For the festival's 25th anniversary (April 10-13), it's adding a little extra local flair. Preservation Hall has joined as a sponsor and will open during the day for performances through the weekend. Abita Brewing Company is another new sponsor, replacing brewing industry giants. Special events include the world championship oyster-eating contest and the unveiling of a statue of Ronnie Kole in the New Orleans Jazz Legends Park on Bourbon Street. Music is the festival's primary attraction. Over three days, more than 150 bands will perform on 17 stages spread along the riverfront and throughout the French Quarter. There's everything from rock and jazz to Latin and world music. There are specially dedicated stages for brass bands, classical music, Cajun and zydeco music and children's entertainment. Performers include Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers, the Ellis Marsalis Quartet, the Radiators, Rockin' Dopsie Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters, Troy Andrews and Orleans Avenue, Marva Wright and the BMW's, Charmaine Neville, the Zydepunks, Bruce Daigrepont, the Soul Rebels Brass Band, the Hot 8 Brass Band, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Theresa Andersson and many others.

The festival includes other attractions as well. There's a juried art show in Pirate Alley. The New Orleans International Music Colloquium will present various speakers on musical and historical topics at the Jazz National Park Visitor Center (916 N. Peters St.). The children's stage and kids' activities will be in Dutch Alley at the tip of the French Market. See the Web site (www.fqfi.com) for a complete list of events. French Quarter Festival Schedule

Thursday, April 10

7 p.m.-10 p.m. T.G.I.F. (Thank Goodness It's Festival). Rockin' Dospie Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters perform at the festival fundraiser kick-off party held aboard the Steamboat Natchez and adjoining Toulouse Street Wharf. Tickets $65 (includes food and cocktails). Call 522-5730 or visit www.fqfi.com for information.

Friday, April 11
Jackson Square

NOLA.com Stage

11 a.m. — Connie Jones and the FQF All-Stars

1 p.m. — Banu Gibson and New Orleans Hot Jazz

3 p.m. — Ellis Marsalis Quartet

5 p.m. — The Blues Masters feat. Big Al Carson

Woldenberg Riverfront Park

Abita Beer Riverfront Stage

11 a.m. — Coco Robicheaux

12:15 p.m. — Johnny Angel & His Swingin' Demons

1:45 p.m. — The Tin Men

3:15 p.m. — Soul Project

4:45 p.m. — Billy Iuso & the Restless Natives

6:15 p.m. — Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes

7:45 p.m. — The Radiators

Harrah's Riverfront Pavilion Stage

11 a.m. — Marc Stone Band

12:45 p.m. — Susan Cowsill

2:15 p.m. — Mem Shannon & the Membership

3:45 p.m. — Joe Krown w/ Johnny Sansone

5:30 p.m. — Marva Wright & the BMW's

7:30 p.m. — Bonerama

Riverfront Brass Band Stage

11:15 a.m. — Algiers Brass Band

1 p.m. — Spirit of New Orleans Brass Band

2:45 p.m. — Treme Brass Band

4:30 p.m. — Original Hurricane Brass Band

6:15 p.m. — Hot 8 Brass Band

Louisiana State Museum/Old U.S. Mint

Zatarain's Cajun/Zydeco Stage

11:15 a.m. — Waylon Thibodeaux & the Bourbon Street Cajuns

1:15 p.m. — Jonno and Bayou Deville

3:15 p.m. — Lafourche Cajun Band

5:15 p.m. — Bruce Daigrepont

Southern Comfort Latin/World Stage

11 a.m. — Rumba Buena

1 p.m. — Riccardo Crespo & Sol Brasil

3 p.m. — Julio y Cesar

5 p.m. — Vivaz

Preservation Hall (726 St. Peter St.)

1:30 p.m. — Loose Marbles

3 p.m. — Preservation Hall International All-Stars

4:30 p.m. — Tornado Brass Band

6 p.m. — Preservation Hall Hot 4

Bourbon Street

Capital One Stage (200 Block)

1:30 p.m. — Amy Sharpe & the Quarter Notes

3:45 p.m. — Lionel Ferbos & the Louisiana Shakers

International/Continental Airlines Stage (400 Block)

2 p.m. — Jack McLaughlin's OZ Band

3:30 p.m. — Bourbon Street Stompers

5 p.m. — Magnolia Brass Band

Preservation Hall presents The Eagle Saloon Stage (500 Block)

2:15 p.m. — Milton Rich and The Dixielanders

4:30 p.m. — Sandy Cash and Her Village Musicians

Preservation Hall presents The Luthjen's Stage (700 Block)

2:30 p.m. — Lars Edegran and His New Orleans Jazz Band

4:45 p.m. — The New Orleans Jazz Relief Orchestra

Special Events

9 a.m. — New Orleans Music Legends, Inc., unveils statue of Ronnie Kole at New Orleans Music Legends Park (311 Bourbon St.).

10 a.m. — French Quarter Festival Second-Line Kickoff Parade. Starts on the 100 block of Bourbon Street.

9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. — New Orleans International Music Colloquium. Speakers discuss topics in New Orleans music history. Jazz National Historical Park (916 N. Peters St.).

10 a.m.-3 p.m. — Open tours of Hermann-Grima House (820 St. Louis St.) and Gallier House (1132 Royal St.).

2 p.m.-4 p.m. — Patio Planters Historic Courtyard Self-Guided Tours. Begins at 1113 Chartres St.

4 p.m.-7 p.m. — French Quarter Festival 25th Anniversary poster signing with artist Gail Hickman. Crab Bag (606 Royal St.).

5 p.m.-9 p.m. — French Quarter Festival poster signing with artist Phillip Bascle. Vincent Art Gallery (631 Decatur St.).

7 p.m. — Bill Russell Lecture. "Jazz on the Mississippi" by William Howland Kenney. Historic New Orleans Collection (533 Royal St.).

Saturday, April 12

Jackson Square

NOLA.com Stage

11 a.m. — Dukes of Dixieland

1 p.m. — Charmaine Neville

3 p.m. — The Ronnie Kole Show with John Perkins

5 p.m. — Chris Owens & Her Hot Rhythms Band

Woldenberg Riverfront Park

Abita Beer Riverfront Stage

11 a.m. — Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Ensemble

12:15 p.m. — Shamarr Allen

1:45 p.m. — Bob French & the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band

3:15 p.m. — Little Freddie King

4:45 p.m. — Theresa Andersson

6:15 p.m. — Big Sam's Funky Nation

7:45 p.m. — Walter "Wolfman" Washington

Harrah's Riverfront Pavilion Stage

11 a.m. — Kayla Woodson & Louisiana Lightning

12:45 p.m. — Gal Holiday & the Honky Tonk Revue

2:15 p.m. — The Stringbeans

3:45 p.m. — The Zydepunks

5:30 p.m. — Gravity A

7:30 p.m. — Groovesect

Riverfront Brass Band Stage

11:15 a.m. — Original Royal Players Brass Band

1 p.m. — Storyville Stompers

2:45 p.m. — New Orleans Nightcrawlers

4:30 p.m. — Pin Stripe Brass Band

6:15 p.m. — Soul Rebels Brass Band

Louisiana State Museum/Old U.S. Mint

Zatarain's Cajun/Zydeco Stage

11:15 a.m. — Jimmy Thibodeaux Band

1:15 p.m. — Jeremy & the Zydeco Hotboys

3:15 p.m. — Terry & the Zydeco Bad Boys

5:15 p.m. — Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers

Southern Comfort Latin/World Stage

11 a.m. — Sasha Masakowski's Musical Playground

1 p.m. — Patrice Fisher Arpa

3 p.m. — OTRA

5 p.m. — Fredy Omar con su Banda

Preservation Hall (726 St. Peter St.)

1:30 p.m. — Tom Sancton

3 p.m. — Preservation Hall International All-Stars

4:30 p.m. — Tornado Brass Band

6 p.m. — Preservation Hall Hot 4

Bourbon Street

Capital One Stage (200 Block)

1 p.m. — Duke Heitger's New Orleans Wanderers

3:15 p.m. — Leroy Jones & New Orleans Finest

Royal Sonesta Mystick Den Classical Stage (300 Block)

11 a.m. — Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra

Noon — Freimanis Quartet

2 p.m. — Dave Carbonara Classical Ensemble

4 p.m. — Opera on Tap

Musical Legends Park/Intercontinental Stage (311 Bourbon St.)

1:15 p.m. — Jimmy LaRocca's Original Dixieland Jazz Band

3:30 p.m. — Steve Pistorius & Friends

International/Continental Airlines Stage (400 Block)

1:30 p.m. — Old Jazz Union

3 p.m. — Canal Creepers

4:30 p.m. — Happy Pals

Preservation Hall presents The Eagle Saloon Stage (500 Block)

1:45 p.m. — Louis Ford and His New Orleans Dixieland Flairs

4 p.m. — Rick Trolsen & the New Orleans Po-Boys

Preservation Hall presents The Luthjen's Stage (700 Block)

2 p.m. — Jamie Wight and the Portage Jazz Band

4:15 p.m. — Clive Wilson & the Original Camellia Jazz Band

Royal Street

Whitney Bank Stage (400 Block)

11 a.m. — Rene Netto and the Sounds of New Orleans

12:15 p.m. — Smoky Greenwell & the Blues Gnus feat. Margie Perez

2:30 p.m. — The Panorama Jazz Band

4:15 p.m. — Astral Project

Neworleansrestaurants.com Stage (500 Block)

Noon — Some Like It Hot

1:45 p.m. — Vavavoom

3:30 p.m. — Anais St. John feat. Harry Mayronne Trio

Rouses Stage (700 Block)

Noon — Heritage School of Music Band

1:30 p.m. — Sullivan Dabney & the Muzik Jazz Band

3 p.m. — Arlee Leonard with David & Roselyn

French Market Children's Headquarters

(Dutch Alley)

11 a.m. — Treme Brass Band

12:30 p.m. — Free Spirit Drummers, Dancers & Stilt Walkers

2 p.m. — Society Brass Band

4 p.m. — Casa Samba

5:30 p.m. — Doreens Jazz Orleans

Special Events

8 a.m.-6 p.m. — Pirate Alley Juried Art Show. Presented by New Orleans Art Association.

8 a.m. — KIPP: McDonagh 15 Little Red School House 5K Race. 721 St. Philip St.

9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. — New Orleans International Music Colloquium. Speakers discuss topics in New Orleans music history. Jazz National Historical Park (916 N. Peters St.).

10 a.m.-3 p.m. — Gallier House Open Tours (1132 Royal St.).

11 a.m.-7 p.m. — KIPP: McDonagh. Performances by Kipp: McDonagh 15 and friends. Dutch Alley.

Noon — ACME World Oyster Eating Championship. French Market.

Noon-4 p.m. — French Quarter Festival poster signing with artist Philip Bascle. Vincent Art Gallery (631 Decatur St.).

2 p.m.-4 p.m. — Patio Planters Historic Courtyard Self-Guided Tours. Begins at 922 Chartres St.

6 p.m. — Opera at Dusk. Kathy Lowes performs. 300 block of Chartres Street.

5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. — Battle of the Bands (400 Royal St.).

Sunday, April 13

Jackson Square

NOLA.com Stage

11 a.m. — Tim Laughlin

1 p.m. — The Al Belletto Big Jazz Band feat. Leif Pedersen, Leah Chase, John Mahoney

3 p.m. — Pfister Sisters

5 p.m. — Wanda Rouzan & A Taste of New Orleans

Woldenberg Riverfront Park

Abita Beer Riverfront Stage

11 a.m. — Rockin' the Cradle of Jazz feat. Holley Bendtsen, Lillian BouttŽ, Charmaine Neville, John BouttŽ and Amasa Miller

12:15 p.m. — The Bucktown Allstars

2 p.m. — Lillian BouttŽ & Her Music Friends

3:45 p.m. — Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews & Orleans Avenue

5:30 p.m. — Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers

Harrah's Riverfront Pavilion Stage

11 a.m. — Christian Serpas & Ghost Town

12:45 p.m. — Van Broussard

2:15 p.m. — Paul Sanchez & the Rolling Road Show feat. John BouttŽ

3:45 p.m. — New Orleans Jazz Orchestra All-Stars feat. Irvin Mayfield

5:30 p.m. — Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots

Riverfront Brass Band Stage

11 a.m. — Young Reliance Brass Band

1 p.m. — Excelsior Brass Band

3 p.m. — Audacity Brass Band

5 p.m. — Society Brass Band

Louisiana State Museum/Old U.S. Mint

Zatarain's Cajun/Zydeco Stage

11:15 a.m. — Roddie Romero & the Hub City All-Stars

1:15 p.m. — Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys

3:15 p.m. — Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band

5:15 p.m. — Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters

Southern Comfort Latin/World Stage

11 a.m. — Bamboula 2000

1 p.m. — Zion Trinity

3 p.m. — The Revealers

5 p.m. — Ovi-G & the Froggies

Preservation Hall (726 St. Peter St.)

1:30 p.m. — Panorama Jazz Band

3 p.m. — Preservation Hall International All-Stars

4:30 p.m. — Tornado Brass Band

6 p.m. — Preservation Hall Hot 4

Bourbon Street

Capital One Stage (200 Block)

Noon — Jazz from Congo Square

2:15 p.m. — Bruce O'Neil & His Hard Working Jazz Band

Bourbon Street/Royal Sonesta Mystic Den Classical Stage (300 Block)

11 a.m. — Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra

Noon — Rachel Van Voorhees

2 p.m. — Old Wine in New Bottles

4 p.m. — John Rankin

Musical Legends Park/Intercontinental New Orleans Stage (311 Bourbon St.)

12:15 p.m. — Chris Burke & His New Orleans Music

2:30 p.m. — Evan Christopher's Clarinet Road

International/Continental Airlines Stage (400 Block)

12:30 p.m. — Liberty Hall Stompers

2 p.m. — KBR

3 p.m. — Pontchartrain Owls

Preservation Hall presents The Eagle Saloon Stage (500 Block)

12:45 p.m. — "Kid" Simmons' New Orleans Jazz Band

3 p.m. — Norwegian Church Jazz All-Stars

Preservation Hall presents The Luthjen's Stage (700 Block)

1 p.m. — Eddie Bayrad & the New Orleans Classic Jazz Orchestra

3:15 p.m. — The Last Straws

Royal Street

Whitney Bank Stage (400 Block)

11 a.m. — The Heritage School of Music Band

12:15 p.m. — Ingrid Lucia

2:30 p.m. — Philip Melancon

4:15 p.m. — Hot Club of New Orleans

6 p.m. — Dancing at Dusk with the Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra

Neworleansrestaurants.com Stage (500 Block)

Noon — Kelcy Mae

1:45 p.m. — New Orleans Jazz Vipers

3:30 p.m. — Big Daddy ÔO'

Rouses Stage (700 Block)

Noon — Mary Jane Ewing feat. Tony Dagradi

1:30 p.m. — Tony Green

3 p.m. — Rhodes Spedale Trio

French Market Children's Headquarters

(Dutch Alley)

11 a.m. — Captain Papillion — Kid Pirates

12:15 p.m. — Johnette Downing

1:30 p.m. — Mystical Magician

2:30 p.m. — Captain Papillion — Kid Pirates

3:45 p.m. — Johnette Downing

5 p.m. — Adella the Storyteller

6 p.m. — Captain Papillion — Kid Pirates

Special Events

8 a.m.-6 p.m. — Pirate Alley Juried Art Show. Presented by New Orleans Art Association.

11 a.m.-7 p.m. — KIPP: McDonagh. Performances by Kipp: McDonagh 15 and friends. Dutch Alley.

7 p.m. — St. Louis Cathedral Spring Concert. St. Louis Cathedral Concert Choir and Jazz Orchestra perform music by Duke Ellington with guests Charmaine Neville and Phillip Manuel.

click to enlarge

• Cheryl Gerber
• Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews (left) and Orleans Avenue perform at the French Quarter Festival.