Celebrate Labor Day Weekend in the French Quarter
Photo by Miguel Discart on Flickr
Say goodbye to summer and ease yourself into fall by celebrating Labor Day (Monday, September 7, 2026) in New Orleans. Americans do travel a lot for this long weekend ending on the first Monday of September, and New Orleans is a top Labor Day destination.
There are great reasons for the city’s popularity, and don’t let the still-summery temps of early September deter you — the Labor Day weekend in New Orleans will deliver, and then some. Here are some suggestions on how to get the most out of your stay in the French Quarter, starting with the immensely popular Southern Decadence festival.
Southern Decadence
This massive four-day festival celebrates LGBTQ+ culture and attracts participants from all over the world. Southern Decadence started as a humble going-away party but is now considered the fifth largest event in the city after Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Essence Festival, and the French Quarter Festival.
Southern Decadence will be held from Thursday, September 3, through Monday, September 7, 2026. It kicks off and closes with dance parties. There will be lots of block parties and dance parties in between. This year’s theme is “Phoenix Rising: Together We Rise.” The colors to consider are turquoise, red, black, royal blue, and gold.
The festival’s annual hub, Bourbon Pub Parade, will be open till 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 3 a.m. on Thursday and Sunday. Just like in previous years, it will serve as the epicenter of the annual Bourbon Street Extravaganza, a free show/block party happening on Saturday at the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets. The annual Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Parade on Sunday, starting at 2 p.m., will also end up there, stretching loosely one block over to its ending point at Bourbon and Dumaine Streets.
A lot of events are free, and you can buy passes from several venues to access the events that do charge an entrance fee and may sell out. (Here’s more info on the ticketed events, the kinds of passes are available, and where to get them.)
The Oz dance club and the 24/7 Cafe Lafitte in Exile, both on Bourbon Street, will also host DJ’d shows and dance parties that weekend. Although not part of the Bourbon Street stretch, the 24/7 Good Friends bar at 740 Dauphine Street in the French Quarter also receives a fair share of the festival partygoers each year. Another popular destination is the 24/7 Phoenix Bar (941 Elysian Fields Ave.), located in the Marigny within a short walking distance from the French Quarter. As usual, it will host block parties during the event.
Musical Highlights
Your best bet would be to just head out to Frenchmen Street on any given evening and explore, and there’s something always going on at the iconic Tipitina’s Uptown. The Labor Day weekend’s musical offerings are usually excellent. Let the WWOZ Livewire Music Calendar guide you.
Eating and Drinking
For happy hour, various French Quarter bars are offering lots of great deals. Check out our guide to the best happy hours in the French Quarter. As for eating, the French Quarter is your oyster, and then some. Check out our dining guides and listings to reserve a perfect spot.
If you’re planning a stay in New Orleans during the Labor Day weekend, be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels.
Eat, drink, dance, stay cool, and happy Labor Day!
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Fall in the French Quarter and Beyond
New Orleans is always enchanting, but when the first cool front finally arrives, banishing the subtropical heat and ushering in six months of moderate weather, the Crescent City really feels too good to be true. Fall also heralds the start of high tourist season, which runs from October through May and coincides with a bevy of fun activities.
In short, fall is a time when New Orleans awakens from its heat-induced hibernation — and emerges ready to play. Here are a few reasons why fall is the best time to visit New Orleans.
The weather is perfect: sunny and cool
In October, the average high drops to a pleasant 80 degrees, meaning the temperatures linger in the 70s most days. With lows hovering in the 60s, it’s just cool enough to slip on a hoodie at night — which is great, because nothing says fall like cozy layers.
Fall months are also the driest months in New Orleans, averaging about 3.5 inches of rain. So you won’t need to cover up your costume in a plastic poncho when you hit the Quarter for Halloween. And speaking of…
Halloween in New Orleans is a not-to-be-missed spectacle
Trick-or-treating is a nationwide tradition, but in the home of Mardi Gras, costuming isn’t just for kids (although of course there are annual kid-friendly Halloween activities) — it’s a citywide pastime. New Orleanians seize on any opportunity to dress up, and they go all-out for Halloween. You’ll see costumes on the days leading up to All Hallows’ Eve, and on October 31, creatively costumed revelers hit Frenchmen Street en masse for a brass-band and go-cup-fueled block party that rages all night.
There’s a fest for every foodie and music lover
Do you love fried chicken? Po-boys? Gumbo? Beignets? Whatever your nosh of choice, there’s a fest for that in October. Because nothing’s better than catching some local music and chowing down on delicious food in a park on a sunny afternoon.
You can catch a Carnival-caliber parade
Going to Mardi Gras in New Orleans is definitely a bucket-list item, but what most people don’t know is that you can catch a Carnival-caliber parade in October, when the crowds aren’t quite as intense. The renowned Kern family, who build floats for some of the city’s most prominent Mardi Gras krewes, is also behind the spooky Krewe of BOO!
Starting in the Marigny and winding its way through the French Quarter before ending in the Arts District, this Halloween parade features 3D fiberglass and papier-mache floats. Best of all, many of the throws are edible: candy corn, pralinettes, coffee packs, and Chee-Wees make the Krewe of Boo a real treat. It rolls at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, October 24, 2026, from Elysian Fields and Chartres St.
Fall event highlights
While we didn’t include every single one in this list, here’s a fall roster that we recommend you consider attending (between September and November):
NOLAXNOLA – September 24-October 4, 2026
National Fried Chicken Festival – October 2-4, 2026
Art for Art’s Sake – October 3, 2026
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival – October 9-11, 2026
Oktoberfest – October 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, 2026
NOLA FUNK FEST – October 16-18, 2026
37th New Orleans Film Festival – October 22-27, 2026
Krewe of BOO! – October 24, 2026
Treme Fall Fest – October 24, 2026
Halloween – October 31, 2026
Freret Street Festival – October 31, 2026
Bayou Bacchanal – November 7, 2026
Beignet Fest – November 7, 2026
Oak Street Po-Boy Festival – November 8, 2026
LUNA Fete – November 13-15, 2026
Treme Creole Gumbo Festival – November 14-15, 2026
Thanksgiving – November 26, 2026
Bayou Classic – November 27-28, 2026
Celebration in the Oaks – November 27, 2026 – January 1, 2027
If you’re planning to visit New Orleans in the fall, be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels.
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How to Do Halloween in New Orleans
Halloween Decorations, French Quarter, by Jake Cunningham
In New Orleans, Halloween is much more than just a night for kids to go trick-or-treating, chaperoned by their parents. Just like with many other holidays, New Orleans ramps it up in its unique, signature style — complete with costume parties, balls, street celebrations, and, of course, a parade. If you find yourself in New Orleans for Halloween, you’re in for some ghoulish, outlandish treats. Here are our picks.
VoodooFest
For two decades, Voodoo Authentica has hosted this celebration, which is not to be confused with the similarly titled and now defunct music festival in City Park. VoodooFest, held from 1 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, at 612 Dumaine St. in the French Quarter, packs an incredible amount of information, entertainment, and voodoo-inspired gift shopping into one very full event.
Priests will be on hand to speak and teach on Voodoo, Louisiana’s version of the faith, and the music and spirituality associated with the Lwa — the spirits of the Voodoo pantheon. A small market set up outside the shop will sell practitioner-made potion oils, gris-gris bags, voodoo dolls, plus African and Haitian art (perfect presents for the upcoming holidays, maybe?). VoodooFest ends with a closing ancestral healing ritual.
Death and Mourning in New Orleans
Throughout October, the historic Hermann-Grima House, located in the French Quarter (820 St. Louis St.), changes up its historical tours to explore the mourning spaces of the 19th century. The house is swathed in somber colors to reflect the period of mourning for Marie Anne Filiosa Grima, mother of Felix Grima, who died on the property on October 15, 1850.
During a guided tour, you’ll explore the property while learning about the religious and cultural significance of death for the Creole families living here in the 19th century. You can book a tour online.
Krewe of Boo
One of the city’s most impressive parades outside of carnival season is this child-friendly Halloween procession, which is happening this year on Saturday, October 24, 2026. The parade itself kicks off at 6:30 p.m., starting at Elysian Fields Ave. in the Marigny, and rolling through the Quarter to the Warehouse District. Expect plenty of floats, dance troupes, and throws, all themed after monsters, spooks, and general ghostly goodness.
Additionally, that morning, Krewe hosts its annual New Orleans Zombie Run, so don’t be surprised if a Saturday morning in New Orleans all of a sudden feels like a scene from 28 Years Later. This two-mile race starts at 9 a.m. and ends at noon, both at Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant (701 Tchoupitoulas St.). Participants are encouraged to come dressed as zombies and monsters. Registration for the race begins at 7:30 a.m. You can pre-register online ($25; $35 cash or $40 credit the day of the race).
The fun ends at Generations Hall (310 Andrew Higgins Blvd.) in the Warehouse District with the Monster Mash party. This ticketed costume party starts at 8 p.m. (until); ages 18 and up to enter. The Monster Mash typically features live music, a costume contest, drink specials, and a big dance party. You can buy tickets online or at the door.
Frenchmen Street Party
If you want to be in the heart of the action and don’t mind the crowds, head to Frenchmen Street in the Marigny on the day of Halloween. The celebration has become one massive street party in the past few years, popular with locals and visitors alike. It’s a great way to see some spectacular and clever costumes in one spot — and to show off your own, of course. Things really get going after 10 p.m., and there are plenty of bars to duck in and out of to recharge and replenish.
Haunted History Tours
There are many themed and historic tours to choose from, especially this time of year, and you can take your pick, anywhere from the vampire and voodoo tours in the French Quarter to touring the world-famous cemeteries on Canal Street. From the Garden District to Tremé, and around pretty much every corner in the French Quarter, the city has a story to tell.
“Haunted House” Decorations
There’s no shortage of over-the-top decorated houses in New Orleans around Halloween, but some really stand out. The best way to find them is to check the local listings for the ones set up in and around private homes as the dates get closer, but even a short walk around the French Quarter will unveil some awe-inspiring facades, all decked out in their Halloween best.
If you find yourself Uptown, the home of the local resident Louellen Berger’s at St. Charles Ave. and State St. is a sight to behold every year, with a 50-plus krewe of skeletons arranged on the front lawn to amuse with biting political satire and a play on the only-in-New-Orleans themes, with all the puns intended.
A spooky-fabulous display featuring holograms and projections outside the house on the corner of Magazine and Second Streets also goes above and beyond — with a narrated plot, dancing ghosts, creepy apparitions, and dazzling lights.
More Halloween in the French Quarter
Are you visiting with your kids this Halloween? There are plenty of family-friendly annual activities to enjoy in New Orleans this time of year. Be sure to read our feature on Halloween for Kids in New Orleans, to get an idea of what’s happening during the few weeks leading up to Halloween.
As you can see, New Orleans does Halloween with abandon, not to mention all the fall festivals going on between September and November. If you’re planning a trip to New Orleans this fall, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels, to stay close to all the action!
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The Inside Scoop on Southern Decadence in the French Quarter
Photo by David Fary
Born in the early 70s as a going-away party, Southern Decadence has evolved into a massive and immensely popular four-day festival that celebrates LGBTQ+ culture and attracts participants from all over the world. It’s traditionally celebrated over the Labor Day weekend and is considered the fifth-largest event in New Orleans after Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Essence Festival, and the French Quarter Festival.
Southern Decadence will be held from Thursday, September 3, through Monday, September 7, 2026. This year’s theme is “Phoenix Rising: Together We Rise.” The colors to consider are turquoise, red, black, royal blue, and gold.
Just like every year, most activities will be centered in and around the French Quarter, with lots of block parties and dance parties at bars and clubs on Bourbon Street. The hub of the festival is again Bourbon Pub/Parade, with two rocking floors and an expansive balcony. The Pub will be open late nightly, especially on Friday and Saturday (till 5 a.m.)
Photo by David Fary
The Pub will be hosting numerous events throughout the festival, including a kick-off and closing parties. It will again serve as an epicenter of the annual Bourbon Street Extravaganza, a free show/block party happening at the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets.
The annual Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Parade on Sunday will start at the Golden Lantern Bar (1239 Royal St.) at 2 p.m.
Photo by David Fary
A lot of events are free, and you can buy passes from several venues to access the events that do charge an entrance fee and may sell out. (Here’s more info on the ticketed events, the kinds of passes are available, and where to get them.)
The Oz dance club and the 24/7 Cafe Lafitte in Exile, both on Bourbon Street, will also host DJ’d shows and dance parties that weekend. Although not part of the Bourbon Street stretch, the 24/7 Good Friends bar at 740 Dauphine Street in the French Quarter also receives a fair share of the festival partygoers each year.
Although a lot of events are confined to the French Quarter, the festival generally spills into quite a few bars and clubs in the Marigny and the Bywater. The Friendly Bar at 2301 Chartres St. is a quiet neighborhood bar with a pool table, solid jukebox, and well-priced drinks. Big Daddy’s Bar (2513 Royal St.) also has a pool table, a jukebox, and a neighborhood vibe. These two bars, plus Pepp’s Pub right next door to Big Daddy’s Bar (it replaced Cutter’s), are great for a quiet after-party conversation.
Another popular destination is the 24/7 Phoenix Bar (941 Elysian Fields Ave.), located in the Marigny within a short walking distance from the French Quarter. It will traditionally host block parties throughout the event.
Photo by David Fary
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans during Southern Decadence? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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Satchmo SummerFest Celebrates the Legacy of Louis Armstrong
Photo courtesy of Satchmo SummerFest on Facebook
Satchmo SummerFest started in 2001 as a tribute to Louis Armstrong, one of New Orleans’ most prominent native residents, on his 100th birthday (“Satchmo” was one of Armstrong’s several nicknames). Ever since, the fest remains the August highlight and just the respite we need from the long weeks of summer.
The annual festival, traditionally held over the first weekend of August in the French Quarter (falling on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026), is easy to navigate and get to. The fest will be spread on two stages at the New Orleans Jazz Museum (at the Old U.S. Mint).
The 2026 music lineup includes Preservation Brass Band, Charmaine Neville, and Tribute to Ma Rainey featuring Lars Edegran and Thais Clark on Saturday. Sunday brings you Treme Brass Band, John Boutté, the Original Pinettes Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins’ tribute to Louis Armstrong, and more.
MassAmong the festival’s traditional special events, the annual Jazz Mass will again be held at St. Augustine church (1210 Governor Nicholls St.) on Sunday, August 2, at 10 a.m. It’s a popular event, so arrive early if you plan to attend. There are also a series of lectures scheduled on both days.
Immediately following mass, join the “Satchmo Salute” second line parade, which will make its way from the church to Armstrong Park before secondlining down to Esplanade Avenue and the festival’s grounds at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
For schedule, lineup and updates, please check the event’s website, Instagram, or its Facebook page.
Photo courtesy of Satchmo SummerFest on Facebook
You may also want to know:
Admission is free.
There will be shaded picnic tables on the grounds for dining.
Parking: For street parking, you may want to look along the stretch of the French Market and at the foot of Esplanade Avenue. There is also a 24/7 parking lot by the French Market along the river. Enter from St. Peter Street.
Pops’ Playhouse for Kids at the Jazz Museum will have children’s activities.
No coolers or ice chests, and no outside food or drink, please.
Festival details:
What: The annual Satchmo SummerFest
When: Saturday-Sunday, August 1-2, 2026
Where: New Orleans Jazz Museum (at the U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave., French Quarter)
Admission: Free
Schedule and food vendors: https://satchmosummerfest.org/
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!
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COOLinary: What’s on the Menu in August
Photo courtesy of COOLinary New Orleans
There’s no better time to dine at an award-winning restaurant during your visit to New Orleans (or while you play tourist in your own city) than in August. Not only do you get to experience cuisine that is an integral part of the New Orleans heritage, but you’ll be doing so at a discount. This is your chance to try out that new restaurant or revisit the old favorite!
COOLinary was conceived by New Orleans & Company (formerly the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau) as a promotion to lure diners to local restaurants in the slower summer months — the month of August especially — during which restaurants all over the city offer discounted dining deals. It’s the only dining program of this caliber that offers deals this time of year, though you can enjoy similar perks during the citywide holiday Reveillon promotion in December and the Restaurant Week New Orleans (June 8-14, 2026).
Ever since COOLinary came into existence over 20 years ago, it has kept growing in size and popularity. In the past few years, the number of participating restaurants has grown to reach 100, and kept going, some with multiple locations across the city. has The restaurants that are taking part in this annual summer promotion are spread all over the city, including the Marigny, CBD, Uptown, and the French Quarter, and run the gamut from the iconic to the smaller, casual ones.
This year, the list of 77 restaurants includes the famous Arnaud’s, Cafe Degas, Commander’s Palace, Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse and Tableau, Mr. B’s Bistro, Muriel’s Jackson Square, and many more. The Uptown’s Brigtsen’s and Ralph’s on the Park in Mid-City have both joined this enviable roster in the past and are this year’s participants as well.
The menus and the list of the participating restaurants are typically announced in June, but, basically, expect $28 or less for two-course lunches and $58 or less for three-course dinners and brunches.
Once posted, the restaurant list is searchable by location, with each listing accompanied by a sample menu that includes the price, and you can also make a reservation right then and there.
Many of the restaurants that participate in these promos are located in the French Quarter or downtown, within walking distance from many historic hotels. So, book a hotel, make a reservation, and get out there and enjoy the culinary gems New Orleans has to offer!
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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!
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What to Do in New Orleans This August
August in New Orleans brings the promise of a series of festivals, parties, and holidays — official and unofficial — that seem to pack every weekend. Truth be told, the month’s calendar gets so busy, we have to wonder why spring gets to carry the label of “festival season.”
As the days reach their maximum length and the nights get sultry and sweaty, remember that the best means of keeping yourself close to the action in the French Quarter is booking a hotel that’s within walking distance of all the action. Speaking of — here are some of our favorite summer events popping off during August.
COOLinary
Saturday, August 1 – Monday, August 31, 2026
There’s no better time to try out an award-winning restaurant during your visit or revisit an old favorite than in August and September. For the month of August, the COOLinary dining program offers discounted dining deals at participating restaurants located all over the city, and even stretching as far as Harvey and Kenner.
COOLinary was conceived as a citywide promotion to lure diners to local restaurants during the slower summer months. Over a decade in existence, this annual culinary tradition keeps growing. Dozens of participating local restaurants run the gamut from the iconic to the smaller, more casual ones.
Make a reservation today, and bon appétit!
Museum Month
Saturday, August 1 – Monday, August 31, 2026
During the month of August, be sure to take advantage of the Museum Month deal, when you can visit any of the participating museums for the price of membership in any one of them. The one-time admission fee to some local museums can run over $20, so this is a great opportunity to explore on a budget. The fees for the smaller museums are probably the best deal, ranging from $30 to $35 annually. You can buy a membership upon arrival.
Fidelity Bank White Linen Night
Saturday, August 1, 2026
Started in 1994 in an attempt to attract visitors to that revived area (now known as Arts District New Orleans), White Linen Night has been growing steadily, attracting more visitors and vendors every year. This popular, block-party style art event is held on the first Saturday in August in the Warehouse District, essentially serving as an open house for the galleries clustered on the 300-600 blocks of Julia Street.
That whole area is blocked off, hosting several stages for live music and dozens of food and drink stands. About 20 galleries on and around Julia St. are open to the public.
The block party is free (you can buy food and beverage tickets on-site). While there’s no dress code, as the event’s name suggests, consider wearing white.
Satchmo SummerFest
Saturday-Sunday, August 1-2, 2026
Satchmo SummerFest remains one of the August highlights and just the respite you’ll need from the summer trifecta of heat, humidity, and afternoon downpours. This popular annual festival, traditionally held over the two days of the first weekend of August at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at The Mint (located at the beginning of Esplanade Avenue on Decatur Street in the French Quarter), is easy to navigate and get to.
The lineup is always stellar, with the best of the brass bands and the who-is-who of the Louisiana and New Orleans music scenes, and the mixture of indoor-outdoor activities to keep you cool and dancing.
And, don’t forget about the food! As in previous years, dozens of the best local restaurants will be vending everything from crepes to meat pies to tacos and fried chicken. Festival staples like beer and snoballs also keep returning, in addition to the cocktail stands selling margaritas, spiked lemonade, and mimosas.
Wear plenty of sunscreen!
Red Dress Run
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Traditionally held on the second Saturday of August, the Red Dress Run isn’t exclusive to New Orleans, but the local participants take it up a notch by costuming on top of wearing their best and/or most outlandish red dress, regardless of gender.
This is an annual fundraiser run for local charities organized by hashing groups (adults-only, non-competitive social running clubs) all over the world. They call themselves “drinking clubs with a running problem,” and the local group, New Orleans Hash House Harriers (NOH3), is no exception.
The run starts and ends at Crescent Park at 2300 N. Peters St., though the whole two-mile route is kept secret until the day of the event. The beer starts flowing at the pre-party with live music at 9:30 a.m., and you can usually spot some of the sweaty Red Dress runners spilling into the night later that day. If you decide to run, online registration is available, a red dress is a must, and you must be 21 to participate.
Dirty Linen Night
Saturday, August 8, 2026
The Dirty Linen Night, as you may have guessed, takes after another annual art event, the White Linen Night. It follows the White Linen Night exactly one week after, on the second Saturday in August.
Although the Dirty Linen Night riffs off the White Linen Night, it’s not meant to compete with the Warehouse District event but was conceived to promote the many galleries and shops of Royal Street. It is similar in format, though looser in structure and spanning more territory.
The multi-block party takes over the 300-1100 blocks of Royal Street and some cross streets and adjoining areas in the French Quarter, including Jackson Square and Dutch Alley. Dozens of galleries participate each year, plus a number of shops and restaurants. The food and drinks served, like dirty rice and dirty martinis, cheekily run with the theme. This outdoor event is free.
Southern Decadence
Friday, September 4 – Monday, September 7, 2026
This massive Labor Day extravaganza started in the 1970s and is now considered one of the biggest draws to the city after Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, ESSENCE Festival of Culture, and the French Quarter Festival. The popular festival celebrates the LGBTQ+ culture and attracts participants from all over the world.
Southern Decadence usually kicks off (and closes) with a midnight dance party at its hub, Bourbon Pub/Parade. A free show/block party on Saturday is held at the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets.
The annual Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Parade on Sunday also ends there. The theme is different every year. You can buy passes, including VIP, online to access the events that charge an entrance fee and may sell out.
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!
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Things to Do in the French Quarter This September
When September hits in New Orleans, it doesn’t mean summer has given up the ghost, even if everyone is back in school. As far as festivals and events go, New Orleans doesn’t slow down in this regard either. Here are some of the happenings hitting the Crescent City and the area around the French Quarter as we enter September.
Southern Decadence
Thursday, September 3 – Monday, September 7, 2026
If you’re in town over the Labor Day weekend, check out Southern Decadence. This popular festival celebrates LGBTQ+ culture and attracts participants from all over the world. What started as a simple going-away party in the 1970s is now considered the fifth-largest event in the city after Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Essence Festival, and the French Quarter Festival.
The festival’s annual hub, Bourbon Pub Parade, will be open till 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Just like in previous years, it will serve as an epicenter of the Bourbon Street Extravaganza, a free show/block party happening on Saturday at the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets. The annual Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Parade on Sunday will also end up there. For the event’s schedule, check out its website.
NOLAxNOLA
Thursday, September 24 – Sunday, October 4, 2026
So, what is NOLAxNOLA exactly? Pronounced “NOLA by NOLA,” it’s a celebration of New Orleans music, venues, and artists. In 2021, a coalition of New Orleans artists, venues, and cultural leaders banded together to support one another and keep the music community and culture bearers strong in those difficult times. The event featured a huge and impressive case of New Orleans artists and was a success, so it came back in 2022 with even more shows and more venues participating.
Supposed to be even bigger this year, NOLAxNOLA is not to be missed. For this year’s artist roster and participating venues list, check out the event’s website.
Need somewhere to stay during your fall visit to New Orleans? Be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels!
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Have a Feast During Restaurant Week New Orleans
Photo courtesy of Antoine’s Restaurant on Facebook
Not that we need any encouragement to eat — and eat well, in this city — but the dining deals don’t start and end with COOLinary. Restaurant Week is here, with nearly 100 restaurants listed as participants this year.
Between Monday, June 8, and Sunday, June 14, 2026, local restaurants will be dishing out prix fixe lunches, brunches, and dinners. Some menus offer two-course meals, others are three-course: typically a choice of an appetizer, a choice of an entree, and a choice of dessert. (Prices are per person and do not include beverages, tax, or gratuity.)
Just like COOLinary, which runs for the whole month of August, Restaurant Week is a citywide promotion designed to lure diners, both local and those visiting, to increase patronage at restaurants across the city. As a result, there’s no better time to try out a new restaurant or revisit an old favorite. It’s also a chance to cross an iconic white-tablecloth establishment off your bucket list.
Restaurant Week New Orleans is sponsored by the Louisiana Restaurant Association’s Greater New Orleans Chapter and New Orleans & Company. And, just like COOLinary, its popularity is steady. Participating restaurants are spread all over the city, including the Marigny, Tremé, CBD, Uptown, Mid-City, the French Quarter, and Metairie, and run the gamut from iconic fine dining to neighborhood bistros.
This includes the famous Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, Galatoire’s, Muriel’s Jackson Square, and Tujague’s. Some more casual participants include Katie’s Restaurant & Bar and Boswell’s Jamaican Grill in Mid-City, and Mother’s Restaurant and Willa Jean in the CBD.
Mouth-watering concoctions on the menus across the city this June include the French Quarter’s grand dames and longtime COOLinary and Restaurant Week participants, Antoine’s and Arnaud’s. Sampling their sophisticated French Creole prix fixe menus would be a gift to a visitor or a local alike.
Antoine’s, being in business for close to 200 years, knows how to do oysters — raw, charbroiled, Bienville, Rockefeller, or Thermidor — serving them alongside such local classics as soft shell crab. Antoine’s Restaurant Week weekend two-course brunch will set you back $36, and the weekday three-course dinner is $56.
There are many highlights to choose from, such as high-end, iconic local establishments like Galatoire’s (three-course $56 dinner), Cafe Degas ($25 two-course lunch, or three-course each $38 brunch and $45 dinner), and Ralph’s on the Park ($36 two-course brunch and $25 two-course lunch).
For more casual fare, try the three-course $56 dinner at Domenica or the two-course $25 lunch at Willa Jean. You can view all Restaurant Week menus and make reservations on the event’s website.
So, visit your old favorites, discover new ones — and enjoy some of the best, most refined cuisine this city has to offer — at a bargain price! Bon appetit!
Find a great French Quarter hotel and book your stay for Restaurant Week at www.frenchquarter.com/hotels/.
