The two-weekend music festival which has not just been around since 1970 but is a celebration of everything that is New Orleans – live bands, Louisiana food and beer drinking – is taking only credit and debit cards this year. The 2023 New Orleans Jazz Fest dates are April 28-May 7.
New Orleans Jazzfest Forms Accepted Payment
Here is what will be accepted at Jazzfest:
- All Major Credit Cards
- Debit Cards
- Prepaid Cards
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Samsung Pay
New Orleans Jazz Fest Cash Exchange Policy
Those who have cash can use it at a Cash Exchange booth, which are located throughout the venue. There, they will receive a pre-paid credit card. There is a $500 per-day maximum and it can be used outside the Jazz Fest grounds. Or, in other words, for drinks on Bourbon Street later that night. There are no fees associated with getting a card.
A Jazzfest map shows all of the cashless locations.
The change isn’t necessarily being cheered by some vendors, who for decades have been used to the cash transactions. They are concerned about potential processing fees and – since there are often lines at many of the food booths – how it will slow down the transaction process.
“We’re going to give it another try, but we’re nervous about it. If it doesn’t go well, we just don’t know about next year,” Vicky Patania, who with her husband Dennis runs Galley Seafood, the Metairie restaurant that serves soft-shell crab and catfish po-boys at Jazz Fest, told NOLA.com.
How this will work with the clothing, craft and non-food vendors remains to be seen. Traditionally, those purchases are made by negotiations and handing over a $10 or $20 bill.
Still, that’s the way of the world these days, tho PubClub.com always believes in having a little cash on hand for tips and other uses that pop up along the way.
How Cashless At Jazz Fest Is (Or Isn’t) Working
While people and vendors adjust, the early reviews of a cashless Jazz Fest are far from positive. Huge lines the first day frustrated both fans and vendors. The transition has not exactly been without its issues, tho time may heal these early wounds.
Someone posted this on Reddit: “Insane lines. Couldn’t pay cause of crashed networks. Vendors were pissed. On the bright side, LIZZO crushed it!”
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