The air cools, leaves rustle, and the scent of gumbo or jambalaya drifts from festival kitchens—fall on The Northshore is made for gathering. Weekends buzz with live music under open skies, kids running between rides and craft booths, and friends sharing local brews or sweet treats while sporting team colors at tailgates. Most events are free, all are easy to enjoy, and together they make autumn the coziest, most flavorful time to explore. With cypress trees blazing rust-red in the marsh and birds on the move above, there’s no better backdrop for festival season on The Northshore.
Family Festivals & Fall Favorites
Abita Fall Fest in Abita Springs
For families with wide-ranging interests, fairs and big community festivals are always a hit. These Northshore traditions pack in food, rides, games, and live entertainment for every age.
Sep. 27: The Folsom Fall Festival fills Town Hall and Moise Park with free family fun: a Chili Cook-off, Homestead Conference, hayrides, crafts, and more, hosted by the Village of Folsom and Wholesome Folsom.
Oct. 1-5: Step into more than a century of tradition at the St. Tammany Parish Fair, celebrating 115 years with exhibits, rodeos, carnival rides, livestock shows, live music, and plenty of fair food.
Oct. 4: The Olde Towne Pumpkin Festival is much more than a pumpkin patch. Expect pony rides, a hay dig, inflatables, “punkin’ chunkin’,” cupcake walks, scavenger hunts, and sweet treats—plus the Youth Entrepreneur Village and a full arts-and-crafts market.
Oct. 18-19: The Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival transforms the riverfront into a two-day celebration of Louisiana’s maritime heritage, with wooden boat displays, great food, live music, and a Children’s Village where kids can build their own toy boat.
Oct. 24-26: A Mandeville tradition since 1982, Festival of the Lake features food from parishioners and local restaurants, live music all weekend, carnival rides, and activities for kids.
Oct. 25-26: Treasure hunters and antique lovers flock to the Olde Towne Slidell Fall Antique Street Fair, a twice-yearly stroll through Slidell’s historic district lined with antiques, vintage finds, food booths, and live music.
Oct. 24-26: At the Castine Center in Pelican Park, the Louisiana Wildfowl Festival showcases the art of carving and collecting, with competitions, demonstrations, antique decoys, vendors, and a live auction.
Nov. 15: The Northshore for the Cure Festival at Northshore Business Park in Slidell brings families together with live music, food trucks, kids’ activities, and community spirit. This year, proceeds from the festival support the American Heart Association.
Music, Art & Cultural Festivals
Covington Three Rivers Art Festival
October and November bring a wave of festivals where the soundtrack is live music, the streets are lined with art, and culture takes center stage.
Sep. 20: Stroll Covington’s galleries and shops during Canvas & Chords Art Stroll, where local artists and musicians team up for an evening of creativity. Explore downtown while enjoying live performances and art displays at multiple venues.
Sep. 21: Hola Northshore celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Lago Fest at the Mandeville Trailhead, a day of vibrant live music, salsa dance classes, kids' activities, and authentic food and drinks prepared by area Hispanic eateries.
Oct. 4: The Bluesberry Music & Art Festival brings blues musicians and blueberry-inspired food and drinks to Covington’s Bogue Falaya Park, along with a juried art market and family activities.
Oct. 10-11: Abita Fall Fest returns with three stages of live music, Abita Beer, local food vendors, kids’ activities, and plenty of small-town charm.
Oct. 11: Stroll downtown Covington during Fall for Art, presented by the St. Tammany Art Association, with gallery openings, artist demonstrations, and live performances.
Oct. 11: Slidell’s ConnectFest, marks LGBTQ+ History Month with a Pride celebration in Heritage Park, featuring live entertainment, food trucks, kids’ activities, an art market, and community resource booths.
Oct. 31-Nov.2: The Ozone Songwriter Festival on the Northshore fills Covington with original music on multiple stages, showcasing hundreds of regional and national singer-songwriters
Nov. 1: The WideWater Music & Arts Festival brings multiple music stages, art vendors, and food trucks to the Mandeville lakefront.
Nov. 2: Celebrate Creole heritage at the Mandeville Creole Culture Fest with live music, cultural discussions, a kids’ tent, local vendors, and a Culture Corridor at the Mandeville Trailhead.
Nov. 1-3: The Native American Heritage Celebration, at the Bayou Lacombe Museum honors Native American history and traditions with three days of cultural demonstrations, crafts, food, and live performances.
Nov. 15-16: Downtown Covington turns into a giant open-air gallery during the Covington Three Rivers Art Festival, showcasing hundreds of visual artists, a food court, children’s entertainment, and live music.
Flavors of Fall: Food & Drink Festivals
Louisiana Food Truck Festival in Slidell (The Harbor Center photo)
Autumn tastes as good as it feels on The Northshore. These festivals put local flavors front and center, with everything from backyard barbecue to German classics and Louisiana seafood.
Sep. 6: The Louisiana Food Truck Festival at The Harbor Center in Slidell serves up a feast of flavors, plus live music and family fun.
Sep. 28: Sample dishes prepared by local first responders and community leaders at Heroes Who Cook, a family-friendly fundraiser for the Children’s Advocacy Center/Hope House, held at the Covington Trailhead.
Oct. 3: The SMH Foundation’s Rooftop Rendezvous turns downtown Covington’s Justice Center garage into an evening of food from local restaurants, drinks, and live music, with proceeds supporting St. Tammany Health System.
Oct. 4: Adventurous eaters head to Slidell for the Wild Game, Seafood & BBQ Cook-off, where teams fire up the pits with recipes you won’t find anywhere else.
Oct. 1-Nov. 6: Middendorf's Oktoberfest in Slidell stretches six weeks, dishing out German meals, beer, and live music on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Oct. 12: Raise a glass at the Northshore Beer Festival at the Mandeville Trailhead, with craft brews, food trucks, and live music for ages 21 and up.
Oct. 18: Northshore Oktoberfest at the Covington Trailhead pairs authentic German foods and music with fundraising for A Rhea of Hope.
Oct. 17-19: The Slidell Food and Fun Fest (also known as the St. Margaret Mary Fair) is three days of rides, food, live entertainment, and a Saturday morning 5K and 1-mile run/walk.
Fall on The Northshore is too good to experience just once—there’s always another festival, concert, or family outing waiting around the corner. Browse our full event calendar for even more ways to join the season’s celebrations, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for highlights that keep the spirit going all autumn long.
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