Lafayette 200: New Orleans Bicentennial - April 9 thru 13, 2025

The American Friends of Lafayette - New Orleans / Louisiana Bicentennial:  April 9 thru 13, 2025

*  It is highly recommended that you make your hotel room reservation immediately since the French Quarter Festival is taking place at the same time as this commemoration, which brings 250,000 tourists to New Orleans.

*  Registration Bienvenue Kit included in the price of both Ticket Packages. If you are experiencing trouble finalizing your purchase, please contact us at:

Afl.Louisiana@gmail.com or call us at 504.544.9235

"Grandiose" (5 Events) and "Le Petit" (2 Events) Ticket Package Descriptions are brief due to the ticket platforms space limitations. Please scroll down to the A la Carte ticket offerings for the full event description. 

NOTE: Schedule is subject to change - and - ONLY for AFL Members who purchase either Ticket Package will get a BONUS EVENT - "Adrienne's Salon" Drinks & Dessert Party on that Thursday evening, April 10th at the historic Pontalba Apartments at Jackson Square.

* * * The "GRANDIOSE" TICKET PACKAGE:  $765  /  April 9 thru 13, 2025 / 5 Events include:

*  Wednesday, April 9 at 6:30 PM:  “1825 Gala”  Dinner and open Bar included. (Dress: Business <coat & tie> or Cocktail party attire / Period attire is encouraged)

*  Thursday morning & afternoon, April 10:  Theatrical Pagent, Chalmette National Battlefield, Steamboat Natchez River Cruise (Lunch on the Natchez and All transportation is included. ) Dress: Comfortable casual (Lafayette t-shirt suggested) but period attire is welcomed. 

*  Friday morning & afternoon, April 11:  Lafayette Visits Magnolia Mound Plantation in Baton Rouge, (Includes lunch, a tour and round-trip transportation from New Orleans).  Dress: Casual;  period attire is welcomed.

*  Friday, April 11 at 7:00 PM:  “Opera with Lafayette.”  Dinner and entertainment is included <Dress: nice casual or better (coat/optional tie) but period attire is always welcomed.>  Round-trip transportation is included.

*  Saturday, April 12 at 7:00 PM:  “A Theatrical Evening in an 1825 French Quarter Residence.”  Dinner-reception party with performances by a youth theater group. < Dress: nice casual or better (coat/optional tie) but period attire is always welcomed.>

Please scroll down to the A la Carte ticket offerings for the full event description. 

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For those who require a shorter stay in New Orleans but still want to join in the fun, we offer

* * * The "LE PETIT" TICKET PACKAGE:  $350  /  April 9 & 10, 2025 / 2 Events include:

*  Wednesday, April 9 at 6:30 PM:  “1825 Gala”  Dinner and open Bar included. (Dress: Business <coat & tie> or Cocktail party attire / Period attire is encouraged)

*  Thursday morning & afternoon, April 10:  Theatrical Pagent, Chalmette National Battlefield, Steamboat Natchez River Cruise (Lunch on the Natchez and All transportation is included. ) Dress: Comfortable casual (Lafayette t-shirt suggested) but period attire is welcomed. 

Please scroll down to the A la Carte ticket offerings for the full event description. 

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The 1825 GALA TICKET (a-la-carte): $245 /  April 9, 2025

*  Wednesday, April 9 at 6:30 PM:  “1825 Gala” at the Cabildo (Louisiana State Museum) Welcoming Lafayette as they did in 1825 in the very place where he lodged during his historic visit to Nouvelle Orleans, La Louisiane. We’re delighted to present the exclusive premier of the Cabildo’s Lafayette Exhibit at the Louisiana State Museum, a rare glimpse into the life of one of history’s most captivating figures, General Lafayette, and his significant contribution to our American independence and his visit to Louisiana in 1825.  Our Bicentennial is an excellent opportunity for you or your organization to support this important event. A portion of each gala ticket goes toward sponsoring the Lafayette exhibit at the Cabildo Museum. Dinner and open Bar included. (Dress: Business <coat & tie> or Cocktail party attire / Period attire is encouraged)

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LAFAYETTE IN NEW ORLEANS PAGENT, CHALMETTE NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD & WELCOME CEREMONY, STEAMBOAT NATCHEZ RIVER CRUISE Ticket (a-la-carte): $125   /April 10, 2025

*  Thursday morning & afternoon, April 10:  Buckle up because we are all invited to share our Lafayette passion on this not to be missed day! Activities on Thursday include: “Step into the Past, Live the Lafayette Legacy!” Immersive Historical Reenactment performance, Lafayette’s Welcome Ceremony at Chalmette Battlefield with time to tour a portion of the Battle of New Orleans exhibit and a lunch cruise on the Mississippi on the Steamboat Natchez.

Volunteer participants dressed in period attire are heartily welcomed and needed to make the morning even more authentic! Please let us know by emailing us at afl.louisiana@gmail.com if you will come in period clothing and would like to be a volunteer participant. You will receive emails regarding scheduling and how you can help.

Our very best efforts in creating this amazing commemorative day necessitated us to flip the historical timeline around; to our absolute delight we managed to work everything in!

Imagine – a dusty old book published in 1826 is discovered just in time to guide us in planning our programs on Thursday and Friday! This mighty book, containing every speech given to and by Lafayette in Louisiana, along with additional details not previously known, has expanded our commemoration 1000-fold! Thursday is evolving into an impressive day, chock FULL of a who’s who list of historical dignitaries who met with Lafayette while in New Orleans in 1825 and what they did and said! Meanwhile, word of Lafayette’s return in 2025 reached the ears of local persons who understand the importance of teaching the youth of Lafayette’s lasting impact, who offered to plan an event for the area school children to experience first-hand Lafayette in his glory! Thursday’s activities include bringing Lafayette and his entourage to over 1000 school children at an indoor venue strictly for this purpose! You must have a ticket to attend this special theatrical portion of the morning as we are subject to the venue’s capacity limitations. 

After the special private historical theatrical pagent, we will visit Chalmette National Battlefield, where the Battle of New Orleans was fought 10 years prior to Lafayette’s arrival. This is where the General first stepped foot in Louisiana and was formally welcomed by the Louisiana governor and other dignitaries.  We are combining two welcome ceremonies into a single one which will include the governors address, the City of New Orleans’ Mayors address and other dignitaries. Lafayette will respond to the addresses and also review the troops. Lafayette will lay a wreath in remembrance of those who fought and perished at the Battle of New Orleans. Some time is open to allow for touring a portion of Chalmette Battlefield.

And we are not done yet! Lafayette travelled to New Orleans on the Steamboat Natchez. We will enjoy lunch on the “replica” Steamboat Natchez while cruising on the Mississippi River with Lafayette.  After this incredible morning, Lafayette will talk briefly about his experiences traveling by steamboat. He will leisurely enjoy cruising with his entourage, enjoying a lunch together with ticketholders and be available to interact with individuals.

(Lunch on the Natchez/transportation to the school venue, the Battlefield and to the Natchez are included). Dress: Comfortable casual (Lafayette t-shirt suggested) but period attire is welcomed.  Come prepared for the impact of weather at the Battlefield. All transportation is included. Due to the private venue’s capacity limitations, tickets are limited. However, you are welcome to join us at the Chalmette Battlefield and purchase your own Natchez ticket for the later lunch cruise, transportation and parking on your own.

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LAFAYETTE VISITS MAGNOLIA MOUND PLANTATION IN BATON ROUGE Ticket (a-la-carte): $135  /April 11, 2025

*  Friday morning, April 11:  Lafayette Visits Magnolia Mound Plantation in Baton Rouge, home to his aide-de-camp during the American Revolution, and lifelong friend, French Cavalry Captain Armand Du Plantier. Imagine – a dusty old book published in 1826 is discovered just in time to guide us in planning our programs on Thursday and Friday! This mighty book, containing every speech given to and by Lafayette in Louisiana, along with additional details not previously known, has expanded our commemoration 1000-fold! Lafayette spent mere hours in Baton Rouge on his way to St. Louis, so there was not much known about his visit, until now! Once we arrive in Baton Rouge, we will make a brief stop at the cemetery where Du Plantier’s buried, the S.A.R. will have a ceremony and Lafayette will lay a wreath. We will continue on to nearby Magnolia Mound where we will learn about the General’s time in Baton Rouge and about his long-time friendship with Armand Du Plantier. (Includes lunch, a tour and round-trip transportation from New Orleans).  <Dress: Casual;  period attire is welcomed.>

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“OPERA WITH LAFAYETTE”  Ticket (a-la-carte): $185   /April 11, 2025

*  Friday, April 11 at 7:00 PM:   An historical opera performance that hasn’t been heard in 200 years!We will have 5-star chef created heavy hors d'oeuvres and a limited bar. Opera has long been part of the musical culture of New Orleans, Louisiana. Operas have regularly been performed in the city since the 1790s, making New Orleans the opera capital of 19^th Century North America. The New Orleans Women’s Opera Guild is hosting us at their beautiful New Orleans mansion Museum on Prytania Street in the historic Garden District (formerly the City of Lafayette named in honor of Lafayette prior to it being incorporated into the City of New Orleans) that today serves as the home of the New Orleans Opera Women's Guild and the New Orleans Opera Association. 

A visiting music historian and Opera singer will sing opera songs that she has identified were Lafayette’s favorites, guaranteed to delight the Lafayette fan. Dr. Benjamin Franklin will make an appearance and take us on a walk down memory lane with Lafayette. (Heavy hors d'oeuvres and a limited bar, opera music, theatrical interpretation and round-trip transportation is included.) <Dress: For men, nice casual such as a sports coat with optional tie; for ladies, cocktail party attire. Period attire is always welcomed.> 

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 “A THEATRICAL EVENING WITH LAFAYETTE” Ticket (a-la-carte): $135   /April 12, 2025

* Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 7PM: “A Theatrical Evening with Lafayette” hosted by The New Orleans Spring Fiesta Association at their classic French Quarter early 19^th century historic townhome.  Attendees will get to relive history by experiencing a wonderful evening including dinner. A youth quartet of musical theater performers will entertain us with excerpts from Hamilton and they will remain in character while mingling with us. (Dinner is included.) This event venue is small and the maximum capacity will be met very quickly. <Dress: Dress: For men, nice casual such as a sports coat with optional tie; for ladies, cocktail party attire. Period attire is always welcomed.>

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                 * * *  WHAT COMPRISES THE PRICE OF OUR TICKET PACKAGE ?  * * *

*These are ALL-INCLUSIVE events, in very special Lafayette related venues, and being catered by 5-Star Caterers who previously served as top chefs at some of the most famous restaurants in New Orleans - like Commander's Palace, Galatoire's, Brigsten's, Arnaud's, Broussard's, and the Rib Room (in our host hotel the Omni Royal Orleans).  We realize many visiting New Orleans, especially for the first time, might not have the opportunity to get reservations at some of the New Orleans' famous cuisine palaces, especially with the 250,000 tourists in town for the French Quarter Festival taking place at the same time as our event.  WE ARE BRINGING THE FAMOUS NEW ORLEANS CUISINE TO OUR LAFAYETTE EVENTS – so you won't miss out!  

* First class motorcoach transportation to all AFL events that require transportation.

*  A portion of each Gala ticket will go toward sponsoring the Cabildo's (Louisiana State Museum's) exhibit on Lafayette which will educate hundreds of thousands who visit the Cabildo!

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WANNA CELEBRATE LAFAYETTE “New Orleans Style” by wearing our LAFAYETTE T-SHIRT?

We have ‘em!  Go to our website to check out the shirts and how to order!  www.AFL-Louisiana.com

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* BECOME A SPONSOR:  Please consider becoming an Individual sponsor described in the  "Individual Sponsorship" section to see how you can make a difference in making our Bicentennial Events a huge success AND help make the Lafayette Exhibit at the Cabildo Museum a reality.  Our organization is a Registered 501c3 educational charity comprised of all volunteers. Your entire donation is tax deductible and goes directly toward Lafayette education efforts.

Come see why we say in New Orleans . . ."Laissez les bon temps rouler!" (Let the good times roll!)