July in New Orleans means Fourth of July celebrations, Running of the Bulls, Tales of the Cocktail, and the return of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture. Soak in the best of a New Orleans summer with sno-balls, trips to a hotel pool, and lots of fun in the sun. Here are our top picks for July in New Orleans.

  1. Welcome the Return of ESSENCE Festival
  2. Celebrate Fourth of July in New Orleans  
  3. Participate in Running of the Bulls
  4. Enjoy Bastille Day Fête in New Orleans
  5. Cool Off with a Sno-Ball  
  6. Experience the 2026 Americas Selection of Bocuse d’Or and Pastry World Cup
  7. Experience Tales of the Cocktail
  8. Get Hyped for the X Games
  9. Stay Cool at a Hotel Pool
  10. Enjoy an Indoor Attraction

Welcome the Return of ESSENCE Festival

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This July 3-5, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture returns to New Orleans. Enjoy free activities in the Convention Center during the day and ticketed concerts in the Superdome at night from Cardi B, Latto, Brandy & Monica, Patti LaBelle, and more. Oh, and don’t forget to show some love to our Black-owned businesses while you’re in town. Check out our Ultimate Guide to Essence Fest here.

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Celebrate Fourth of July in New Orleans  

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New Orleans is a great place to spend Fourth of July weekend.  Go Fourth on the River returns with a spectacular fireworks show from the historic Riverfront. The show is at 9 p.m. You won’t want to miss it.

Participate in Running of the Bulls

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Every year in July, runners and “bulls” take to the streets of downtown New Orleans in the city’s version of Spain’s Encierro de Pamplona. Our Running of the Bulls happens to feature “roller-bulls” on wheels equipped with plastic bats. Watch from a balcony or, if you’re brave, join in on the fun this July 10-12. The running itself is on Saturday, July 11, with events throughout the weekend. Proceeds benefit Beth’s Friends Forever, a non-profit that helps fund resources for New Orleans-area women fighting cancer.

Enjoy Bastille Day Fête in New Orleans

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Louisiana’s French roots call for Bastille Day celebrations in July. Alliance Française de La Nouvelle-Orléans will host Bastille Day Fête with food, live music, kids' activities, a costume contest, and fun for all on July 10.

Cool Off with a Sno-Ball  

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It’s officially sno-ball season, and we’ve got plenty to go around. Enjoy this classic New Orleans treat of shaved ice with sweet syrup at Pandora's, Chance in Hell, Sno-La, and these sno-ball shops around town.

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Experience the 2026 Americas Selection of Bocuse d’Or and Pastry World Cup

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Bocuse d'Or - 2023
Image Courtesy of Bocuse d'Or
Bocuse d'Or

The Americas selection of the Pastry World Cup and Bocuse d’Or will return to New Orleans and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center July 24-25, 2026, following a historic and highly successful debut in New Orleans in 2024. No other U.S. city has ever hosted this prestigious international culinary competition. A new twist is that Bocuse d’Or and Pastry World Cup will be held in conjunction with the Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) Showcase, the largest restaurant and hospitality industry tradeshow in the U.S. Gulf Region.

Experience Tales of the Cocktail

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Tales of the Cocktail
Cory Fontenot, Courtesy of Tales of the Cocktail
Tales of the Cocktail

Tales Of The Cocktail–the world’s largest cocktail conference–returns this July 19-24. Whether you work in the industry or are just a cocktail connoisseur, there's plenty to do, see, and sip during this annual celebration of libations. The multi-day event is filled with seminars, workshops, tastings, competitions, networking, and much more–all in the cocktail capital of the world. Read our Ultimate Guide to Tales of the Cocktail here.

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Get Hyped for the X Games

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The X Games Championship is coming to New Orleans for the first time, bringing a high-energy weekend of elite action sports and entertainment. As the final event of the inaugural MoonPay X Games League Summer Season, the championship will feature more than 100 of the world’s top athletes competing in 18 competitions across skateboarding, BMX and Moto X, along with live music and fan experiences throughout the weekend. Catch the action this July 24-26 inside Caesars Superdome.

Stay Cool at a Hotel Pool

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The Pool at Hotel St. Vincent
Image Courtesy of Hotel St. Vincent
Hotel St. Vincent

Relax and unwind at a hotel pool in New Orleans. We’ve got hotel pools by type of traveler here. So whether you’re coming with the whole family or riding solo, a cool escape is not far away.

Enjoy an Indoor Attraction

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The weather in July can be warm, humid, and sometimes rainy in the afternoons, giving you the perfect excuse to visit an indoor attraction. Check out our rainy day itinerary here and enjoy a trip to the Audubon Aquarium, the New Orleans African American Museum, and more. 

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