Post-Jazz Fest, you’d think that NOLA would need a little rest, but the celebratory summer festival season is just getting started. Summer in New Orleans has everything: festivals honoring food, music, art, and neighborhoods are a regular occurrence along with quirky events like NOLA’s own Running of the Bulls, inspired by Spain’s Encierro de Pamplona.
To help you plan your summer vacation whether you’re traveling for a festival, family trip, or mid-week getaway - we’ve compiled this handy list of seasonal fests. Head to NOLA this summer to experience them all.
Yes, New Orleans even has a festival dedicated to the tomato! French Market Creole Tomato Fest is a summertime classic, held at the French Market in the Quarter every year. Enjoy music, art, food, drinks, and plenty of sweet, juicy tomatoes for sale. The festival, held June 6-7, is free to attend.
NOWFE, the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience, is a food and drink lover’s paradise. There’s a grand tasting, a wine dinner series, Tournament of the Rosés, a burlesque brunch, and so much more. Catch the action from June 10-14.
There are many ways to recognize Juneteenth, including exploring historic sites and supporting Black-owned businesses in New Orleans. NOLA Juneteenth Fest is a free festival held in Congo Square commemorating the holiday. Enjoy live music, food, African drumming circles, and community at this free festival.
If you’ve seen the movie Girl’s Trip, then you’ve caught a glimpse of the excitement that comes with the annual ESSENCE Festival of Culture. ESSENCE is the world’s largest cultural, entertainment, and empowerment experience celebrating the Black community.
ESSENCE Fest is a three-day experience featuring an all-star lineup of performers, plus exhibitions, speaker sessions, celebrity appearances, and more. See our Ultimate Essence Guide for more trip-planning tools, as well as our list of Girls Trip Filming Locations and Ultimate Essence Itinerary for more inspiration.
Running of the Bulls, better known as San Fermin in its origin city of Pamplona, is a Spanish-inspired tradition that has made its way to the Crescent City. Instead of running bulls, the NOLA event includes members of the Big Easy Roller Derby. The Derby rollers chase runners with plastic bats through the streets of downtown, and the party continues all day long. Registration isn’t necessary but includes perks like participation in the official race and after-party events. Be sure to check out the event website for a list of all the activities going on that weekend.
This annual conference/festival is the world’s premier cocktail event for industry professionals and enthusiasts alike. What better place to study and taste cocktails than in the city where so many were created? The Tales schedule features seminars, tastings, dinners, competitions, networking events, and more. Read our Ultimate Guide to Tales of the Cocktail here.
This annual end-of-summer festival honors the life and legacy of New Orleans’ own Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. Festgoers can expect live music throughout the French Quarter, local food, second lines, a jazz Mass, outdoor concerts, music history seminars, and more. Plus, it’s free to attend!
For one Saturday every August, a sea of red takes over downtown New Orleans all in the name of beer and a great cause. Sponsored by the Hash House Harriers, a drinking club with a running problem, all are welcome to put on their best red dress and join in for a run (or walk). While not required, participants are encouraged to register, as all the money raised from this “race” is donated to local charities.
New Orleans has always been a hotspot and a haven for artists of all kinds, and the city’s thriving art gallery scene is on full display at the annual White Linen Night on Julia Street. This stretch of road in the Arts/Warehouse District is blocked off to allow art lovers of all ages to explore over 20 galleries, enjoy live music, and participate in other activities throughout the evening and into the night. Best of all, the event is free!
While COOLinary isn’t technically a summer festival, the month-long dining event has earned its spot on our list. Every year for the full month of August, participating restaurants offer special prix-fixe menus, so you can experience the best of New Orleans’ culinary scene for bargain prices. Reservations book up fast, so be sure to check back at COOLinary’s official website to see updated lists of participating restaurants.
New Orleans is home to dozens of museums with exhibits that are just unique and storied as the city itself. Throughout the month of August, members of one of the participating museums can visit any others for FREE! Step back in time at the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, learn and play at the Louisiana Children’s Museum, get a deeper look into the influence of Jewish people in the American south at the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, and much more.
Consider Southern Decadence your last hurrah before the summer season comes to a close. The annual LGBTQ+ event occurs over Labor Day Weekend and is filled with parties, parades, costumes, dancing, and more.
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Enjoy everything New Orleans has to offer this summer!
