New Orleans’ Second Lines

Second Line Season

On any given Sunday afternoon in New Orleans, your navigation app might promise a smooth route, but then a second line appears, transforming ordinary streets into a spontaneous, brass music-fueled block party that brings traffic to a joyful halt.

There are several reasons why a second line may be happening. In the city, people will have second lines at weddings, funerals, and, for many, it represents the end of an event or party. But on Sundays, second lines belong to the social aid and pleasure clubs that host them, and while it's certainly for a good time, they usually serve a purpose.

Second lines have grown over the years. In 2024, New Orleans made national headlines by hosting one of the biggest second lines for the Philadelphia-born yet New Orleans-beloved musical talent Frankie Beverly. It has become a common affair for clubs to host massive second lines for celebrities, from the purple second line given after Prince's passing to our local loved ones, such as long sitting news anchor Eric Paulsen.

Years ago, comedian Hannibal Buress joked about how easy it was for anyone to throw a second line parade in the Big Easy. While the bit was lighthearted, it reflected a broader truth—second lines have become increasingly mainstream, drawing people from around the world eager to experience or host their own.

But do these outsiders understand the history and reasons behind the locally loved event?

What is a Second Line?

Imagine a parade where the rules are simple. If you can hear and are near the brass horns blaring, you're already invited. That's the spirit of a second line—part procession, part block party, and all heart.

The term "second line" represents a parade procession that is made up of two parts. The "first line" includes the people that are being honored along with the brass band. The "second line" are simply the folks who follow behind.

In jazz funerals, the first line typically includes the hearse and family members, while in weddings, it's the bride, groom, and their party who lead the way. But when it comes to those Second Line Sundays, the social aid and pleasure clubs put on a show. Often dressed to kill, these krewes come out of a designated location, stepping with their best foot work while carrying elaborately decorated umbrellas and enjoying the moment.

On these Sundays, those who know come out from all around town to join in and become that second line following the club.

A History of Celebrating All Things

Long before brass bands led wedding parties through the streets, Black New Orleanians were organizing parades with purpose.

On June 11, 1864, thousands gathered in Congo Square to celebrate Louisiana's new constitution abolishing slavery. Led by benevolent societies such as the Société d'Economie, the procession wound through the city alongside federal troops, staking a claim to streets that had only recently been sites of enslavement. These mutual aid organizations, some dating back to the 1780s, laid the foundation for what would become a unique New Orleans tradition—parading as both celebration and social action. By the late 19th century, Black clubs regularly took to the streets with brass bands, not only to honor their members in death but to assert their presence in life. It was in these processions that the seeds of today's second line culture were planted.

Over time, these social aid and pleasure clubs began to organize in order to provide everything from financial assistance to funeral arrangements for the folks in their communities.

This is the reason why many of these clubs are neighborhood based, because they were created to support their own neighborhoods, especially during times when resources for those communities were low.

From Then to Now Second Line Fashions

Today's second lines honor the traditions of the past while pushing style into bold new territory. Even without a funeral or major event to mark, social aid and pleasure clubs—for the love of tradition—parade through the streets in brightly colored suits and feathered fans while waving banners, all to the sound of live brass bands.

Fashion at second lines is serious business. Participants blend high fashion and personal flair, mixing everything from custom-tailored suits and classic fedoras to Balenciaga sneakers and locally designed outfits by talents such as Emline. It's not unusual to see gold accessories, statement hats, custom sneakers, and parasols decked out in beads or feathers, all making a powerful visual statement.

But it's not just about flash, it's about heritage. Dressing up for a second line is an act of pride and self-expression. Each outfit tells a story: a nod to history, a connection to community, and a personal testament to style. At a second line, showing up means showing out, and every detail matters.

Earlier this year, a controversial rule was proposed requiring trolley (including trailers, trucks, and floats) operators to hold $5 million insurance policies. This would place an insurmountable barrier to an integral aspect of second line parades. The measure was unanimously voted against by the New Orleans City Council to protect the culture.

Second lines aren't just parades. They are a full-on takeover of the streets and are a moving explosion of music, dance, style, and history. Every beat of the drum and blast of the horn shouts that New Orleans' spirit is alive and unstoppable. What started as a powerful claim to space and community generations ago still rolls strong today with every brightly dressed dancer and booming brass band carrying that legacy forward. In New Orleans, second lines don't just celebrate life—they are life.

2025-2026 SECOND LINE PARADE SCHEDULE*

AUGUST

24 Valley of Silent Men

SEPTEMBER

21 Good Fellas

28 Young Men Olympian

OCTOBER

5 Family Ties

12 Prince of Wales

19 Men & Ladies of Class

26 Black Men of Labor (downtown)
Original Four (uptown)

NOVEMBER

2 We Are One

9 Sudan

16 Women of Class

23 Nine Times

30 Lady and Men Buckjumpers

DECEMBER

7 Dumaine Street Gang (downtown)
Westbank Steppers (Westbank)

14 New Generation

21 Big Nine

28 Lady Rollers

JANUARY

4 Perfect Gentlemen

11 Dumaine St. Ladies Auxiliary
featuring 6th Ward Steppers

18 Undefeated Divas

26 Ladies of Unity

FEBRUARY

1 Sidewalk Steppers

22 CTC Steppers

MARCH

1 VIP Ladies & Kids

8 Keep'N It Real

15 Single Men
Uptown Super Sunday

19 St. Joseph's Night

22 Revolution

APRIL

5 Pigeon Town Steppers

12 Single Ladies

19 Ole & Nu Style

26 Jazz Fest

MAY

3 Jazz Fest

10 Original Big Seven

17 Divine Ladies (uptown)
Zulu (downtown)

24 Money Wasters

JUNE

7 Scene Boosters

27 Uptown Swingers

*Schedule is subject to change