Despite the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans sees tourists continue to flock to the city in order to take part in its annual celebrations of music and cultural diversity.

Mardi Gras celebrations have consistently drawn hundreds of thousands of people to New Orleans in order to join the locals in three days of parties and parades. Mardi Gras is quite possibly the most well known of all New Orleans celebrations and marks the final day of Carnival, the three day period preceding the beginning of Lent, and was brought to the area in 1699 when French explorers set up camp on the west bank of the Mississippi on the day of Mardi Gras. Every year, decorative floats amble down through the French Quarter and on to New Orleans main street, while incumbents throw out gifts of beaded necklaces and other assorted items to the hundreds of merry drink-wielding revellers lining the street, intent on partying hard for the duration of the celebration.

New Orleans' rich musical history is another reason why people continue to visit the city. The involvement of so many New Orleans natives in the growth and innovation of jazz and Delta blues music in the early 20th century led the city to found the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1970 - a celebration of New Orleans music and culture which has become an annual festival fixture. Despite the name, the festival features acts encompassing many different styles of music: Rock, rap, country music and folk music are all represented, as well as blues and both modern and traditional jazz. As the festival has grown, nationally established acts have begun to perform at the festival with Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow and Robert Plant all having taken part.

The Voodoo Music Experience is another festival which regularly draws thousands to New Orleans. Traditionally held over Halloween weekend, at the City Park, this festival offers a vast array of contemporary musical acts, most of which have their feet firmly planted in the “alternative” genres. Previous headliners have included Green Day, Tool, Social Distortion, Rage Against The Machine and My Chemical Romance. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina led the festival to be held at two separate locations in 2005 but since then it has returned to its traditional site, with a record breaking 100,000 music fans attending the event upon its return to City Park in 2006.

Of course, many visitors to New Orleans are simply there to take in the city’s melting pot of cultures and attractions rather than any particular event. The city’s French Quarter in particular has been popular with all sorts of tourists from around the world for many years. Located within the Quarter are a number of bars, restaurants and music venues, all contributing to a vibrant, bustling nightlife. The world renowned Bourbon Street is home to many of the Quarter’s best eateries and bars, as well as the main site for most of the festivals that take place, including the aforementioned Mardi Gras celebrations. It also contains a number of historical hotels in New Orleans including the Pontchartrain, where Tennessee Williams did much of the work on his classic play “Streetcar Named Desire”.

So whether it’s exciting after dark events, quaint, historical attractions or an unrivalled musical history and scene you’re after, the city of New Orleans is sure to provide you with memories to last a lifetime.