The Essence Festival

The Essence Festival is a celebration of African American music and culture that takes place during the Fourth of July weekend at the Superdome in New Orleans. "The Party with a Purpose," as the Essence Fest is called, includes seminars, work shops and an art fair.

Festivals on the Fourth

Fourth of July festivals are held all over the area. At Woldenberg Park in New Orleans, it is called Go Fourth on the River. Riverboat rides, music, food and fireworks help to make it a nice day on the river. On the North Shore in Mandeville, they celebrate the weekend of the Fourth with a Seafood Festival in Fontainebleau State Park. The cozy fest features seafood, crafts, music, rides, a classic car show, fireworks and much more. A few miles away, Slidell has their Heritage Festival with similar activities.

The Louisiana Catfish Festival

The following weekend in Des Allemands at St. Gertrude Catholic Church, the Louisiana Catfish Festival is held. Music, games, rides, catfish-cooking and catfish-eating contests will make it a nice day in the country.

Tales of the Cocktail

Tales of the Cocktail is held July 16-20 at the Hotel Monteleone and other French Quarter locations. Lectures, discussions, book signings, dinner pairings, cooking demonstrations, cocktail mixing seminars, walking tours and much more, including a block party, make this a special weekend.

Satchmo SummerFest

At the end of the month, we celebrate Louis Armstrong's birthday with the Satchmo SummerFest. Held from July 31 to August 3 at the Old U.S. Mint, this popular festival has numerous outdoor concerts, seminars, a Friday night club crawl and second-line parade.