The 18th Annual Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo will take place between Lafitte and Orleans from May 16-18th in Bayou St. John. With special performances from Big Freedia’s Gospel Revival, Honey Island Swamp Band’s Dark Side of the Bayou and a 4:20pm set from the 420 Funk Mob (feat. members of Parliament/Funkadelic), this three-day festival is sure to be unlike anything else. In addition to live music, festival attendees can catch comedy sets, cabaret performances, visit an art market and enjoy a variety of food and beverage options. Proceeds benefit Friend of Bayou St. John, the nonprofit organization dedicated to the stewardship and protection of Bayou St. John. Unlike any other festival, attendees can enjoy music from the land or on the Bayou, via small water vessels or homemade barges. Early bird weekend passes are on sale now for $34.50.
“We are excited to once again bring a top-notch music line-up to our long-time home on the banks of Bayou St. John,” said Jared Zeller, festival producer, founder and President of Friends of Bayou St. John. After Hurricane Katrina, Zeller and his Bayou St. John neighbors hosted the first Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo as a way to rebuild and recover as a community. In the years since its inception in 2006, the festival has grown to support cultural, community and ecological efforts on the banks of the Bayou.
Lineup
The complete 2025 music line-up includes Big Freedia’s Gospel Revival, 420 Funk Mob feat. Members of Parliament Funkadelic, Jagged Little Pill: An Alanis Morissette Tribute feat. Alexis Marceaux, Leo Nocentelli, LSD Clownsystem, Honey Island Swamp Band presents Dark Side of the Bayou, GLBL WRMNG, Crowe Boys, Jelly Joseph, Desert Nudes, Billy Iuso, Alexis & The Sanity, Ghalia Volt, James Andrews & The Crescent City Allstars, Bo Dollis Jr & The Wild Magnolias, Asylum Chorus and Kirkland Green.
Programming on the Variety stage includes John “Papa’ Gros Solo Performance, Inferno Burlesque, Happy Time Healing Sheaux: Comedy, Improv, Games & More! Hosted by Brett Siddell, Joy Clark, Roast Battle League New Orleans, Asylum Variety Show, Rene Gros, Work The Crowd: An Interactive Comedy Experience feat. Ryan Rogers and Marcus Bond, Drag Bingo Hosted by Katrina Waters, Banks St. Comedy Brunch with JQ Palms, Comedy Gumbeaux Hosted by Red Bean, Mikayla Braun, Shawan Rice, and Greetings From Queer Mountain Hosted by Amanda G.
In addition to programming on two stages, Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo will host a curated arts market, kids programming, a Crawfish Eating Contest, and food from various local vendors.
Sustainability Efforts
In alignment with Friends of Bayou St. John, which focuses on the ecological preservation of the Bayou, the festival is dedicated to sustainability efforts. Last year, the festival recycled 220 lbs of aluminum, 295 lbs of plastic, 320 lbs of glass, and 35 lbs of cardboard. Attendees used 2,018 reusable cups in 2024, which kept 1,395 pounds of waste out of landfills. In 2025, Friends of Bayou St. John will implement even stronger waste reduction and recycling initiatives, thanks to funding from Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s 2024 Greener Grounds Grant.
Tickets
Limited early bird weekend passes are available for $34.50. This is a General Admission weekend pass with in and out privileges. Kids under 12 are free, but must be accompanied by an adult. After all early bird weekend passes have been purchased, remaining passes will increase to $39.50. 3-Day Canopy Club VIP passes are also available. They are $229 each. VIP ticket holders receive:
- Re-entry plus access to the shaded Canopy Club VIP area
- Front stage access
- Elevated viewing deck
- Private, air-conditioned restrooms
- A selection of complimentary beverages and local eats
To purchase tickets for Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo, visit https://www.thebayouboogaloo.com/.