Welcome, you’ve decided to attend Skankfest 2025 in New Orleans. A brave choice. This (Nov 14-16) will be an unforgettable weekend, but you need to prepare. This isn’t a “sit quietly and clap” kind of festival. It’s a three-day, high-energy, chaotic party.
Here is your survival guide.
- Pace Yourself. This is a marathon, not a sprint. The festival runs from afternoon until the early morning hours. You will be drinking, standing, and walking a lot. Hydrate (with water!) and don’t go too hard on day one. You don’t want to be the person who passes out before the headliners.
- Wear Comfortable Shoes. You will be at Mardi Gras World, a massive warehouse and outdoor space. You will be on your feet for 10+ hours a day, walking between stages. Leave the new boots at home.
- Download the App (and Expect It to Change). Skankfest usually uses an app for its schedule. Download it. That said, the schedule is more of a “strong suggestion.” Set times will change, secret shows will pop up, and chaos will reign.
- Embrace the Overlap. You will miss something you want to see. With multiple stages and live podcasts running simultaneously, it’s impossible to see it all. Make peace with it. Pick your “must-sees” and be open to discovering something new in the gaps.
- Be Cool to the Comics. One of the best parts of Skankfest is how accessible the comedians are. You’ll see them walking around, watching shows, and hanging out. Be cool. Don’t interrupt their conversations or shove a camera in their face. A simple “Hey, great set” is all it takes.
- Charge Your Phone. Bring a portable battery pack. Your phone will die from taking videos, checking the schedule, and trying to find your friends.
- Lean Into the Theme. The theme is “Voodoo, Mardi Gras, & Vampires.” Have fun with it. You’ll see plenty of costumes and wild outfits. It’s New Orleans. Get weird.
