Weekend Picks

Tipitina’s kicks off their free summer Friday concert series on May 22. Catch Water Seed + Funk Monkey this Friday. No ticket is required; doors open at 8 p.m and the show starts at 9 p.m. This event is open to those 21+.

New Orleans Greek Festival returns on Memorial Day weekend from May 22-24. The sounds of Greek music fill the air, as does the wonderful aroma of Greek food during this indoor and outdoor fête held on Bayou St. John (1200 Allen Toussaint Blvd.). Music, cathedral tours, and Hellenic dancing are all on the schedule, as well as a 5K to kick off the fest, kids’ activities, and arts and crafts for sale. Tickets are $10 per day.

Enjoy the city on Memorial Day weekend. There’s plenty to do in tribute to our troops, including visits to the National WWII Museum, where WWII veterans receive free admission and visitors with military ID receive discounted admission. Additionally, Memorial Day weekend is seen as the kickoff to summer, so pack the sunscreen and head out for a sno-ball, or enjoy a delicious meal outdoors in NOLA.  Learn more about Memorial Day weekend in New Orleans here.

New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane University presents “King Lear” by William Shakespeare on select nights from May 22 - June 7. See it at Tulane University’s Lupin Theater. Tickets are $42+.

Defend Decatur - Rock the Block Party is a day of patronizing the businesses on Lower Decatur in the French Quarter that are currently being hindered by construction. On Sunday from 1-10 p.m., head to the 900-1200 blocks of Decatur Street to show these businesses some love. Eat at a restaurant, go shopping, listen to live music, and enjoy supporting community.

Part cocktail event, part theatrical production, “Tales of the Macabre” is a limited-engagement event that takes place the Mortuary. As you explore the historic haunted mansion, you’ll come across a series of four tableaus where story tellers will recount and reimagine eerie tales of four New Orleanians while you sip on three cocktails. Afterwards, stay and enjoy the “Eerie Adventurer’s Club” to enjoy the Vampire Cabaret and other entertainment. Enjoy this experience on select weekend nights from April 11 – July 3. General admission tickets are $68, plus taxes and fees.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the U.S. Celebrate the contributions of Asian Americans by supporting local Asian-owned businesses. New Orleans is known for its traditional Creole and Cajun dishes, but locals know that the city is also home to many great, authentic Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Thai restaurants, and that’s just scratching the surface. Browse the restaurants and businesses here and enjoy supporting them all month long.