Chapters stay in French Quarter and Central Business District hotels within walking distance of the venues, and large groups split across neighboring hotels. Formals run at private venues a few blocks away, from Bourbon Street event spaces to a restored theater, a riverboat or a country-themed hall. We’ve hosted formals for as few as 26 people and for more than 500.
Fraternity Formals in New Orleans
All Roads Travel plans fraternity formals in New Orleans from start to finish: the hotel room block, a private venue for the formal, & charter buses from campus. Since fall 2023 we’ve run more than 250 New Orleans formals, mostly for SEC chapters, making it our most-booked destination.
Quick Facts
Formals since Fall 2023:
More than 250
Typical Group:
130 to 260 travelers
Largest Group We've Hosted:
More than 540 travelers in one weekend
Busiest Weekends:
MLK weekend in January, then April and September
Trip Length:
Two nights, usually Friday to Sunday
Getting There:
About 4 to 5 hours by bus from Alabama, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Auburn; 7 to 8 hours from Georgia and Florida
A Sample Weekend In New Orleans
Friday
Buses leave campus late morning and reach the hotel by mid-afternoon. The evening is free in the French Quarter.
Saturday
A free day for Jackson Square, beignets at Café du Monde, a swamp tour or a riverboat ride. The formal runs from about 7 to 10 pm at your private venue.
Sunday
Check out mid-morning and ride home, back on campus by evening.
Example Formal Experience
New Orleans Fraternity Formals: A Theater Event and Bourbon Street Nightlife
Make a private event at Joy Theater the centerpiece of your New Orleans fraternity formal, then explore Bourbon Street nightlife at The Swamp and Beach on Bourbon. All Roads Travel brings together hotel accommodations, transportation, and group events to create a weekend that balances a dedicated chapter celebration with time to experience the city.
*Example experience only. Venue availability, private-event arrangements, admission requirements, and age restrictions vary. Your ART proposal will confirm the specific inclusions.
Frequently asked questions
How far is New Orleans from campus?
About 4 to 5 hours by charter bus from Tuscaloosa, Starkville, Oxford and Auburn, and 7 to 8 hours from Athens and Gainesville.
How big a group can ART take to New Orleans?
Most of our New Orleans groups have 130 to 260 travelers. The largest we’ve hosted had more than 540 in one weekend, split across neighboring hotels.
When should we book New Orleans?
MLK weekend and April weekends book first, so chapters that want those dates usually lock them in the semester before.
