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 1, 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/Warehouse District in the 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, 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. The CAC will also host the traditional after-party, from 9 p.m. till midnight (you can buy tickets here).
You can check out the event’s page 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 32 years of this unique event!
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!
