Pack Your August Weekends in New Orleans with Festivals, Gallery Crawls, and More
Embrace the summer heat and get out there.
We’ll all be moving a little slower this month as summer’s heat and humidity stick around a while longer, but that doesn’t mean your social schedule has to screech to halt. There are plenty of weekend events in New Orleans this month worth breaking a sweat for. The slow season brings deals at some of the best restaurants in New Orleans as well as special admission to New Orleans museums. White Linen Night and Dirty Linen Night are highlights of the summer arts calendar, Satchmo Summerfest cranks up the heat with hot tunes in honor of Louis Armstrong, and Drew Brees makes the pickleball craze official by hosting the city’s first annual PickleFest. All that and more are sure to keep you busy this month. Be sure to take breaks to cool off, whether that’s a dip in a hotel pool, a trip to the beach, or a simple yet oh-so-refreshing snowball.
Food & Drink Events in New Orleans
Ongoing
Citywide, $50 or less
August tends to be a slow time for businesses around the city, but this month can also be your chance to cross a few places off your bucket list while supporting local restaurants through the summer slump. All month long, a slew of eateries—including some of the city’s finest establishments—will participate in COOLinary New Orleans. You’ll find special prixe-fixe menus at great prices: sample two-course lunches for $25 or less, and three-course dinners and brunches for $50 or less.
Every Wednesday – Friday through Labor Day
French Quarter, Varies
Palace Cafe is bringing back its popular summer tradition for the 29th year. Temperature Lunch is your chance to grab a fabulous midday meal for (hopefully) under $10. The daily lunch special is priced at whatever the previous day’s high temperature was, so you’ll find dishes like a duck confit and mushroom turnover for $9.90 or black-eyed pea cassoulet with a root beer and red wine glazed duck leg for $9.60.
Saturday, August 19
French Quarter, Free
The Krewe of Krampus will host a competition at the French Market among its sub krewes to see who can come up with the best snoball flavor. You’ll be the judge—enjoy live music, carnival style games, and unique vendors as you sample and savor each delicious snoball. Plus, you'll feel good knowing that the purchase of every snoball goes toward the Krewe’s “Parading for All'' initiative that supports making parades accessible to everyone.
Live Music and Concerts in New Orleans
Fridays in August
Uptown, Free
The Free Fridays concert series at Tipitina’s wraps up this month with another great lineup of top local artists. Dance through the summer heat to Brass-a-holics with Noah Young Band on August 4, Honey Island Swamp Band with Strange Roux on August 11, Billy Iuso with Vegas Cola on August 18, Raw Deal (a tribute to Earth, Wind, & Fire featuring Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph and more) with Zita on August 25. Don’t miss the final Free Friday on September 1, featuring Naughty Professor with Daria & the Hip-Drops.
Saturday, August 12
Warehouse District, $30-$40
The Queen of Afrobeat will make her first appearance in New Orleans at Republic NOLA this month. Nigerian superstar Yemi Alade will be joined by her full seven-piece band for a night of high-energy, infectious beats, and powerful vocals. Get ready to dance all night with this Afro-pop legend.
Friday, August 25
French Quarter, $20-$25
The annual minifest lands at Toulouse Theater—and if past installments are any indication, Kruel Summer 3.0 should be a night to remember. The lineup includes Hasizzle, 504icygirl, Poppy H, Flagboy Giz, and Lil Iceberg with additional sounds by DJ Legatron Prime and DJ FTk.
Saturday, August 26
French Quarter, $17-$45
Led Zeppelin 2 isn’t your average tribute band. The skilled musicians play and perform just as Led Zeppelin would have, representing a specific era in the band’s career, so it’s almost like you’re seeing the real thing. Their show at House of Blues will be a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the legendary Zeppelin album Houses of the Holy, so prepare to rock out to the likes of “D’yer Maker,” “Dancing Days,” “The Song Remains the Same,” and more.
Arts and Culture Events in New Orleans
Month of August
Citywide, Free for members
If you’re a member of any of New Orleans’ museums, consider yourself a member of all this month. During Museum Month, members of participating museums can visit any other participating museum free of charge. Check out world-class art at NOMA and the Ogden, explore history at HNOC or the National WWII Museum, dive into the culture of the city and beyond at Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience and Backstreet Cultural Museum, and so many more. And if you haven’t joined a local museum, now’s the time to support one with a membership.
Saturday, August 5
CBD, Free
The Ace Hotel’s AIR program invites local artists to turn one of the hotel’s rooms into a studio for a month to produce art to be displayed in the hotel. The quarterly program—hosted in Ace Hotel properties around the world—kicks off in New Orleans with François Boudreaux, who will produce textile work for his collection L’IMPRIMÉ BLEU FRAIS, which explores the unparalleled lineage of cultural contributions by African-Americans in the American South over the past 400 years. Check out the opening reception, and view the exhibit through October.
Saturday, August 5
Warehouse District, Free
Don your finest white linen and head to the Arts District for the biggest gallery night of the year. Julia, Camp, St. Joseph, and Magazine Streets will be buzzing as galleries open their doors with new exhibits. Out in the streets, stroll past live art installations and music performances, sip on fabulous cocktails, and pick up a bite to eat at local food vendor stations.
Saturday, August 12
French Quarter, Free-$20
Spill a little something on your white linen last week? No worries, you’ll fit right in at Dirty Linen Night. Celebrating 20 years, this annual event starring the galleries and shops along Royal Street continues the fun from (and pokes a little fun at) White Linen Night. Check out new gallery exhibits and enjoy music in the streets. The event is free, but a $20 wristband gets you drinks at the galleries and supports the Royal Street Arts District.
Festivals in New Orleans
Friday, August 5 –Saturday, August 6
French Quarter, Free
It’s never too hot for a music festival, as Satchmo Summerfest proves year after year. The festival at the New Orleans Jazz Museum honors the life and legacy of one of the city’s most beloved sons, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. The celebration includes plenty of live music, food, drinks, and a series of “Satchmo Seminars” led by historians and Armstrong biographers.
Saturday, August 12
Marigny/French Quarter, $65
If you’re out in the Quarter on the second Saturday in August, you’ll most likely see red—red dresses, that is. The annual Red Dress Run is a charity event hosted by the New Orleans Hash House Harriers. The local “drinking club with a running problem” hosts the two-mile run that starts at Crescent Park in the Bywater. All are welcome to join, and registration fees go to local charities. Participants are required to wear a red dress, and while the race starts in the morning, you’re sure to see them carrying on late into the evening throughout the Quarter.
Thursday, August 10 –Sunday, August 13
Warehouse/Convention District, $90 to play, Free to attend
Drew and Brittney Brees are hosting the first-ever PickleFest at the Convention Center. The festival-style pickleball tournament benefiting the Brees Dream Foundation features three divisions of round-robin play: women’s doubles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles. The event is open to the public and will include music, food, a celebrity exhibition match and more entertainment. VIP grandstand seating—including viewing spots on Mardi Gras floats—is available.
Saturday, August 26
Lower Ninth Ward
Celebrate the best of the Lower Ninth Ward at the second annual Lower 9 Fest at Oliver Bush Playground. The event kicks off with a second line featuring The Original CTC Steppers and the Stooges Brass Band and continues with a day of festivities including live performances on two stages, local food vendors, pop-up shops, a Kids Zone, and a community resources area.