JAZZ FEST: THE FLAGS

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival flags serve multiple purposes and are as diverse and colorful as the people standing under them. 
 
THE FLAGPOLE

Before we discuss the many flags found on the fields by the stages we have to pay homage to “The Flagpole.” 
 
Those of us who have been attending Jazz Fest for years have used the permanent flagpole in the middle of the fairgrounds as a meeting point.
 
Before cell phones it was the place to meet if you ever got separated from your family or friends.
 
“The Flagpole” should be considered an historical land mark as important Washington Artillery Park cannon across from Jackson Square.

The Flagpole @ Jazz Fest: Photo Credit NolaSome

Washington Artillery Park cannon across from Jackson Square: Photo Credit Trip Advisor

RUNNERS

The most important person to your Jazz Festing Krewe is "The Runner."  He/she is the person who makes sure to get to Jazz fest early with the flag and a tarp or blanket. 
 
"The Runner" has to be quick to get a prime piece of land.  They need to plant their flag and lay out the tarp or blanket to claim their piece of land. 

SQUATTERS

---

Once they have done all of this they can now claim “squatters rights.”
 
A wonderful thing about these “squatters rights” is that it is respected and defended by neighboring squatters. 
 
On several occasions I have witnessed those unfamiliar with our unwritten rules, move chairs and blankets, but neighboring squatters will almost always step in to chase these carpetbaggers away.

Those friends who sleep in and simply stroll up to the flag after noon owe much to the runners and squatters.

FIND ME UNDER THE PICKLE

The most obvious purpose of the flags is to let everyone know where your party is.  The flag serves as a home base while everyone is running from stage to stage.
 
With hundreds of thousands of people attending Jazz Fest annually, it is nearly impossible to find someone without these landmarks.

For those who do not bring flags you can simply set up camp near someone else’s flag and send a pic of it to all of those looking to meet up.

MY FLAG IS WHO I AM

With so many flags you have to be creative so as to stand apart from all the others.
 
I counted dozens of Saints and LSU flags which would make it hard to tell someone where to find you.  That is why these flags never stand alone.
 
Flying multiple flags on a single pole makes it unlikely that yours will match any others.  A combination of common flags tell us about who is near them.  The unique flags can tell us even more.
 
These flags often tell us where you are from, where you went to school, what team you support, what music you like, what you like to drink and eat, or even lets us know that a squatter believes in aliens.
 
TRADITION
 
The flags have become as much a part of Jazz Fest as the music or the food.   The landscape of the Acura Stage field would look naked without them.