The Congo Square Rhythms Festival returns this weekend, March 21-22. The festival takes places at Congo Square inside Armstrong Park and is free to enter. Congo Square Fest highlights the music and dance of Africa, the Caribbean, the American Gulf South and beyond, along with a large arts market and local food vendors with the food of Africa, the Caribbean, and New Orleans.

This year's event features the Mardi Gras Indians, including The Wild Magnolias with Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and Bo Dollis, Jr., and Cha Wa with Chief Smiley Ricks. The musical lineup also includes brass bands, Caribbean bands, African dance troupes, contemporary soul, the city's young talent, and more. See below for the full schedule.

This festival is kid-friendly and has a revamped kids' activity area this year with new activities, games, and entertainment for the younger set, plus a baby-changing and nursing tent.

Congo Square Fest also coincides with the fourth annual Class Got Brass middle and high school brass bands competition. Class Got Brass goes down on Sunday afternoon starting at 3pm. The winners receive more than $20,000 worth of instruments for their school's band programs.

Can't make it to the park this year? WWOZ will be broadcasting live from the festival 12pm-7:30pm on Sunday:

12:00 – 12:45 Moyuba featuring Michael Skinkus (recorded Saturday)

1:00 - 1:45 Africa Brass Band LIVE

2:00 – 2:30 Yissy Garcia from Cuba (recorded Saturday)

2:45- 3:30 Tank and The Bangas LIVE

4:45 – 5:45 Hot 8 Brass Band LIVE

6:00 – 7:30 Rebirth Brass Band LIVE

Complete Lineup:

Saturday, March 21 
11:00 am to 12:00 pm       Latin Drum Circle 
12:00 to 12:45 pm            Moyuba featuring Michael Skinkus 
12:45 pm to 1:00 pm        Culu & N'Kafu African Dance
1:00 pm to 1:40 pm          Alexey Marti 
1:45 pm to 2:15 pm          Yissy Garcia from Cuba 
2:15 pm to 2:30 pm          Tekrema Dance Theater
2:30 pm to 3:15 pm          Big Chief Smiley Ricks 
3:15 pm to 4:15 pm          Battle of the Mardi Gras Indian featuring Fi Yi Yi and the Guardians of the Flame plus DJ Truth Universal
4:15 pm to 5:30 pm         Cha Wa 
5:30 pm to 6:00 pm         N'Fungola Sibo Dance Theater
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm         The Wild Magnolias featuring Monk Boudreaux and Bo Dollis Jr. 
   
Sunday, March 22   
11:00 am to 12:00 pm     African Drumming & Dance Circle 
12:00 pm to 12:45 pm    Bamboula 2000 
12:45 pm to 1:00 pm      Nkiruka Drum and Dance Ensemble
1:00 pm to 1:45 pm        Africa Brass 
1:45 p.m. to 2:15 pm      Kumbuka African Dance Ensemble
2:15 pm to 3:00 pm        Tank & da Bangas 
3:00 pm to 4:45 pm        CLASS GOT BRASS COMPETITION
4:45 pm to 5:45 pm        Hot 8 Brass Band 
5:45 pm to 6:00 pm        Class Got Brass winners announcement 
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm        Rebirth Brass Band