Inaugural Hurricane Katrina Gala
2025 marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the storm that left the city of New Orleans devastated in August of 2005.
The New Orleans Katrina Commemoration Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to remembering and healing from the effects of Katrina, is hosting a gala to raise funds for ongoing recovery efforts and community outreach programs.
Event Details
The event will take place at Empire at 2222 Poydras St. on Saturday, July 26. Doors will open at 7 p.m. for a VIP Patron Party, while general admission is from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The gala requires formal, black tie, red carpet ready attire and it will be hosted by notable New Orleans figures Wild Wayne, a beloved DJ and radio host star, and Margaret Orr, former chief meteorologist for WDSU.
Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite, with general admission tickets available for $148.75, VIP tickets for $266.13 (which includes entry to the Early Patron Party), and VIP tables (which includes VIP tickets for 10 people, entry to the Patron Party, a meet and greet, and complimentary dinner) available for purchase for $1,469.25.
There will be live music performances and guest speakers throughout the night for attendees to enjoy. Musical guests will include New Orleans favorites Irvin Mayfield, Kermit Ruffins, Sunni Patterson, Hot Boy Ronald, Casme, and Game Ova Skip. Sess 4-5, Mia X, Dawn Richard, and more will be speaking at the event.
Giving Back & Remembering Katrina
The commemorative gala takes on additional significance as the New Orleans Katrina Commemoration Foundation takes steps towards constructing and opening their planned LEED-certified museum and memorial park.
The gala will also celebrate the recent creation of Katrina Day in New Orleans, an official day to memorialize the storm and those who were affected by it. Katrina Day will be August 29, the day the hurricane made landfall in New Orleans. This designation followed a unanimous decision by New Orleans City Council members to designate the city wide holiday in order to confront the effects of the storm and the structures environmental injustice that led to the levy flooding during the storm.
