Jazz Fest 2025: Lil Wayne, Crawfish Monica, & the Heart of New Orleans

Jazz Fest is one of those times of the year that remind me exactly why I love this city. I’ve been going to Jazz Fest for as long as I can remember, but this one hit different—probably because Lil Wayne was headlining, and seeing him back home doing his thing felt like a full-circle moment for all of us who grew up here.

Jazz Fest isn’t just an event down here—it’s part of the rhythm of the city. You don’t just hear the music, you feel it. Walking through the Fair Grounds, you catch everything from gospel choirs belting out soul-stirring harmonies to second lines snaking through the crowd with brass so loud it rattles your bones. We celebrate all of who we are—Black, Creole, Cajun, Latinx, Indigenous, and everything in between. I stopped by the Folklife Village for a bit, watched a man hand-carve a cypress paddle while his wife stitched a quilt, and just soaked it all in. That’s the kind of stuff that makes Jazz Fest special. It ain’t just about the music—it’s about the culture.

And let me tell you, the food? Unreal. I started off with some crawfish bread—because you have to—and it was just as gooey and spicy as it should be. Then I made my way to the cochon de lait po-boy stand. If you’ve never had slow-roasted pork shoulder tucked into fresh French bread with tangy slaw… man, you’re missing out. I also tried the pecan catfish meunière, which just melted in my mouth. What I love is how even the new stuff, like the Vietnamese crawfish étouffée or seafood maki rolls, still somehow feels like home. That’s New Orleans for you—always blending the old with the new.

But the real highlight? Lil Wayne. When he stepped out with The Roots behind him, you could feel the whole crowd light up. That man is a legend—not just here, but worldwide—and to see him perform in his own city, on that stage, was something else. He took us through the hits, dropped some deep cuts, and gave us a show we won’t forget. For those of us who grew up on mixtape Weezy and watched him turn into one of the greatest to ever touch a mic, it was powerful. You could see it on people’s faces—this was more than a concert. It was a homecoming.

Jazz Fest always brings people together, but this year, it felt especially real. Being out there, surrounded by neighbors and strangers alike, dancing, singing, eating good food, and honoring where we come from—it reminded me that New Orleans ain’t just a place. It’s a feeling. It’s family. It’s history. And it’s a sound that’ll never stop playing.