In New Orleans, the party never stops, no matter what season it is. Despite the summer heat, New Orleans residents and visitors always find reasons to feel festive in this colorful colonial city on the water. Check out flights to New Orleans and get yourself to the Crescent City this summer, where you will find festivals to celebrate music, food, and Southern life and gay culture.

Honoring Satchmo

The "Satchmo" Summer Festival is August 1-4, 2013, and honors the legendary New Orleans native, Louis Armstrong, the man who serenaded the world with his trumpet. Nicknamed "Satchmo," the festival honors the famous musician by bringing to stage many talented jazz trumpeters and musicians to the picturesque New Orleans French Quarter. Visitors can enjoy favorites of Satchmo and hear performers pay homage to Armstrong's indelible contributions to the music industry. This celebration of Armstrong's legacy is also an opportunity to enjoy local New Orleans food, including dishes said to be loved by Armstrong himself. The festival concludes with a "Trumpet Tribute."

Southern Decadence

Southern Decadence has grown tremendously over its 42 years, and is now one of the largest gay events in the city. Held over Labor Day weekend in the beloved, historic French Quarter, and entirely free, Southern Decadence features colorful costumes and street parades—after all, this is New Orleans—as well as music, entertainment, and beauty contests for men. Come dressed in your favorite bright colors: the event's official colors are fuchsia, pink, tangerine orange and gold. Leave your shyness back home.

Blues -N- BBQ

It's not too early to book your flight now for one of the hottest festivals in town! From October 18-20, 2013, is the Crescent City Blues And Barbecue Festival, sponsored by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Foundation, Inc. Held in Lafayette Square Park, this entirely free, open-to-the-public festival features established and up-and-coming blues musicians, finger-licking delicious Southern barbecue, and plenty of arts and crafts to take home as souvenirs. Hear the harmonica played like nowhere else before or watch musicians make their guitars weep, wail, and whimper. There is also an oral history stage where performers talk about their work and their musical influences.  Come prepared to get sticky with barbecue sauce and to dance the night away.

For more information about visiting New Orleans, go to http://www.neworleansonline.com.

 

And if you know of any great New Orleans parties we missed – tell us all about it on our Facebook  page! 

 

Photo Credit: Mark Gstohl