Hundreds of people gathered at Louis Armstrong Park on Saturday and Sunday (March 29–30) for live performances, food and art during the annual Congo Square Rhythms Festival.

The event, hosted by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, featured music from groups such as Da Truth Brass Band and Bamboula 2000 and dance performances from Kumbuka Dance Ensemble and others over the course of the two-day celebration of New Orleans’ cultural roots. In the 19th century, Congo Square was a place for Africans to freely celebrate their culture despite their conditions of slavery.

At the festival, painters, clothes designers and other artists, inspired by various aspects of the Black diaspora, sold their creations to festivalgoers. Attendees of all ages and backgrounds danced with performers, sang along to brass bands and enjoyed the sunny weather in the park.

PHOTOS: New Orleanians enjoy music and dance at Congo Square Rhythms Festival

The festival began 17 years ago as a part of the foundation’s mission to give back to the local community and economy through free concerts that hire local workers, vendors and artists, according to Kia Robinson Hatfield, spokesperson for the Jazz and Heritage Foundation. 

“The food markets are really something to look forward to,” she said in an interview ahead of the festival last week. . “As well as the local artisans selling their wares, just like they did in Congo Square, many, many years ago.

Chester Allen, a New Orleans artist selling jewelry and small sculptures at the event, described the focus on local talent as a “beautiful thing”. 

“When people come through this particular estuary, they can then discover from people who are grounded in this, what it is that we are, who we are,” Allen said in an interview with Verite News on Sunday. “We’re at Congo Square. It’s the birthplace of jazz.”

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PHOTOS: Louis Armstrong Park pops with creativity during Congo Square Fest

by John Gray, Verite News New Orleans
March 31, 2025

<h1>PHOTOS: Louis Armstrong Park pops with creativity during Congo Square Fest</h1> <p class="byline">by John Gray, Verite News New Orleans <br />March 31, 2025</p> <p>Hundreds of people gathered at Louis Armstrong Park on Saturday and Sunday (March 29–30) for live performances, food and art during the annual Congo Square Rhythms Festival.</p> <p>The event, hosted by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, featured music from groups such as Da Truth Brass Band and Bamboula 2000 and dance performances from Kumbuka Dance Ensemble and others over the course of the two-day celebration of New Orleans’ cultural roots. In the 19th century, Congo Square <a href="https://hnoc.org/presentations/congo-square">was a place for Africans to freely celebrate</a> their culture despite their conditions of slavery.</p> <p>At the festival, painters, clothes designers and other artists, inspired by various aspects of the Black diaspora, sold their creations to festivalgoers. Attendees of all ages and backgrounds danced with performers, sang along to brass bands and enjoyed the sunny weather in the park.</p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">PHOTOS: New Orleanians enjoy music and dance at Congo Square Rhythms Festival</h4> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter" data-effect="slide"> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container"> <ul class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper"> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="Big Chief Victor Harris of the Mandingo Warriors, also known as the Spirit of Fiyiyi, shows off his suit in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22245" data-id="22245" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31092416/Congo_01.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Big Chief Victor Harris of the Mandingo Warriors, also known as the Spirit of Fiyiyi, shows off his suit in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="A young Mardi Gras Indian prepares to join the Mardi Gras Indian battle in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22246" data-id="22246" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31092450/Congo_02.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">A young Mardi Gras Indian prepares to join the Mardi Gras Indian battle in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="Hundreds filled Congo Square to witness the Mardi Gras Indian battle in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22247" data-id="22247" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31092526/Congo_03.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Hundreds filled Congo Square to witness the Mardi Gras Indian battle in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="Hundreds filled Congo Square to witness the Mardi Gras Indian battle in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22248" data-id="22248" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31092557/Congo_04.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Hundreds filled Congo Square to witness the Mardi Gras Indian battle in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="A young girl stands in front of Mardi Gras Indians in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22249" data-id="22249" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31092630/Congo_05.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">A young girl stands in front of Mardi Gras Indians in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="Community activists Verilin Dampeer and Malik Rahim enjoy a performance in Louis Armstrong Park on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22250" data-id="22250" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31092707/Congo_06.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Community activists Verilin Dampeer and Malik Rahim enjoy a performance in Louis Armstrong Park on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="Travis Carter Jr., 8, performs onstage with Da Truth Brass Band in Louis Armstrong Park on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025. Carter has been playing with the group for four years." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22255" data-id="22255" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31092955/Congo_11.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Travis Carter Jr., 8, performs onstage with Da Truth Brass Band in Louis Armstrong Park on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025. Carter has been playing with the group for four years.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="John Barnes, Reggie Kennerson and Chris Feelings (left to right) dance while the Original Pinettes Brass Band performs in Louis Armstrong Park on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22251" data-id="22251" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31092740/Congo_07.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">John Barnes, Reggie Kennerson and Chris Feelings (left to right) dance while the Original Pinettes Brass Band performs in Louis Armstrong Park on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="The Original Pinettes Brass Band closed out the musical acts on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025, with high energy and crowd favorite songs in Louis Armstrong Park." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22254" data-id="22254" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31092922/Congo_10.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">The Original Pinettes Brass Band closed out the musical acts on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025, with high energy and crowd favorite songs in Louis Armstrong Park.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="Chris Feelings, left, dances with Ikhlas Abdullah while the Original Pinettes Brass Band performs in Louis Armstrong Park on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025. Abdullah travelled from New York to enjoy the festival." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22252" data-id="22252" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31092817/Congo_08.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Chris Feelings, left, dances with Ikhlas Abdullah while the Original Pinettes Brass Band performs in Louis Armstrong Park on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025. Abdullah travelled from New York to enjoy the festival.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="Vendor Luot “LuLu” Nguyen, left, speaks with Marion Hill in Louis Armstrong Park on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22253" data-id="22253" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31092849/Congo_09.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Vendor Luot “LuLu” Nguyen, left, speaks with Marion Hill in Louis Armstrong Park on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="Local artist Chester Allen sold his creations towards the entrance of Louis Armstrong Park on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22256" data-id="22256" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31093028/Congo_12.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Local artist Chester Allen sold his creations towards the entrance of Louis Armstrong Park on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="The drummer for Bamboula 2000 performs in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22258" data-id="22258" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31093128/Congo_15.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">The drummer for Bamboula 2000 performs in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="Singers for Bamboula 2000 perform in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22257" data-id="22257" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31093056/Congo_14.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Singers for Bamboula 2000 perform in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="Luqman Asadullah, right, sits with his grandchildren Torre Merrick, wearing green, and Ham’za LeBlanc in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22260" data-id="22260" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31093227/Congo_17.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Luqman Asadullah, right, sits with his grandchildren Torre Merrick, wearing green, and Ham’za LeBlanc in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="Food vendors selling a variety of foods line up in Louis Armstrong Park on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22261" data-id="22261" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31093258/Congo_18.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Food vendors selling a variety of foods line up in Louis Armstrong Park on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="A Mardi Gras Indian leads chants in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025. A Mardi Gras Indian leads chants in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025." class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-22262" data-id="22262" src="https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/31093334/Congo_19.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">A Mardi Gras Indian leads chants in Congo Square on Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025.</figcaption></figure> </li> </ul> <p><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a aria-label="Pause Slideshow" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause" role="button"></a></p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white"></div> </div> </div> <p>The festival began 17 years ago as a part of the foundation’s mission to give back to the local community and economy through free concerts that hire local workers, vendors and artists, according to Kia Robinson Hatfield, spokesperson for the Jazz and Heritage Foundation.&nbsp;</p> <p>“The food markets are really something to look forward to,” she said in an interview ahead of the festival last week. . “As well as the local artisans selling their wares, just like they did in Congo Square, many, many years ago.</p> <p>Chester Allen, a New Orleans artist selling jewelry and small sculptures at the event, described the focus on local talent as a “beautiful thing”.&nbsp;</p> <p>“When people come through this particular estuary, they can then discover from people who are grounded in this, what it is that we are, who we are,” Allen said in an interview with Verite News on Sunday. “We're at Congo Square. It's the birthplace of jazz.”</p> <p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://stg-veritenewsorg-staging.kinsta.cloud/2025/03/31/congo-square-fest-2025-armstrong-park/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://stg-veritenewsorg-staging.kinsta.cloud&quot;&gt;Verite News New Orleans&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://cdn.veritenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/11131054/cropped-Verite-icon-150x150.png&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;&lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://stg-veritenewsorg-staging.kinsta.cloud/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=22263&amp;amp;ga4=G-MBPTYVCMYR&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://stg-veritenewsorg-staging.kinsta.cloud/2025/03/31/congo-square-fest-2025-armstrong-park/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/stg-veritenewsorg-staging.kinsta.cloud/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;</p> Copy to Clipboard

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