Big Easy 2nd Line Celebration
📅DATE: Saturday, June 14th, 2025 🕑TIME: 11 am – 9 pm* 🏟️VENUE: Various venues* 🗺️ADDRESS: Queen Street Niagara Falls, ON 💵PRICE: FREE to enter but tickets for festival workshops are additional 🍤 FOOD: Available on at our Venue Partners on Queen Street 🍷DRINKS: Available on at our Venue Partners on Queen Street * See full schedule below ** Select workshops require payment (see below)
Big Easy Event Schedule 2025.
| Time | Event Name | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 am - 11:30 am | Grand Opening | Niagara Falls Innovation Hub |
| 11:30 am - 12:00 pm | Trash Panda Strolling Set | QUEEN STREET, NIAGARA FALLS |
| 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm | Dragon Ritual Drummers Performers | Havanna Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge |
| 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Family Zone | Arts & Crafts | African Women Acting |
| 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm | Trash Panda 2nd Strolling Set | QUEEN STREET, NIAGARA FALLS |
| 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm | Trash Panda 3rd Strolling Set | QUEEN STREET, NIAGARA FALLS |
| 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm | Make Your Own Poppet Doll | Cat & Monkey |
| 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm | Jazz 4 the Ages Performer Carly Greavette | Havanna Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge |
| 2:30 pm - 3:00 pm | Jazz 4 the Ages Performers Quibble Quartet Street Strolling Set | QUEEN STREET, NIAGARA FALLS |
| 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm | Jazz 4 the Ages Performer Emilio Gerimia Duo | Havanna Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge |
| 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm | Jazz 4 the Ages Performers Quibble Quartet 2nd Street Strolling Set | QUEEN STREET, NIAGARA FALLS |
| 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm | Jazz 4 the Ages Performer Carly Greavette | Havanna Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge |
| 4:00 pm - 7:30 pm | Cocktail Making Demo | No Tell Cocktail |
| 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm | Turbo Street Funk Strolling Set | QUEEN STREET, NIAGARA FALLS |
| 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm | Jazz 4 the Ages Performer Emilio Gerimia Duo | Havanna Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge |
| 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm | Gypsy Spirit Band Performance | Paris Crepes |
| 6:15 pm - 7:00 pm | Dragon Ritual Drummers Performers | Taps Brewhouse |
| 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm | Turbo Street Funk Performance then Grand Prize Draw | Taps Brewhouse |
DOWNLOAD SCHEDULE
ABOUT THE EVENT:
Niagara Jazz Festival presents
Big Easy 2nd Line Celebration
Get ready for New Orleans of the North!
🎺 Strut your stuff along Queen Street alongside the Brass Bands
🎤 Enjoy performances featuring Turbo Street Funk, Dragon Ritual Drummers and more…
🍤 Savor the flavors of New Orleans with Cajun & Creole menu features
🍸 Sip and indulge in signature cocktails from the Crescent City
🎭 Dress to impress with feathers, beads, masks, and festive flair!
On Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 11 am – 9 pm, Queen St. in Niagara Falls will burst to life with a vibrant Big Easy 2nd Line Celebration, kicking off the Niagara Jazz Festival’s summer season. Inspired by New Orleans traditions, the celebration will feature strolling brass bands, drummers, dancing, activities for all ages, and a joyous crowd celebrating jazz, live music and community spirit.
What is a Second Line?
The Second Line in New Orleans is a vibrant street parade tradition rooted in African American culture. It features a “main line”, usually a brass band leading the procession. The “second line,” made up of dancing, parasol-twirling participants who follow, celebrating life with music, movement, and community spirit. Often seen at weddings, funerals, and festivals, the Second Line is a powerful symbol of joy, resilience, and cultural pride.
Our partners for this special event include Niagara Falls Innovation Hub; Niagara Falls University Canada, Taps Brewhouse, Cat & Monkey AWA (African Women Acting), No Tell Cocktail and Speakeasy and Steve Wilson Studio. Additionally, Downtown Niagara Falls Queen Street merchants will also join in the revelry by adding their own flair with lively in-store promotions, New Orleans-themed activities, and creative displays that reflect the spirit of the celebration.
From hosting interactive workshops, cocktail and food demos, arts and crafts workshops, special discounts, pop-up performances to themed menus and storefront décor, local businesses will help transform Queen Street into a vibrant, immersive experience for festival goers.
This festive pre-launch event not only previews the main festival Flagship event, Summer Mardi Gras (June 20 @ Oakes Garden Theatre),it also celebrates the rich blend of local culture, music, culinary, and community in downtown Niagara Falls!
Festival goers will feel energized, immersed in a lively, joyful celebration of music, culture, and community, where every corner of Queen Street pulses with the spirit of New Orleans.
Culinary and Cocktail Features:
Here are some of the specialty Mardi Gras themed items that will be sold at our various venue partners during the event.
No Tell Cocktail is Offering:
Hurricane Cocktails
Sign up for the Cocktail Making Demo HERE
Learn to craft the iconic Hurricane cocktail in a lively, hands-on demo filled with festive flair. Guests will enjoy their own Hurricane Cocktail they will create.
4:00 pm – 4:30pm, 4:45 pm – 5:15 pm, 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm, 6:15 pm – 6:45 pm, 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Gumbo
Plush Imperial is Offering:
Youth Performers:
CLICK HERE for more information about Turbo Street Funk
DRAGON RITUAL DRUMMERS
CLICK HERE for more information about Dragon Ritual Drummers
TRASH PANDA BRASS
Quibble Quabble Quartet is a sax quartet from the Woodlands Secondary School in Mississauga. Jason Gali, leading the quartet on soprano sax, began piano at 6 and the alto sax at 11. He is passionate about learning about musical composition and mastering jazz improvisation. CLICK HERE for more info.
We also have Emilio Geremia and Carly Greauette performing at the Big Easy 2nd Line Celebration.
Event Funder
Event Partners and Sponsors
Supported by
Sponsored by
PLEASE NOTE:
- This is an outdoor event, and it will take place Rain or Shine
- Tickets for the workshops are non-refundable.
- For more details, please email Darlene at admin@niagarajazzfestival.com