Visitor Information

PLANNING YOUR VISIT

A few things to know before you arrive:

• Festival programming takes place indoors and outdoors across Tulane’s uptown campus. Be prepared to walk between venues throughout the day.
• Parking is limited. We strongly encourage visitors to use festival shuttles, public transportation, rideshare, biking, or walking whenever possible.
• The festival is free and open to the public. Seating at sessions is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please do not save seats for guests, as holding a seat does not guarantee access to the session.
• Popular sessions often reach capacity. Arrive early for events you don’t want to miss.
• Books by featured authors, festival merchandise, food, and beverages will be available for purchase throughout the festival.
• Wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers. You may be walking between multiple venues throughout the day, and some indoor spaces may feel cool. Consider bringing a sweater or light jacket.
• Check the festival map and digital guide for the latest information about venues, schedules, and activities.
• Smoke-free campus: Tulane University is a smoke-free campus. Smoking, vaping, and the use of tobacco products are prohibited anywhere on campus.

GETTING TO THE FEST

We highly encourage festival attendees to consider alternate transportation options as parking and traffic around campus will likely be difficult to navigate during the festival. By choosing alternate transportation, you’ll help ease congestion and make the festival experience smoother for everyone.

Park & Ride Festival Shuttles: Convenient shuttles typically run in 30-minute intervals from locations in the Uptown area. Parking for shuttles is available on a first come, first served basis. 

Taxi or Ride Shares: Consider using Uber, Lyft, or similar services to drop off at 6811 Freret St.

Street Car & Public Transit: The campus is accessible by multiple RTA bus routes and streetcars. Tulane is on the St. Charles Streetcar Line (green cars). RTA bus 57-Franklin-Freret conveniently stops in the middle of Tulane’s uptown campus. Use the RTA Plan My Trip tool or visit the website for more information. Check the RTA site for the most up to date service interruptions.  

Bike: Bike racks are available across the university’s uptown campus.

Limited On-Campus Parking: With limited parking available on campus, we highly encourage attendees to use alternate transportation options. For those who must drive, limited parking will be available on campus. Exact location and time lines for parking will be announced in the weeks leading up to the festival.

• ADA parking spaces are located beside the elevators on each floor of the Diboll Garage. A state-issued placard or license plate is required to park in these spaces. The university’s interactive campus map shows ADA spaces (check the Parking box to view). 

Family Day Transportation: Shuttles will provide free round-trip rides to Family Day at the Fest on Sunday, March 14 from city wide locations to be announced. All shuttles will drop off near Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse on Freret St. Exact pick-up and departure times will be announced in the weeks leading up to the festival. 

DINING

Plenty of food options are available in and around Tulane during your time at the fest! Food trucks will be on site in addition to our main university dining centers, The Commons and the Lavin-Bernick Center. A full list of dining options around Tulane’s campus can be found here.

Additional food trucks will be available on the festival grounds and multiple grab and go options are available inside the Hyatt Regency Festival Tent. 

SAFETY & SECURITY

The safety and comfort of our guests, authors, volunteers, and staff is a top priority. Festival attendees may be subject to security screening and bag inspections upon entry to festival venues. Please allow extra time when arriving for sessions, especially during peak attendance periods. 

For the safety of all guests, firearms, weapons, fireworks, explosives, illegal substances, and other dangerous items are prohibited on festival grounds. Tulane University is a smoke-free campus. Service animals are welcome in accordance with applicable law.

ACCESSIBILITY

We strive to create an inclusive festival experience for all attendees. All festival venues are ADA accessible, and accessible seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For enhanced listening, attendees can use the AudioFetch app to stream live audio from sessions in our premiere venues directly to their personal device. Visit our Accessibility page for more information about accommodations, ADA parking, accessible campus features, and how to request accessibility services.

FESTIVAL MAP

All festival venues are nestled in the center of Tulane’s uptown campus. View the festival map of venue locations and the interactive campus map for a wider view of how to navigate campus.

WHAT TO BRING

• A reusable water bottle. Water bottle refill stations are available throughout Tulane’s Uptown campus. 
• A small bag or tote. You’ll likely want a bag for books, festival merchandise, and other purchases. Bags are permitted, though guests may be subject to bag checks and walkthrough magnetometers. 
• Comfortable walking shoes. Festival programming takes place across the center of Tulane’s uptown campus, so be prepared to walk between venues. 
• Layers or a light jacket. March weather in New Orleans can vary, and some indoor festival venues may feel cool. Consider bringing a sweatshirt, sweater, or light jacket that you can carry with you throughout the day. 
• Weather-appropriate items. Check the forecast before arriving and consider bringing an umbrella, hat, or sunscreen as needed.
• Any personal accessibility items or medications you’ll need throughout the day.