Horn free: The Treme Brass Band at Satchmo Summer Festival (photo: Cedric A. Ellsworth)
New Orleans Summer Festival Round-Up, 2022
July 9th
Running of the Bulls
The Sugar Mill, 6.30am
You play with the rollerskate-clad bull, you get the foam-wrapped horn. New Orleans’ very own Running of the Bulls, also known as San Fermin en Nueva Orleans (according to the press release at least? Has anyone ever called it this?). Anyway, participants, many of whom have been up all night, dress in red and white and run through the Warehouse District while be-weaponed roller derby skaters roll along in hot pursuit.
More info
July 9th
Chess Fest
Historic New Orleans Collection - Williams Research Center, 10am
Honoring the legacy of local chess hero Paul Morphy, and welcoming new players perhaps inspired by The Queen's Gambit, this annual festival has games, puzzles and films. There's also a competition for unrated players.
More info
July 23rd
NOLA River Fest
New Orleans Jazz Museum
The Mighty Mississippi. Ol’ Man River. The Big Muddy. Our resident river has many nicknames, but whatever you call it, it’s the river of the hour at this free festival, the tenth of its kind. Its mission? To celebrate “the cultural, economic, environmental, and inspirational impacts of the Mississippi River”. Entertainment includes live music (line-up tba), presentations and panels, walking tours, delicious local food vendors and of course, cocktails.
More info
July 24th
Vegan 2 the Soul Food & Lifestyle Festival
Lemann Park, 11am
This is the fifth annual festival showcasing “the creativity in culture, food and music that is shared among Vegans in the New Orleans Community.” Expect a host of vegan food vendors, plus yoga classes and entertainment all day.
More info
July 25th
Tales of the Cocktail
Ritz-Carlton Hotel
The annual booze industry takeover of the city arrives. The huge, brand-created parties are mostly for insiders and their friends, so work those hook-up connections to the fullest if you want to get in. Anyone can attend the various public events, educational panels, tastings and spirited dinners, though.
More info
August
Coolinary New Orleans
City wide
Summer is a slow time for most restaurants and bars, and so the Coolinary ‘Festival’ aims to give the industry a shot in the arm with some great deals on eating out. The city’s finest dining establishments participate by offering specially curated prix-fixe menus at very attractive prices. At most places, you can enjoy 2-course lunches for $25 or less, and 3-course dinners and brunches for $45 or less. It’s a great time to check out that fancy spot you’ve always wanted to go to.
More info
August 6th & 7th
Satchmo Summer Fest
Old U.S. Mint
This festival started in 2001 to pay tribute to Louis Armstrong on his 100th birthday. It’s still going strong, and your reward for braving the August heat is an excellent and FREE program of music, together with food stands and markets. Headliners this year include The Big 6 Brass Band and John Boutté. You can also see the Kermit Ruffins Tribute to Louis Armstrong, Preservation Brass, and Jeremy Davenport.
More info
August 6th
White Linen Night
300-600 blocks of Julia Street, 5pm
The higher echelons of the New Orleans art community come together to celebrate the scene and summer clothing choices. The main events are held in galleries in and around Julia Street in the CBD, with a large free party at the Contemporary Arts Center with food, live music and artwork on display.
More info
August 13th
Dirty Linen Night
Royal Street
The French Quarter hosts its own riposte to the refinement of White Linen Night with this slightly more casual annual event. The galleries are centered around Royal Street and you can expect a bit more of a, ahem, refreshed atmosphere, especially as the Quarter is also traditionally filled with red dress-wearing hordes (see below).
More info
August 13th
Red Dress Run
Crescent Park, 9am
The annual fundraising fun run, where all runners…wait for it…wear a red dress. The run itself is secondary to the vast amounts of drinking that happens, and the Quarter soon becomes littered with casualties, who begin to mix with the attendees of Dirty Linen Night (see above) and, well, you get the picture. The Quarter is pretty lively by late afternoon, let’s say that.
More info
September 2nd
Southern Decadence
City wide
What began as a simple going away party has transformed into one of the biggest LGBTQ events in the world. Thousands of visitors arrive in town for Labor Day weekend. The epicenter of events is around Bourbon and St Ann, and all of the queer bars and venues in town throw themselves into the celebrations. The Bourbon Street Extravaganza, the free outdoor concert on Saturday afternoon, hopes to return in 2022 for its 16th anniversary.
More info
September 4th
Beignet Fest
New Orleans City Park Festival Grounds, 10am
As Dale from King of the Hill said, “I've always wanted to eat fried dough in the most corrupt city on earth.” If this is your goal, then this is as good as it gets - dozens of vendors serving classic beignets and variation thereof, including savory options with seafood and cheese. What a time to be alive. It’s a family-friendly event, with live music, a kid's village, artist market, and beer garden.
More info
July 9th
Running of the Bulls
The Sugar Mill, 6.30am
You play with the rollerskate-clad bull, you get the foam-wrapped horn. New Orleans’ very own Running of the Bulls, also known as San Fermin en Nueva Orleans (according to the press release at least? Has anyone ever called it this?). Anyway, participants, many of whom have been up all night, dress in red and white and run through the Warehouse District while be-weaponed roller derby skaters roll along in hot pursuit.
More info
July 9th
Chess Fest
Historic New Orleans Collection - Williams Research Center, 10am
Honoring the legacy of local chess hero Paul Morphy, and welcoming new players perhaps inspired by The Queen's Gambit, this annual festival has games, puzzles and films. There's also a competition for unrated players.
More info
July 23rd
NOLA River Fest
New Orleans Jazz Museum
The Mighty Mississippi. Ol’ Man River. The Big Muddy. Our resident river has many nicknames, but whatever you call it, it’s the river of the hour at this free festival, the tenth of its kind. Its mission? To celebrate “the cultural, economic, environmental, and inspirational impacts of the Mississippi River”. Entertainment includes live music (line-up tba), presentations and panels, walking tours, delicious local food vendors and of course, cocktails.
More info
July 24th
Vegan 2 the Soul Food & Lifestyle Festival
Lemann Park, 11am
This is the fifth annual festival showcasing “the creativity in culture, food and music that is shared among Vegans in the New Orleans Community.” Expect a host of vegan food vendors, plus yoga classes and entertainment all day.
More info
July 25th
Tales of the Cocktail
Ritz-Carlton Hotel
The annual booze industry takeover of the city arrives. The huge, brand-created parties are mostly for insiders and their friends, so work those hook-up connections to the fullest if you want to get in. Anyone can attend the various public events, educational panels, tastings and spirited dinners, though.
More info
August
Coolinary New Orleans
City wide
Summer is a slow time for most restaurants and bars, and so the Coolinary ‘Festival’ aims to give the industry a shot in the arm with some great deals on eating out. The city’s finest dining establishments participate by offering specially curated prix-fixe menus at very attractive prices. At most places, you can enjoy 2-course lunches for $25 or less, and 3-course dinners and brunches for $45 or less. It’s a great time to check out that fancy spot you’ve always wanted to go to.
More info
August 6th & 7th
Satchmo Summer Fest
Old U.S. Mint
This festival started in 2001 to pay tribute to Louis Armstrong on his 100th birthday. It’s still going strong, and your reward for braving the August heat is an excellent and FREE program of music, together with food stands and markets. Headliners this year include The Big 6 Brass Band and John Boutté. You can also see the Kermit Ruffins Tribute to Louis Armstrong, Preservation Brass, and Jeremy Davenport.
More info
August 6th
White Linen Night
300-600 blocks of Julia Street, 5pm
The higher echelons of the New Orleans art community come together to celebrate the scene and summer clothing choices. The main events are held in galleries in and around Julia Street in the CBD, with a large free party at the Contemporary Arts Center with food, live music and artwork on display.
More info
August 13th
Dirty Linen Night
Royal Street
The French Quarter hosts its own riposte to the refinement of White Linen Night with this slightly more casual annual event. The galleries are centered around Royal Street and you can expect a bit more of a, ahem, refreshed atmosphere, especially as the Quarter is also traditionally filled with red dress-wearing hordes (see below).
More info
August 13th
Red Dress Run
Crescent Park, 9am
The annual fundraising fun run, where all runners…wait for it…wear a red dress. The run itself is secondary to the vast amounts of drinking that happens, and the Quarter soon becomes littered with casualties, who begin to mix with the attendees of Dirty Linen Night (see above) and, well, you get the picture. The Quarter is pretty lively by late afternoon, let’s say that.
More info
September 2nd
Southern Decadence
City wide
What began as a simple going away party has transformed into one of the biggest LGBTQ events in the world. Thousands of visitors arrive in town for Labor Day weekend. The epicenter of events is around Bourbon and St Ann, and all of the queer bars and venues in town throw themselves into the celebrations. The Bourbon Street Extravaganza, the free outdoor concert on Saturday afternoon, hopes to return in 2022 for its 16th anniversary.
More info
September 4th
Beignet Fest
New Orleans City Park Festival Grounds, 10am
As Dale from King of the Hill said, “I've always wanted to eat fried dough in the most corrupt city on earth.” If this is your goal, then this is as good as it gets - dozens of vendors serving classic beignets and variation thereof, including savory options with seafood and cheese. What a time to be alive. It’s a family-friendly event, with live music, a kid's village, artist market, and beer garden.
More info