The Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Louisiana. Influences from Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America combined to make New Orleans a melting pot of world culture.

Featuring world-music from all of those regions, the Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival is a unique event in its host city. Music and dance - along with great food and exotic crafts - will be abundant.

This free, day-long festival celebrates the historic role of Congo Square as the birthplace of American music. The Tom Dent Symposiums feature panel discussions in topics relating to the mixture of world cultures that took place at Congo Square, resulting in the development of jazz and, by extension, all of American music.