French Quarter Fest: What to know before you go

French Quarter Festival is back this weekend, April 10-13, taking over the heart of downtown New Orleans with about 300 acts spread across nearly two dozen stages.
Why it matters: The fest is the city's largest free festival.
The big picture: The festival brought an estimated 950,000 to the Quarter last year.
It's a reliable gig for hundreds of local musicians and dozens of food vendors, not to mention all the French Quarter restaurants and shops that will benefit from the extra foot traffic all weekend long.
If you like New Orleans music, you'll enjoy the lineup.
Headliners include Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and Irma Thomas.
An evening concert series at the JAX Lot has Chapel Hart, the Original Pinettes Brass Band with Mia X, Little Freddie King and Rockin' Dopsie and the Zydeco Twisters.
Other acts include Charmaine Neville, Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, The Soul Rebels, Honey Island Swamp Band, Cupid and the Dance Party Express Band, Jelly Joseph, and hundreds more.
Pro tip: Don't skip the small stages.
With 22 of them spread around the Quarter, it's easy to get sucked into the big crowds, but you'd lose out on some of the intimate moments still possible in this popular festival.
Try to spread out especially on Saturday and Sunday, when crowds are at their largest.
Dig in: You won't go hungry. Official vendors concentrate in Jackson Square, the Old U.S. Mint and along the riverfront.
More than 70 vendors are lined up to feed the festival masses this year, including event newcomer Chubbie's Famous Fried Chicken.
Kids' programming returns on Saturday and Sunday.
Young fest-goers can participate in STEM activities, which the Riverboat City of New Orleans is hosting for the first time this year.
If you go: The fest is free, but VIP options, which include designated viewing areas and other perks, are available.
Expect road closures, bag checks and additional security measures throughout the French Quarter. Go deeper.
For the late-night crowd, French Quarter Fest's After Dark series returns this year. Details.

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First dibs: SIDES, founded by KSI & other UK YouTubers, brings its fried chicken to Bugis+

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