Learn the ‘roots of our culture’ at free Congo Square Rhythms Festival

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The 2025 Congo Square Rhythms Festival is the largest free fest put on by the Jazz and Heritage Foundation.

The fest also helps local school music programs.

“For me the Congo Square Rhythms Festival is the roots of our culture. In Congo Square is where it all began for many of us, our ancestors were there dancing, selling their wares, celebrating. And so this festival is an homage to that, an honoring of that,” said Kia Robinson Hatfield with the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation.

The fest is scheduled for Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30.

“With the funds generated at Jazz Fest, the Jazz and Heritage Foundation is allowed to do so much good work in the community like free festivals, free music education programs and more,” said Hatfield.

Along those lines is the Class got Brass High School Brass Band Competition. Also part of the festival, this year $50,000 in prizes and money will be awarded to the school bands that participate.

Abramson Sci Academy Band Director Johnnie Van Buren II says the competition is critical for the music program’s success.

“Being self-funded by what we make, this really allows us to get instruments for kids. Allows us to grow our program and get instruments for kids that normally wouldn’t have an instrument because we wouldn’t have the money for it,” said Buren.

He also says in addition to helping keep the music programs alive, it’s also important to keep teaching our city’s music to our kids.

“New Orleans music is real unique. We don’t ever want it to be lost. We’ve got to keep it going, we’ve got to keep St. James, we’ve got to keep Bourbon Street, We’ve got to keep Basin Street, we’ve got to keep all that in there,” said Buren.

WGNO’s own LBJ will serve as the emcee of the festival.

Jazz and Heritage Foundation officials have said the festival will happen rain or shine but the Class Got Brass competition may be moved because of the weather.

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