Best Festivals in the New Orleans Area this Summer
No matter the weather, New Orleans is always looking to celebrate. Whether it be a music, a food festival, or a celebration of culture, the metro area's calendar is booked throughout the summer with festivals left and right.
Here are some can't miss summer events taking place in Greater New Orleans.
Dirty Linen Night
August 8, Royal Street
dirtylinen.org
The Royal Street Arts District is hosting their 23rd annual Dirty Linen Night this August from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Will call is located at Galerie Rue Royale on 541 Royal St. The event takes place for locals or visitors to enjoy French Quarter art and food with a cocktail in hand. The event originated as a satirical version of White Linen Night and has continued as such, encouraging attendees to revel in the dirty side of New Orleans. The festival is unique in its not-so pristine celebration of the Quarter. Galleries will be open to guests, along with live music down the blocks of Royal Street.
For more information and tickets, visit Dirty Linen Night's website or Instagram.
Red Dress Run
August 8, Armstrong Park
noh3.com/RDR/RDRHome.php
Each year, the New Orleans Hash House Harriers, with the mantra "a drinking club with a running problem," puts on the Red Dress Run on the second Saturday of August. The charity event is a "run" through the city, usually beginning in the French Quarter. The runners start out with a drink in hand and stop by local bars for refills throughout the celebration. Wristbands provide access to Armstrong Park, where the run will start with 9 a.m. kegs, which will be available for the entirety of the event, and all you can eat food vendors starting at 11:30 a.m. Early bird pricing, VIP tickets, and opportunities for donations are all available on their website.
For more information and tickets, visit the New Orleans Hash House Harriers' website or Instagram.
NOLA Yoga Fest
September 3-6, Hotel Peter & Paul
nolayogafest.com
The NOLA Yoga Fest offers a unique appreciation for movement and music, inviting guests to an immersive experience built from a devotion to service and community. The weekend-long event provides a specific appreciation for the transformative power of guided movement, leading attendees through a path that explores growth, healing, and awareness. The event will host meditations, live music performers, and conversational workshops. Yoga Fest is New Orleans' leading festival, which highlights consciousness and welcomes guests to build a lasting community impact sparking transformation and cultural convergence.
For more information and tickets, visit NOLA Yoga Fest's website or Instagram.
Southern Decadence
August 28 to September 2, French Quarter
southerndecadence.com
Every year during Labor Day weekend, New Orleans' queer communities join together to put on the Southern Decadence parade, New Orleans' biggest celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. The first Southern Decadence parade took place in 1973; a friend group nicknamed "The Decadents" first hosted their costumed party of galavanting through the French Quarter in 1972. What started as a going away party for spunky and spirited friend Machael Evers has transformed into a weekend-long celebration of New Orleans and all of its quirks.
For more information visit Southern Decadence's website or Instagram.
