The tradition of jazz is celebrated in various locations and in many ways across New Orleans, Louisiana. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, Café Beignet Bourbon has been able to be part of doing so in a prominent way with the creation of Musical Legends Park, which is dedicated to the preservation of New Orleans Musical Culture. This endeavor has transformed what was a courtyard like any other into a landmark that attracts audiences from across the city and world.
Celebrating New Orleans Musical Legends
Café Beignet locations in the French Quarter all offer something unique to its visitors. The Bourbon Street location contains an outdoor courtyard and patio bar which has eight different sculptures that honor New Orleans jazz legends. Louis Prima, Chris Owens, Pete Fountain, Al “Jumbo” Hirt, Fats Domino, Irma Thomas and Ronnie Kole are a few of the legends honored in the park.
The land that Musical Legends Park now resides on was for more than 60 years a part of the electric distribution system serving New Orleans and was donated to the city in honor of Thomas Edison, whose company provided the first electric service in the city in 1886. It was known as Edison Place until being dedicated as Musical Legends Park.
The commemorative displays, plaques and artwork dedicated to various New Orleans Musical Legends dispersed among tables and places to relax allows audiences to engage with the musical culture of New Orleans in a personal manner. It provides a warm, intimate escape for local and visiting music lovers. Musicians are invited to play for outdoor audiences. Jazz is typically played within the park from 10 am until it closes. Performances are free to the public.
To facilitate the continued support of the initiative to honor the musical legends of News Orleans, the New Orleans Musical Legends Foundation was created in 2000. The park also provides an educational and performance venue for students in New Orleans public schools. New Orleans Musical Legends Park is also available to host corporate and personal events and parties. Catering services are available on-site from Cafe Beignets.
Whether someone wants to take a selfie with the statue of Fats Domino or listen to the music that has defined the culture of New Orleans, Musical Legends Park has enabled these numerous options and opportunities. The park highlights the incredible community connections and direct revenue that can be enabled when stakeholders install sculptures and monuments that captivate audiences in so many different ways.
Embracing the New Orleans Jazz Tradition
What would have been just another courtyard in the French Quarter has instead embraced the culture of the city with multiple monuments that both honor and are part of the jazz tradition of the city. Doing so has created countless opportunities for Café Beignet stakeholders and for audiences seeking to experience this culture and tradition.
