If you’ve ever been to Jazz Fest in New Orleans, there’s one thing for certain: at some point in the day, you are going to need a shady spot to cool down. IYKYK.

For many festival goers, that place is the Gospel Tent. Each year at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Gospel Tent stands out as one of the most meaningful spaces on the grounds. Often called “The Cathedral of Jazz Fest,” the large white tent near the Sauvage Street entrance fills up quickly and stays that way. The performances inside are powerful and hard to walk away from.

Choirs, gospel groups, and blues artists take the stage throughout the day, with a strong mix of local talent and nationally recognized performers. The space is filled with rows of white chairs, giving people a chance to sit, slow down, and take it all in.

This year, Morris Bart continues his sponsorship of the Gospel Tent for the fourth consecutive year. As part of the sponsorship, Morris Bart provided nearly 1,500 Jazz Fest tickets to participating choir members, choir directors, and senior pastors from local churches so they could share the experience with family and friends.

Members of the Morris Bart team have been visiting local churches during choir rehearsals to personally distribute tickets ahead of the festival start this week. This has been a meaningful way to connect directly with the people who bring the tent to life and to help keep the festival grounded in its local roots.

For many people, the Gospel Tent is more than just a place to escape the heat. It has a strong sense of community. It is a welcoming and safe environment, filled with the life and passion behind the music, filling the entire space.

Morris Bart has been attending Jazz Fest his entire life, and the Gospel Tent has always been one of his favorite parts of the festival. He often remains present throughout the event, spending time inside the tent among attendees and performers.

“I’ve been going to Jazz Fest my whole life, and the Gospel Tent has always been my favorite,” Bart said. “There’s nothing quite like that feeling you get in that tent. You walk in one way and leave another.”

Bart is also looking forward to this year’s Gospel Tent lineup, which includes The Blind Boys of Alabama, a nationally recognized gospel group, along with Wanda Rouzan, Irma Thomas, and Cyril Neville, artists with deep roots in New Orleans.

At its core, the Gospel Tent is about people, music, and community. And every year, it remains one of the most special spaces at the festival.