Note: Published in ThePaperWolf.com, this was the first advance article I wrote. In addition, it was my first opportunity to do journalism-based research into an event. After it was published, it was used as reference for a review article written by a colleague.
(NEW ORLEANS) – The Voodoo Music + Arts Experience (Voodoo Fest) is an annual music and heritage festival that takes place in City Park on Halloween weekend. The festival boasts four unique stages representing a gamut of different genres, and will take place on Friday, Oct. 30 to Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015.
From modern EDM (electronic dance music) to rock-and-roll to New Orleans style jazz, Voodoo Fest’s 2015 lineup boasts names like Ozzy Osbourne, Deadmau5, and the Soul Rebels Brass Band. In doing this, Voodoo Fest draws a diverse audience, creating an atmosphere like no other.
The music, however, is only half of the experience. Voodoo Fest also boasts a massive artful marketplace. Anyone walking through the main entrance of Voodoo will see two long rows of white tents overflowing with jewelry, art, and apparel. These goods, much like the music, come from a variety of styles. Ranging from sculptures made using garbage to fine handcrafted jewelry, the marketplace at Voodoo adds a concrete touch to the culture of the festival.
After standing at a two-hour concert festival, goers tend to be quite hungry and long for a hearty meal. This yearning ends at the N.O. foods sector. Restaurants such as Mona’s Café, Drago’s Seafood Restaurant, and many more will be serving at Voodoo this year. Whatever you may be craving can be satisfied, even if you will settle for nothing less than Lebanese food.
The Voodoo experience is also enhanced by a few carnival rides and interactive art pieces. These include “Face Forward” by Christian Ristow, “Fledgling” by Christian Ristow, and the Ferris Wheel. “Face Forward” is a sculpture representing a face in which passersby can operate the face’s expression with a controller. “Fledgling,” a metal sculpture representing a small bird, has a hollow torso with bicycle pedals that festival goers can climb into and control the bird’s wings. The festival also includes fairly large Ferris Wheel that gives riders a unique view of the New Orleans skyline and a panoramic view of the festival.
The Voodoo festival offers two different kinds of tickets. The first, a general admission ticket, offers all of the amenities listed above, and costs $73-$125 for a single-day pass and $99-$250 for three-day pass (the earlier you buy the ticket, the cheaper).
The “LOA” (Voodoo festival’s version of a “VIP”) pass, provides all of the above plus the following:
• Express lanes into the festival grounds
• Premier front row viewing at each sage
• “LOA loft” full service bars and better view of stages
• Spa with free massages
• Free and unlimited carnival rides
• Concierge service
The cost for the three-day LOA pass is $350-$650 (the earlier you buy the ticket, the cheaper). Visit worshipthemusic.com for more information on general admission tickets and LOA passes.
Luc Hebert's Journalism Portfolio 