The Inside Scoop on Southern Decadence in the French Quarter
Photo by David Fary
Born in the early 70s as a going-away party, Southern Decadence has evolved into a massive and immensely popular three-day festival that celebrates LGBTQ+ culture and attracts participants from all over the world. It’s traditionally celebrated over the Labor Day weekend and is considered the fifth largest event in New Orleans after Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Essence Festival, and the French Quarter Festival.
This year’s Southern Decadence falls on Friday, August 29, through Monday September 1, 2025. The 2025 Grand Marshals Monique Michaels-Alexander, Bill Hincks, Willie Mackie, and ChiChi Rodriquez announced that this year’s theme is “Etched in Stone, Timeless and Decadent.” The official colors are black, gold, white/silver, and purple.
Just like every year, most activities will be centered in and around the French Quarter, with lots of block parties and dance parties at bars and clubs on Bourbon Street. The hub of the festival is again Bourbon Pub/Parade, with two rocking floors and an expansive balcony. The Pub will be open late nightly, especially on Friday and Saturday (till 5 a.m.)
Photo by David Fary
The Pub will be hosting numerous events throughout the festival, including a kick-off and closing parties. It will again serve as an epicenter of the annual Bourbon Street Extravaganza, a free show/block party happening at the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets.
The annual Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Parade on Sunday will start at the Golden Lantern Bar (1239 Royal St.) at 2 p.m.
Photo by David Fary
Several French Quarter bars and clubs will also host the festival crowds that weekend. Oz dance club and Lafitte’s, both on Bourbon St., will be hopping as they do every year. Oz has DJ’d shows every night and fills up during Southern Decadence. Lafitte’s, a 24/7 French Quarter mainstay since the 1950s, has generous happy hour deals and a wraparound balcony.
Although not part of the Bourbon Street stretch, the Good Friends bar at 740 Dauphine St. in the French Quarter also receives a fair share of the festival partygoers. The downstairs will be open for 24 hours Wednesday through Sunday.
Although a lot of events are confined to the French Quarter, the festival generally spills into quite a few bars and clubs in the Marigny and the Bywater. The Friendly Bar at 2301 Chartres St. is a quiet neighborhood bar with a pool table, solid jukebox, and well-priced drinks. Big Daddy’s Bar (2513 Royal St.) also has a pool table, a jukebox, and a neighborhood vibe. These two bars, plus Pepp’s Pub right next door to Big Daddy’s Bar (it replaced Cutter’s), are great for a quiet after-party conversation.
Another popular destination is the 24/7 Phoenix Bar (941 Elysian Fields Ave.), located in the Marigny within a short walking distance from the French Quarter.
Photo by David Fary
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans during Southern Decadence? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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Things to Do in the French Quarter This September
When September hits in New Orleans, it doesn’t mean summer has given up the ghost, even if everyone is back in school. As far as festivals and events go, New Orleans doesn’t slow down in this regard either. Here are some of the happenings hitting the Crescent City and the area around the French Quarter as we enter September.
Southern Decadence
August 29 – September 1, 2025
If you’re in town over the Labor Day weekend, check out Southern Decadence. This popular festival celebrates LGBTQ+ culture and attracts participants from all over the world. What started as a simple going-away party in the 1970s is now considered the fifth largest event in the city after Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Essence Festival, and the French Quarter Festival.
The festival’s annual hub, Bourbon Pub Parade, will be open till 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Just like in previous years, it will serve as an epicenter of the Bourbon Street Extravaganza, a free show/block party happening on Saturday at the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets. The annual Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Parade on Sunday will also end up there. For the event’s schedule, check out its website.
NOLAXNOLA
September 25-October 5, 2025
So, what is NOLAxNOLA exactly? Pronounced “NOLA by NOLA,” it’s a celebration of New Orleans music, venues and artists. In 2021, a coalition of New Orleans artists, venues and cultural leaders banded together to support one another and keep the music community and culture bearers strong in those difficult times. The event featured a huge and impressive case of New Orleans artists and was a success, so it came back in 2022 with even more shows and more venues participating.
Supposed to be even bigger this year, NOLAXNOLA is not to be missed. For this year’s artist roster and participating venues list, check out the event’s website.
Need somewhere to stay during your fall visit to New Orleans? Be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels!
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White Linen Night
Photo courtesy of Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans on Facebook
Back in the days before air conditioning, New Orleanians kept cool and looked fresh in the face of August swelter by wearing light-colored linen clothing. Back in the days before White Linen Night, local art galleries felt the pinch of the August tourism slowdown.
In order to combat said slowdown, and to showcase local summer fashion, White Linen Night was created (Fidelity Bank is the title sponsor). Art galleries and restaurants in the Arts/Warehouse District throw their doors open for a night of wine, art showcasing, dining, and more wine — plus modeling of, naturally, the latest in white-linen fashion.
The event, held on Saturday, August 2 this year from 5 to 10 p.m., has several components that showcase local art and provide plenty of opportunities to eat, dance, drink, and stroll in the New Orleans’ Arts District in Central Business District (CBD). One of the main features is a free block party and an open house for galleries on the 300-600 blocks of Julia Street in the Arts/Warehouse District, with live music and dozens of food and drink stands.
The events also spill out onto neighboring streets throughout the area, including Magazine and Camp streets. In addition to most galleries on Julia Street, the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art will be open. As the name suggests, participants are invited to wear white.
You can check out this guide to see which galleries are participating. Remember, the block party is free, though you’ll have to get tickets to buy food and drinks. There’s also a ticketed “cool down lounge” on-site.
The event is usually really well attended, so parking is limited, though there’s some street parking as well as the paid parking lots in the area.
So, don your best white linen and brave the heat to support the Arts District New Orleans as they celebrate 31 years of this unique event!
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The Rundown of the Running of the Bulls in New Orleans
Photo: Some rights reserved by Infrogmation
Most people are familiar with Spain’s Encierro de Pamplona, but not everyone might realize that New Orleans hosts its own Running of the Bulls. Here, though, the “bulls” are the roller derby skaters, dressed in the traditional colors of Spain’s bull run and wearing horned helmets, who whack the participants with plastic bats during this annual Encierro (bull run).
The 19th annual summer spectacle falls on July 11-13 this year. Here’s the daily rundown.
Friday, July 11, 2025
Friday evening marks the opening of SFNO, called El Txupinazo (pronounced “ el choo-pin-AHT-so”). One of the charities that benefit from this festival, Beth’s Friends Forever, will host this event at the event’s new venue this year, High Grinds Coffee (1724 St. Charles Ave.), 6-9 p.m. Expect live music, an open bar, a silent auction, and a live auction for a lifetime VIP package for SFNO. This year, the food and the drinks will be provided by Atchafalaya, High Grinds, Juan’s Flying Burrito, and Sidecar Nola.
Saturday, July 11, 2025
The actual Encierro will be held on Saturday. Join thousands of runners, wearing all white and accessorized with red scarves and handkerchiefs, as they gather by 6:30 a.m. at Gallier Hall in downtown New Orleans (545 St. Charles Ave). Yes, the party starts early, and there will be live music, beer, sangria, and food trucks on-site to get things going.
The Procession of San Fermin and an invocation kick off the morning, followed by the run, which starts at 8 a.m. sharp. The run lasts till about noon. After that, you can attend the traditional La Fiesta de Pantalones, held at Espiritu Mezcaleria (520 Capdeville St.) starting at noon, or join the other revelers who stick around to make a day of it bar-crawling downtown, including the Warehouse District.
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Close out with the annual El Pobre de Mí (“Poor Me”) burlesque brunch at Gallier Hall, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. This is a ticketed event, and there will be a cash bar and food on site.
What else to know
- All events are ticketed — proceeds go to charity (register and get tickets online).
- SFNO benefits Beth’s Friends Forever (named after NOLA Bulls cofounder Beth Hanning), which raises money for financially needy women fighting cancer in the Greater New Orleans area.
- Since drinking is part of the festival, prepare to get carded.
- El Txupinazo on Friday is 18+ only.
- While there is no dress code, the event organizers encourage everyone to dress in the style of Spain’s Encierro de Pamplona: white top and bottom, with something red around the waist and the neck. This being New Orleans, many runners do, and get very creative with their gear.
- There are several paid parking lots in the area, but this is a popular event, so it will most likely be crowded, with limited parking options all around.
- No outside food and drinks are allowed inside Gallier Hall on the day of the run, and no ice chests or chairs.
- Review the rules of the run before you take off, like no touching the bulls and placing kids under 10 on the sidewalk.
Coming to New Orleans this Summer?
Check out our guide to where to stay in the French Quarter, and be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels. Also, consider booking a guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans.
For easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!
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Satchmo SummerFest Celebrates the Legacy of Louis Armstrong
Photo courtesy of Satchmo SummerFest on Facebook
Satchmo SummerFest started in 2001 as a tribute to Louis Armstrong, one of New Orleans’ most prominent native residents, on his 100th birthday (“Satchmo” was one of Armstrong’s several nicknames). Ever since, the fest remains the August highlight and just the respite we need from the long weeks of summer.
The annual festival, traditionally held over the first weekend of August in the French Quarter (falling on Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3, 2025, this year), is easy to navigate and get to. The fest will be spread on two stages at the New Orleans Jazz Museum (at the Old U.S. Mint).
While the 2025 music and vendor lineups are TBA, the always-stellar music lineup included in the past the Big 6 Brass Band, Treme Brass Band, Preservation Brass, Jeremy Davenport, Charmaine Neville, The Original Pinettes Brass Band, and more.
Among the festival’s traditional special events, the annual Jazz Mass will again be held at St. Augustine church (1210 Governor Nicholls St.) on Sunday, August 4, at 10 a.m. It’s a popular event, so arrive early if you plan to attend.
Immediately following mass, join the “Satchmo Salute” second line parade, which will make its way from the church to Armstrong Park before secondlining down to Esplanade Avenue and the festival’s grounds at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
For schedule, lineup and updates please check the event’s website or its Facebook page.
Photo courtesy of Satchmo SummerFest on Facebook
You may also want to know:
Admission is free.
There will be shaded picnic tables on the grounds for dining.
Parking: For street parking, you may want to look along the stretch of the French Market and at the foot of Esplanade Avenue. There is also a 24/7 parking lot by the French Market along the river. Enter from St. Peter Street.
Pops’ Playhouse for Kids at the Jazz Museum will have children’s activities.
No coolers or ice chests, and no outside food or drink, please.
Festival details:
What: The annual Satchmo SummerFest
When: Saturday-Sunday, August 2-3, 2025
Where: New Orleans Jazz Museum (at the U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave., French Quarter)
Admission: Free
Schedule and food vendors: https://satchmosummerfest.org/
Coming to New Orleans in August?
Check out our guide to where to stay in the French Quarter, and be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels. Also, consider booking a guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans.
For easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!
Happy August!
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Your Guide to the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture
Over the years, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture has evolved into one of the largest celebrations in the country, and New Orleans is proud to host it again, when ESSENCE celebrates its 31st year in 2025. If you plan on attending, here’s our guide on how to navigate the festival, where to eat, shop and stay, and generally how to make your visit an unforgettable one.
When and Where Is the ESSENCE Festival of Culture?
Traditionally, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture takes place over the Independence Day weekend. This year, the dates fall on July 3-6, 2025. Over the four days, the event will be held mostly at the two New Orleans venues: the Caesars Superdome for the evening performances and the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for the daytime activities.
Music Lineup Headliners and Other Highlights
Music fans from all over simply can’t go wrong with all the incredible names in every year’s lineup. The 2025 theme is “Made Like This.” Notable performers include Boyz II Men, Jill Scott, Davido, Maxwell, Master P, GloRilla, The Isley Brothers, Nas, and Summer Walker. A tribute to Quincy Jones will be performed by Jermaine Dupri.
The traditional Sunday Gospel Celebration at the Convention Center features the greatest gospel hits, and ESSENCE After Dark, a series of late-night jam sessions, comedy shows, underground performances, live podcast recordings, and more, is also not to be missed.
In addition, a variety of exciting conferences, exhibitions, roundtables, and other experiences are scheduled this year, plus beauty, fashion, and food events, a marketplace, a family day, an economic forum, keynote speakers, and more. The BeautyCon and Wellness House experiences feature celebrity beauty influencers and wellness experts.
Where to Get Your Tickets
You can get your tickets a la carte (for the evening concerts at the Superdome and ESSENCE After Dark) or in bundled day and VIP packages, online. The headliners sell out fast, so don’t wait till the last minute! All the events held at the Convention Center during the day are free and open to all (registration is required for everyone over 18).
What to Pack
Bring comfortable shoes, an umbrella or rain jacket (as summer in New Orleans can bring unpredictable weather and frequent afternoon showers), and a lot of patience.
The Convention Center in particular is massive, so there will be a lot of walking, and lines could be long. Both the Superdome and the Convention Center have AC, of course, but staying Instagram-ready in the hot and humid New Orleans summer could be tricky.
So dress light, but also be prepared for the much chillier temps inside. It might be a good idea to bring a portable mobile device charger with you so you won’t have to look for an available power outlet in a crowded venue.
Where to Eat
Check out the ESSENCE Food & Wine experience while you’re attending the festival for dozens of vendors and special food demos to get recipe inspiration, find a new dish you like, or revisit an old favorite. There’s also a food court with vendors from all over the South offering a wide range of classic New Orleans food, world cuisine, vegan and vegetarian fare, desserts, and beyond.
For dining out on the town (and in the French Quarter in particular), see our guides, below.
Where to Shop
Look for the festival marketplace near the food court, with dozens of vendors selling artwork, crafts, music, clothing, jewelry, etc. You can easily get your souvenir shopping done there, too, from the local vendors. The festival also has its own store inside the Convention Center, with festival merch, books, magazines, and so on.
There are also plenty of shopping options in the area. You could spend a whole day browsing the three levels of The Shops at Canal Place. It has a soaring atrium and food options ranging from casual to upscale. Canal Place houses a slew of upscale national chains like Saks Fifth Avenue, Brooks Brothers, and Louis Vuitton, but also local boutiques.
The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, located by the Mississippi River, is a sprawling discount outlet mall with all the popular labels like Gap, Under Armour, and Guess.
Further down, venturing into the French Quarter, check out H&M and Sephora, plus all the lovely, unique boutiques that pepper Chartres St.
For more shopping suggestions, please see our guides, below.
Where to Stay
If you plan on attending the ESSENCE Festival of Culture, why not choose a historic hotel for a unique experience? You’ll still stay close to all of the action and excitement, but you’ll also be creating memories steeped in history and charm.
Here are our suggestions: All these hotels are historic properties located in the French Quarter (three of those — Hotel St. Marie, French Market Inn and Place D’Armes — have charming saltwater pools in their lush courtyards).
Book your New Orleans stay with the help of our Recommended New Orleans Hotels.
What’s Going on in New Orleans That Week?
There’s Independence Day, of course. New Orleans celebrates July 4th like anywhere else in America, but also with a flavor all her own. There will be fireworks over the Mississippi River and plenty of music and partying. Head to the Riverfront for the display, or see if you can score a French Quarter balcony as a viewing (and party) spot. Many Bourbon Street bars with balconies allow access for a cover fee or if you’re just buying drinks.
What Else You Need to Know
- The ESSENCE Festival of Culture requires all guests 18 and over to register for entry into Essence Festival’s conferences and expos.
- Since the Convention Center events are for all ages, if you want to buy a drink at the food court, prepare to be carded.
- You can re-enter the Convention Center multiple times, but not the Superdome.
- No outside food or drink will be allowed at the Convention Center and the Superdome; all bags will be searched.
- Take note of the Superdome’s clear-bag policy: “Any bag, purse, or briefcase that is larger than 12” x 6” x 12” will not be allowed into the Superdome. All bags that enter must be clear, with the exception of medical bags, which may be subject to inspection, and small clutch bags. The maximum size for a clutch bag is 4.5”x 6.5”.”
- Look for the festival sponsor booths (like Coca-Cola) to score some samples and giveaways and to enter contests. Sponsor booths also host celebrity meet-and-greets, so this might be your chance to meet your favorite star when they’re not performing.
New Orleans and French Quarter Guides
Make the most of your stay in New Orleans while you enjoy ESSENCE Fest with our comprehensive guides to the New Orleans dining, sightseeing, shopping, nightlife, and much more:
New Orleans Guides
Eating and Drinking
- Local French Quarter Favorites
- Diet Another Day: New Orleans Must Eats in the French Quarter
- Best Food on Bourbon Street
- Best Kept Secrets for Eating Cheap and Eating Well in the Quarter
- Late Night Dining: Where to Turn in the Quarter When the Midnight Hungries Hit Hard
- Vegetarian Destinations in the French Quarter
- Best Pizza in the French Quarter
- French Quarter Dining Al Fresco
Classic New Orleans and Southern Dishes
- Try the Best Jambalaya in the French Quarter
- 10 Best Places to Get Gumbo in the French Quarter
- Where to Score the Best Crawfish in New Orleans
- Best Muffulettas in the French Quarter and Nearby
- New Orleans’ Po-Boy Is A Rich Food Tradition
- New Orleans’ Legendary Fried Chicken Joints
- The Best Barbecue in New Orleans
- Bananas Foster in the French Quarter
- Proof Is in the Bread Pudding
Cocktails
- The Best Happy Hours in the French Quarter
- Classic Cocktails and Modern Thirsts in the French Quarter
Shopping
- French Quarter Shopping: One-of-a-Kind Stores
- Vintage Shopping in the French Quarter
- Hat Shopping in the French Quarter and Nearby
- Shopping for Discovery and Surprise
Exploring
- First-Timer’s Guide to the French Quarter
- Must-See French Quarter Museums
- Must-See Mardi Gras Museums
- Photo Ideas for Your Next French Quarter Vacation
- What to Do on a Rainy Day in the French Quarter
- Fun New Orleans Sightseeing With the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
- Famous New Orleans Ghosts
- New Orleans’ Haunted History
- Neighborhoods Near the French Quarter
Famous Streets
- Bourbon Street: The Complete Block-by-Block Guide
- Bourbon Street Bucket List
- Decatur Street: Block-by-Block
- Royal Street, a Block-by-Block Guide
- Famous Streets of the French Quarter: North Rampart Street
- Famous Streets of the French Quarter: Chartres Street
Additional Resources
- The Ultimate Guide for Women Traveling Solo in the French Quarter
- What to Do in the French Quarter When You’re Under 21
- Exploring the French Quarter With Kids
Coming to New Orleans This Summer?
In addition to checking out our suggestions listed above, consider booking a guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans. For easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!
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Tales of the Cocktail Returns to New Orleans This Summer
Tales of the Cocktail by Cory James Photo
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation‘s popular annual conference returns Sunday, July 20 – Friday, July 25, 2025, providing festival-goers with six action-packed days of tastings, special events, and scheduled seminars. This is a perfect chance for spirit enthusiasts from all over the world to create and exchange ideas and techniques in the cocktail world.
Developed for any and all spirit enthusiasts and professionals, Tales of the Cocktail gets the whole city involved with a variety of special events and celebrations throughout the week. Regardless of whether you are a bartender, bar owner, distiller, mixologist, tastemaker, or just a passionate lover of food and drink, Tales of the Cocktail is an event you will not want to miss.
Celebrating History With Every Sip
Some of the world’s most famous cocktails were invented in this city: the Sazerac, Brandy Milk Punch, and Ramos Gin Fizz, to name a few. This festival started as a walking tour of historic New Orleans cocktail bars, and now, celebrating 23 years in 2025, it attracts thousands of people from all over the world with dozens of events hosted over just six days (see the packed conference agenda here).
The focus of Tales of the Cocktail is to create a valuable experience for bartenders, distillers, ambassadors, and other members of the industry. The festival is constantly adapting to the needs of the industry by developing programming that allows participants to learn, network, and hone different skills. There’s a different theme every year, and the 2025 one is “Evolve.”
The festival features multiple seminars and tastings, and if you’ve ever wanted to explore the “spirited” side of New Orleans (drinks, not ghosts), there are multiple tours, happy hours, tastings, seminars, book signings, bartender contests, networking, and more.
Tales of the Cocktail by Cory James Photo
More Than Just Drinks
Tales of the Cocktail highlights the important connection between two of our favorite subjects – food and drink – and to that end, the Spirited Dinner series will feature special cocktail and food menus at restaurants across the city. The Tales’ signature annual blowout, the “best of” Spirited Awards, will be held on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Tales of the Cocktail by Cory James Photo
Get Your Tickets
Please note that tickets for special events are sold individually, so you can build your own itinerary. You can also get day and week passes. The prix fixe tasting menus and food-pairing dinners are especially popular, and the tours and cocktail-themed parties also tend to sell out quickly, so we highly recommend getting your tickets as early as you can.
Tales of the Cocktail by Cory James Photo
What to Do and Where to Stay in the French Quarter
If you are looking for things to do in New Orleans, you will have no shortage of exciting options right at your fingertips. In addition to Tales of the Cocktail, there are many other exciting festivals and events taking place in The Big Easy in the summer, including culinary festivals.
Many of the Tales’ events are located in the French Quarter, so why not choose a historic hotel nearby? Check out these historic properties, all located in or near the French Quarter, some with charming saltwater pools.
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Picnicking Along the Mississippi River This Summer
Summer in New Orleans brings warm breezes, longer days, and the perfect excuse to enjoy the outdoors — yes, despite all the heat and humidity. Whether you’re packing a homemade picnic basket or picking up local favorites like po-boys and fried chicken, the Riverfront offers some of the city’s most picturesque and relaxing spots to dine al fresco.
The Fly (Audubon Riverview Park)
From sprawling levees and oak-shaded lawns to scenic promenades with a view, here are the top places to enjoy a picnic by the Mississippi River in New Orleans this summer.
Tucked behind the Audubon Zoo Uptown, The Fly, officially known as Audubon Riverview Park, is a beloved picnic destination for locals. Sitting high on the levee, it offers expansive green space, sweeping views of the Mississippi River, and a relaxed vibe perfect for tossing a frisbee, walking your dog, reading under a tree, or simply watching the barges float by.
What makes The Fly extra special is its combination of natural beauty and urban charm. Spread out a blanket under the shade of a tree or take in a sunset as tugboats drift past. Grab a po-boy from nearby Domilise’s, a wood-fired pizza from Pizza Domenica, or some cold drinks and snacks from a local deli. With ample space and plenty of fresh air, it’s a picnic go-to for families, students, and couples alike.
Audubon Park
Just a short walk from The Fly is Audubon Park, a serene and sprawling greenspace that provides both open lawns and deeply shaded spots under centuries-old oak trees. It’s an Uptown gem, offering peace and quiet even in the heart of the city.
The park’s “Riverview” section along the river is especially ideal for a summer picnic. Whether you’re fueling up after a jog or meeting friends for a relaxing afternoon, Audubon Park’s scenic paths, benches, and open fields provide the perfect setting.
Before you head over, stop by Picnic Provisions & Whiskey or Stein’s Market & Deli to pick up gourmet sandwiches, charcuterie, a hoagie, or a chilled salad. Bring a blanket or use the park’s built-in picnic tables, and enjoy one of the most peaceful outdoor experiences in the city.
Crescent Park
For those who love urban scenery with its greenery, Crescent Park is a must. This 1.4-mile linear park along the Riverfront in the Bywater connects to the French Market and stretches all the way to the Marigny. With walking trails, picnic tables, native gardens, and shaded benches, it’s a modern outdoor space that blends nature with striking views of the New Orleans skyline and the mighty Mississippi.
At Crescent Park, you’ll find ample space to lay out a picnic blanket or settle into a shaded area. Watching the sun set behind the city’s bridges is an unforgettable way to end a summer evening.
Nearby food options include local haunts like The Joint for barbecue or Satsuma Café for light fare and juices. Whether you’re here for a romantic date or a family-friendly outing, the park’s accessible design and bike-friendly paths make it easy to enjoy.
The Batture
The Batture is a newly reimagined 10-acre space along the Mississippi River in Uptown New Orleans, where an old industrial site is being transformed into a welcoming destination for the public. Once home to the Bisso Marine salvage yard, this part of the riverfront has been off-limits for over a century. Now, it’s being opened up as a lively, green area where the community can reconnect with the river.
This new space is meant to feel distinctly New Orleans — casual, social, and tied to the rhythm of the river. Whether you’re enjoying a picnic at dusk, relaxing with a drink after biking the levee, or grabbing a bite with friends on the lawn, The Batture invites people to slow down and soak in the view. It’s a place for neighbors and families to gather, with a mix of open green space and local businesses that reflect the city’s charm and creativity.
You’ll find The Batture just steps from Audubon Park and The Fly, located between Walnut and Lowerline Streets. It’s easily reached via the levee from Leake Avenue. While nearby favorites like Broadway Beach and the levee dog park remain unchanged, The Batture adds something fresh to the neighborhood — a blend of restaurants, retail, office space, and wide-open lawns designed for enjoying the river in a relaxed, community-focused setting.
The first renovated buildings now house The Rigs Workspace, with a coffee shop and bar underway. Full-service restaurant spaces are also in the works. In the meantime, expect pop-up events, food trucks, and seasonal programming.
The Rigs Workspace is open daily to its members. For the public, The Batture is open Friday afternoons and evenings from 3 to 9 p.m., and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Crescent City Farmers Market is now open at The Batture every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to noon.
Please note that dogs are welcome but must stay leashed, and outside drinks are allowed, but no outside food.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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What to Do in July in New Orleans
Photo by William Recinos on Unsplash
Summer in New Orleans is HOT, but we’ve got a slate of festivals that will cool you off and keep you entertained.
Independence Day
Friday, July 4, 2025
New Orleans celebrates July 4th like anywhere else in America, but with a flavor all her own. There will be fireworks above the Mississippi River and much partying as usual. As part of the annual “Go 4th on the River” celebration, the “Dueling Barges” will again put on a spectacular fireworks show set to patriotic music.
There are plenty of great spots to watch the display, but a French Quarter balcony is one of the most desired viewing spots in the city. You can grab excellent vantage points on the Riverfront, and in the Marigny and Bywater too. The Woldenberg Park on the shoreline of the Mississippi River is also an excellent spot to throw a picnic while you wait for the fireworks, as well as another waterfront park, Crescent Park. Coolers and chairs are welcome.
ESSENCE Festival of Culture
Thursday-Sunday, July 3-6, 2025
There’s a lot to love about the ESSENCE Festival of Culture, beyond the fact that it is the largest annual African American culture and music event in the world. It’s one of the finest gatherings of musicians in a city that is well-known for throwing together excellent gatherings of musicians.
Beyond the concerts held each night of the fest at the Superdome, its free daytime experiences at the Convention Center include motivational seminars, beauty and style presentations, celebrity interviews, cooking demonstrations with top chefs, and lots more.
Expect a stellar music lineup of major headliners and the best of the local talent. The festival’s theme is “Made Like This”. Notable performers include Boyz II Men, Jill Scott, Maxwell, Master P, GloRilla, The Isley Brothers, Nas, and Summer Walker. A tribute to Quincy Jones will be performed by Jermaine Dupri. This year, the festival is celebrating its 31st anniversary.
The traditional Sunday Gospel Celebration at the Convention Center will feature the greatest gospel hits, and ESSENCE After Dark, a series of late-night jam sessions, comedy shows, underground performances, live podcast recordings, and more, is returning once again to the Superdome.
Don’t wait! Get your tickets online. You can also download the festival’s app. And please remember that all events held at the Convention Center during the day are free and open to all (registration is required though for anyone over 18).
Bastille Day Fête
Friday, July 11, 2025
The Alliance Française de La Nouvelle-Orléans holds its annual celebration, which is an open-air evening of French music, culture, food, and community. There will be live music, a costume contest, kid-friendly activities, and French-centric food and wine. You can get tickets in advance on the event’s website.
San Fermin in Nueva Orleans (Running of the Bulls)
Friday-Sunday, July 11-13, 2025
Plenty of people know that Encierro de Pamplona is a major event in the Spanish tourism calendar, but not as many folks realize New Orleans hosts its own bull run. Except here, the “bulls” are roller derby girls, dressed in the traditional colors of Spain’s bull run and wearing horned helmets, who whack the participants — dressed all in white with red scarves and handkerchiefs — with wiffle bats.
This year, the Saturday, July 12, 2025, run takes place at the Gallier Hall, starting at 6:30 a.m. The annual El Txupinazo party takes place on Friday, July 11, 2025, from 6 to 9 p.m. This is a ticketed event and 18+ only.
Check out the schedule on the event’s website for the annual opening and closing parties happening that weekend. You can also get your tickets online.
Tales of the Cocktail
Sunday-Friday, July 20-25, 2025
Some of the world’s most famous cocktails were invented in this city: the Sazerac, Brandy Milk Punch, and Ramos Gin Fizz, to name a few. Having a drink in New Orleans isn’t just fun — it’s also a celebration of our unique history.
Still, New Orleans can’t just let a cultural touchstone be without holding a festival, and thus, Tales of the Cocktail, a celebration of mixed drinks in all of their vast diversity. Every year, the party draws in thousands of bar owners, distillers, mixologists, authors, tastemakers, and enthusiasts who are interested in networking, sharing knowledge, showing off their skills, learning, and, well, drinking.
This six-day event is filled with seminars, workshops, tastings, book signings, bartender contests, networking, and much more. The Tales’ 2025 theme is “Evolve,” and the festival’s signature annual blowout, the “best of” Spirited Awards, will be held on Thursday, July 24, 2025, followed by the always-popular after-party.
During the festival, Tales of the Cocktail hosts dozens of events. Please note that tickets for events are sold individually, so you can build your own itinerary. The prix fixe tasting menus and food-pairing dinners are especially popular, and the tours and cocktail-themed parties also tend to sell out quickly, so we highly recommend getting your tickets as early as you can.
Coming to New Orleans in July?
Check out our guide to where to stay in the French Quarter, and be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels. Also, consider booking a guided tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 to experience the hauntingly beautiful past of New Orleans.
For easy, informative sightseeing, we recommend the City Sightseeing New Orleans city tour on the open-top, double-decker bus. It runs every 30 minutes through the Garden District, French Quarter, and CBD. You can hop on and off anytime!
Happy July!
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What to Do on a Rainy Day in the French Quarter
Photo by Vince Huang on Flickr
Rain, rain, go away? Not necessarily. It can rain buckets in New Orleans, seemingly suddenly, and especially during the long, steamy summer season in Louisiana. If you’re been caught in a daylong downpour or even a brief afternoon shower while visiting, do not worry — it’s easy to enjoy a few hours in the air-conditioned indoors in the French Quarter — just bring patience, your sense of adventure and appetite, and an umbrella (rain boots are also a good idea as the streets can flood). Here are our suggestions to keep you entertained until the sun comes out again.
Head to a Museum
The Quarter boasts quite a few museums, which tend to focus on the city’s past and the history of Louisiana. Some, like the New Orleans Jazz Museum, are free; others you can visit for a nominal fee.
For example, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum is a reasonable $10 and features a permanent collection of 19th-century surgical instruments, books, patent medicines, and locally excavated bottles. The museum occupies a two-story historic building, the site of the apothecary shop of Louis Joseph Dufilho, Jr., who was America’s first licensed pharmacist. The museum’s second floor features a sick room and a physician’s study, and there’s a small yet lovely courtyard.
Hermann-Grima House and Gallier Historic Houses are two historic homes that are considered some of the best-preserved historic structures in the French Quarter. You can tour both and learn about what life was like in New Orleans in the 19th century for the Creole gentry as well as their enslaved servants.
The Historic New Orleans Collection is spread over several historic buildings in the French Quarter. The Royal Street location (520 Royal St.) houses the main museum with a permanent exhibit on state history, plus rotating exhibits on history and art. Admission is free.
Consider heading to Jackson Square for two museums and a historic cathedral. Catch a mass or free concert (or just admire the interior during the quiet hours) at the St. Louis Cathedral. It’s flanked by The Cabildo and The Presbytère, which are run by the Louisiana State Museum and house a number of excellent exhibits. You’ll find many precious pieces of Louisiana history at the Cabildo, like a rare Napoleon death mask and a painting of Marie Laveau by Frank Schneider.
There are two excellent permanent exhibits at the Presbytère. You could get lost for hours in the “Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time in Louisiana” exhibit, which details the history of Carnival traditions in Louisiana, including Cajun Courir de Mardi Gras, Zulu coconut throws, Rex floats, and spectacular costumes throughout the centuries. The “Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond” exhibit documents the natural disaster and ongoing recovery.
Go shopping
The Riverwalk Outlets and Canal Place are a short walk away from each other. Both are self-contained, multi-storied indoor malls that could keep you shopping and eating for as long as your stamina holds up. The Riverwalk mall is an outlet with more than 75 retailers and restaurants, including Nordstrom Rack and Cafe Du Monde. Canal Place is home to Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany and Co., Anthropologie, and dozens of other upscale retailers. There’s a small food court upstairs.
Another option is The Shops at JAX Brewery on the busy stretch of Decatur Street, a multi-story historic landmark that holds retail stores, cafes, restaurants, and a small museum dedicated to the brewery. Nearby, the historic French Market is a treasure trove of souvenirs, crafts, Louisiana spices and hot sauces, and more.
While you’re there, check out the Shops at the Colonnade. The strip of shops, some with Decatur and some with N. Peters St. addresses, is worth a visit if you’re shopping for souvenirs or local specialties like pralines. The whole stretch of the French Market is covered, from the flea market to the food vendor section, and you can easily duck in and out of the Shops at the Collonade even in the most inclement weather.
Relax with a book
New Orleans proudly boasts a number of impressively stocked independent bookstores, and some of the best ones are located in the Quarter. A former home of William Faulkner located in the historic and picturesque Pirate Alley, just off Jackson Square and behind the Cabildo, Faulkner House Books mostly offers local-interest books and the classics, including rare editions, and, of course, the works of William Faulkner.
Another beloved independent bookstore, and decidedly one of the best bookstores in New Orleans, the bi-level Beckham’s Bookshop specializes in used, antiquarian, and rare books, as well as CDs and vinyl. A gem of a place, Beckham’s has been around since 1979 at this location. It’s crammed floor to ceiling, and is beer- and dog-friendly. You’ll find it right across the street from the House of Blues.
The charming Dauphine Street Books and Crescent City Books are both great spots if you want to browse an eclectic, well-curated selection of both new and used books, including maps and out-of-print editions.
See a movie
The Prytania Theatre is located inside Canal Place. It’s the longest-operating movie theater in the South, and this location is its latest.
Visit the Aquarium and/or the Insectarium
The Audubon Aquarium is a sprawling compound on the Riverfront that will keep you and your family enthralled for hours. It was renovated in 2023, reopening after the Audubon Insectarium had moved in. Both are packed with state-of-the-art exhibits, some brand new. One ticket gets you admission to both attractions.
Take in a show
With the beautifully renovated Saenger and Joy theaters, Canal Street shines once again as a performing arts destination. See a Broadway show at the palatial Saenger, built in 1927 and restored in 2013 after staying vacant post-Katrina. Or catch a live music show or a national standup comedy act at the Joy Theater. This 1946 landmark started off as a movie theater and was gorgeously restored to its art deco glory.
Just off Jackson Square, Le Petit Theatre has called its St. Peter Street location home since 1922. See what’s playing this season at the famed playhouse here.
Eat and drink, of course
When it comes to those two activities in the French Quarter, the world is your oyster and the options are overwhelmingly, deliciously numerous. Whether you’re on a quest to sample the New Orleans staples, or want to experience some classic fare on a budget, you’ll find that some of the best bars and restaurants in the city (and the country, if not the world) could be found in the French Quarter, steps away from your hotel.
And what could be better than holing up with a drink and watching the rain? All year round, the Quarter offers incredible happy hour deals you won’t want to miss. Just to name a couple, Vacherie’s happy hour (3-6 p.m. every day) offers a $7 bar menu of draft beer flights, house wine, and mixed drinks, plus $9 small plates like sliders and boudin balls. And The Bombay Club inside Prince Conti Hotel specializes in martinis and has more than 50 specialty cocktails on the menu.
Rain or shine, happy exploring! And if you’re planning a stay in New Orleans, be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels.
