m. – Ray Wimbley
12:15 p.m. – One Beat
12:30 p.m. – Zulu Connection
12:45 p.m. – Ray Wimbley
1 p.m. – Little Freddie King
1:45 p.m. – Casa Samba
2 p.m. – TBC Brass Band feat. special guest Benny Jones
2:45 p.m. – Casa Samba
3 p.m. – Tremé All-Stars feat. Kermit Ruffins, James Andrews, Shannon Powell and more
4:15 p.m. – Glen David Andrews
5:15 p.m. – Mike “Soulman” Baptiste
6:15 p.m. – Tank & the Bangas
Free parking for Saturday is available at Armstrong Park at the St. Philip Street entrance. Patron Party tickets, as well as 2015 and 2016 festival posters are available for purchase online. Proceeds from the festival will help the Historic Faubourg Tremé Association support the architecture, culture and history of Tremé as well as “fight blight, crime and grime”.
