Joliet's New Orleans North Just Days Away

JOLIET, IL - In three weeks, if the weather cooperates, downtown Joliet's New Orleans North festival should draw a crowd of at least 9,000 people. This year's event will offer the largest food court so far, staff at Joliet's Chamber of Commerce told Patch during an interview Thursday.

This year marks Joliet's eighth annual event. The party goes from 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, June 7. The Mardi Gras festival takes place along North Chicago Street, between the courthouse on Jefferson Street and the main public library branch on Clinton Street.

"Last year, we had 9,000 people. I think this is the biggest food court we've ever had," said Kelly Baltas, director of member events for the Joliet Chamber. "We'll have twelve different food vendors this year."

There will also be stilt walkers and magicians wandering along Chicago Street.

"It's just a fun-filled entertainment-packed evening," Baltas said.

One of the new food vendors will be Cajun Boil & Bar, the new restaurant that is in the process of opening inside the Louis Joliet Mall. Joliet Patch wrote this story about Cajun Boil & Bar in March.

Other food vendors will include Parmeseans Wood Stone Pizza in Frankfort as well as the Beef Shack restaurant on West Jefferson Street that opened last November. There will also be the popular Carnivale Food Truck out of Chicago, Smokin' Z BBQ from New Lenox and Chuck's Southern Comforts from Darien.

Music entertainment

Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk's band, Hot Mess, will take to the stage. Other music entertainment for the evening will include Big Shoulders Brass Band out of Chicago and The Big Lagniappe from here in Joliet.

2 Alleys Offer Street Music

This year, New Orleans North will feature two different downtown alleys offering acoustic music. One of the new event sponsors for the Houka Bar Alley is 3 C Compassionate Care, the medical marijuana dispensary located in Joliet and that has announced plans to relocate to one of the empty Mattress Firm buildings near the Louis Joliet Mall. "The houka alley was new last year," Baltas said.

Thompson's Tap

In 2018, one of the founders of New Orleans North, Joliet businessman Jeff Thompson, died from a heart attack. The upcoming June 7 New Orleans North will honor his memory by adding "Thompson's Tap," a giant beer garden off Van Buren Street that will include string lighting, picnic tables as well as trees being supplied by The Fields nursery off Plainfield Road. Thompson's Tap will showcase dueling pianos and offer live jazz music throughout the night.

"It will really be fun," Baltas told Joliet Patch on Thursday.

Tickets On Sale Now

You must be at least 21 years old to attend New Orleans North. Admission tickets will be sold at the event for $10. However, if you buy your tickets in advance, they're $7. You can buy them at several Joliet area businesses including Great American Bagel on Essington Road, Johansen & Anderson on Plainfield Road, TCBY in Shorewood, the downtown Joliet Chamber Office on North Chicago Street and the First Midwest Bank branch on West Jefferson Street across from Inwood. Tickets are also available online at the Chamber's website.