By Kaitlyn Gress
New Orleans is well-known for its numerous attractions, from beignets to parades to live jazz,
but the city is also home to several unconventional events. These are the perfect places for
visitors and locals to enjoy unique experiences that combine several different art forms. Here are
five things to do in New Orleans in 2025.
1. Wonder Wander City Park
Launching our list of things to do in New Orleans: starting on April 4th, this immersive outdoor experience invites audiences to connect with the land at one of America’s largest urban parks. While each group walks through the trails in City Park, the space comes alive through a combination of live actors and immersive audio, allowing participants to travel back to the past. Their dynamic storytelling traces the park’s history from aportage for Indigenous people, a place for plantations, and a segregated park to its current use as a community space.
www.wonderwandercitypark.mystrikingly.com
2. The Lafayette Tour
In honour of the bicentennial anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette’s travels throughout the
United States, the French National Orchestra of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpe will embark on a similar
tour throughout the country. On Sunday, April 13th, they perform at New Orleans’ own
Orpheum Theater. Conducted by Thomas Zehetmair, this concert’s program corresponds with the
story of Lafayette’s life and impact on the country. The orchestra’s performance retraces his
journey using an immersive combination of classical music, visual arts, and sound and light
shows.
3. Undersigned
New Orleans proudly claims the title of the most haunted city in America, making it the perfect
setting for this immersive horror experience. Presented by the American Immersion Theater as
part of the 2025 Overlook Film Festival, this personal and introspective psychological thriller is
performed for only one person at a time. At an as-yet-undisclosed location, participants will
receive an invocation, a blindfold, and a pointed discussion on a variety of topics, including but
not limited to money, power, sex, pleasure, violence, blood, body horror, moral horror, economic
horror, wild conjecture, and the occult.
https://www.yannickto.com/undersigned
4. Irreversible Entanglements at Music Box Village
This music venue is like no other. Over the years, numerous local artists have created “musical
houses” inspired by the culture of New Orleans. These interactive installations are not just stages
for live performances, but examples of musical architecture. Their built-in instruments and sound
encourage play, imagination, experimentation, collaboration, community, and whimsy. On
Saturday, April 26th, they will host Irrreversible Entanglements, a group that fuses free jazz with
punk. While they play, musicians are encouraged to climb on and interact with the “musical
houses,” creating an utterly unique concert experience.
https://www.tixr.com/groups/musicboxvillage/events/irreversible-entanglements-135656
5. Luna Fête
Finally, on our list of things to do in New Orleans: from November 13th to 16th, the urban spaces of downtown New Orleans will transform into a stunning show via LED lights, lasers, and projected artworks. These installations combine intangible visual beauty with the permanent architecture of the city, showcasing how the power of art can change communities. Every winter, this immersive experience celebrates the space where contemporary art, film, and technology meet by offering a mix of visual and auditory installations, such as innovative music and soundscapes.