For more than 175 years, New Orleans, also known as “The Crescent City,” has been a popular tourist destination for Mardi Gras. However, there are plenty of great reasons to visit the city any time of year. One of the oldest cities in America, the city boasts a rich and unique culture and an interesting history. It also offers countless forms of entertainment.

The good news is that you don’t have to drain your wallet to have fun in New Orleans. In fact, there are numerous free attractions to help you save money on vacation while still having a fun. Find out how below!

1. Witness a Parade

New Orleans has the largest free party on Earth: Mardi Gras. TheMardi Gras season in New Orleansstarts on January 6th, and ends when Easter falls. Every parade in the city is free to attend, which happens nearly every night in the Uptown areas of the city and along Canal Street downtown, with an assortment of floats, marching bands, and other attractions.

2. Explore the New Orleans Museum of Art

The 100-year-oldNew Orleans Museum of Art has a collection of fine paintings, sculptures, and historical objects ranging from the pre-Christian era to modern. It also receives frequent traveling exhibitions, tucked inside the 1,300-acre City Park in the Mid-City area of town.

NOMA offers free admission to both the main museum and the sculpture garden every Wednesday.

3. Enjoy a Concert at Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square in downtown New Orleans offers 12-week concert series every year. Each concert features a host of different bands, including many of the wonderful local brass and blues bands that call New Orleans home.

The concerts are held outside in a lovely park setting where you can bring your own blankets and folding chairs to sit comfortably, just a 10-minute walk from the French Quarter.

Also known as Wednesday at the Square, these free concerts take place every Wednesday from 5pm to 8pm, generally starting in early March and ending in late May.

4. Try the Algiers Ferry

In riding theAlgiers Ferry, you get an up-close view of the Mississippi River, one of the most impressive natural landmarks in the city, and see both the oldest parts of the city and a view of the downtown skyline from the ferry. The ride is completely free for pedestrians and lasts about five minutes each way.

The Algiers Ferry leaves the Eastbank from Canal Street. The first ride of the day departs at 6am, and the last leaves shortly before 12:15am.

5. Watch a Cooking Demonstration

New Orleans cuisine is one of a kind, blending French, Spanish, African, Cajun, and Creole traditions into a unique taste you won’t find anywhere else. You should not miss Farmers’ Market on Saturdays at theCrescent City Farmers’ Marketin downtown New Orleans where you can witness seemingly endless rows of local produce, meat, seafood, and homemade goods. Most weekends, local bands perform for free inside the market, while local chefs give free cooking demonstrations.

The Crescent City Farmer’s Market is held year round every Saturday from 8am to 12pm on the corner of Magazine Street and Girod Street. If it rains, the market is moved inside an adjacent building.

6. Take a Self-Guided Tour of the Garden District

Founded in 1806, theGarden Districtis one of the most beautiful places you can visit. St. Charles Street is lined with huge oak trees and large mansions that boast rich history and epitomize southern grandeur.

Don’t miss Prytania Street, where Greek Revival homes are abundant, and Camp Street, where you can stroll through the park and view a host of beautiful statues. Free tour maps are available in the French Quarter Visitor Center, inside any streetcar, or in the Riverwalk Mall.

You can also find a lot of celebrity houses in the neighbourhood. On out the corner of Camp Street and First Street, see the former home of writer Anne Rice. On Prytania Street you can spot the former home of Nicholas Cage, and the nearby former home of Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. John Goodman, Sandra Bullock, and Matthew McConaughey have also at one point called the Garden District their home.

New Orleans is also a hotspot for film production, and the Garden District plays host to film crews all year long. If you’re lucky you may see a movie in production.

The Garden District is walkable from many downtown hotels. If you’d prefer public transportation, you can hop a ride on the St. Charles streetcar.

7. Hang Out in City Park

Explore the 1,300-acre City Park that has the largest collection of live oak trees in the world, some dating back 600 years, according to theCity Park Improvement Association. There are also lagoons, water fountains, walking and jogging trails, and small lakes to take in as well. There are also playgrounds and plenty of green space for your kids to run around.

Entrance to the park and the majority of the activities inside are free. The park is open during the day year round, seven days a week. To get there, take the Canal streetcar marked “City Park” (not the one marked “Cemeteries”).

8. Catch the Street Performers at Jackson Square

The French Quarter’sJackson Squareis a home for street performers and artists. The perimeter of the park is filles with painters and sketch artists creating and selling their original work. On the square’s two side streets, street performers do everything from tap dancing to creating living sculptures. Behind the square you can catch solo musicians and bands, or get your fortune from a tarot reader.

The square sits in front of Saint Louis Cathedral and across from the world famous Cafe Du Monde. The square is open every day, and is free for pedestrians to explore.

9. Visit Saint Louis Cathedral

Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, King of Franceis an impressive blend of Old World architecture and Catholic treasures built the 1700s. The church is rich of ornate woodwork, stained glass windows, and beautiful sculptures. While mass is still held inside the church, you can tour both the grounds and worshiping areas Wednesday through Saturday from 1pm to 4pm.

The cathedral is located directly behind Jackson Square in the French Quarter.

10. Window Shop on Magazine Street

Stroll through Magazine Streetthat stretches from the Lower Garden District all the way to Audubon Park. You can pass several hours window shopping along a row of awesome galleries, shops, bars, and restaurants. Since most of these businesses are local, you can find designer clothing, locally made art, antique shops, and funky home decor shops that you won’t find anywhere else.

Magazine Street is open night and day all year long, and is within walking distance of downtown hotels.

11. Tour the Cities of the Dead

Cities of the Dead are must-see for any visitor. You can pay for a guided tour of many of them, but they’re also open to the public free of charge. Although a bit creepy, this place is worth a visit.

The Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1 in the French Quarter is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 3pm, and from 9am to 12pm on Sundays. Here, you can see what many believe is the grave of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, where people still leave ritual offerings.