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August in New Orleans

Festivals, Food & Culture Heat Up in August

 

Planning your August visit to New Orleans

Summer heat never stops the fun in New Orleans. August is the perfect month for visitors and locals to enjoy some exclusive deals and offers, outdoor activities, festivals, and more. Before Labor Day rolls around and marks the end of summer, make your last stop a visit to New Orleans for all that we have in store. 

Everything you need to plan your final salute to summer can be found below. 

What to do in August in New Orleans?

COOLinary

During COOLinary, enjoy over a month of deals at participating restaurants and feast your way through New Orleans. Specially priced three-course lunches, dinners, and brunches can be found all throughout the Crescent City. COOLinary lasts the entire month, so you just might have time to try sample every menu.

Pharmacy Museum
Pharmacy Museum

Museum Month

All August long, New Orleans is celebrating its many museums! Members of at least one of the participating institutions will be able to visit all others for FREE. From the large and nationally acclaimed to the small hidden gems and rarities celebrating what makes NOLA and its people unique, there’s a museum in the city that everyone will love. Not a museum member yet? Visit our Museum Month membership page to learn how to join.  

Satchmo SummerFest

Satchmo Summerfest honors the life and legacy of one of New Orleans’ most famous natives - Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. This annual festival takes place at the New Orleans Jazz Museum during the first weekend of August. Attendees are invited to a two-day celebration that includes live music performances, local food, and “Satchmo Seminars,” led by Armstrong biographers and historians. Satchmo SummerFest is August 2-3, 2025.

Red Dress Run
Red Dress Run

White Linen Night

Held the first Saturday in August, Fidelity Bank White Linen Night is the perfect opportunity to explore the galleries and cuisine that fills the Arts + Warehouse District.  Enjoy a night of music, food, drinks, and shopping in one of New Orleans' most bustling artistic neighborhoods. White Linen Night is August 2, 2025.

Dirty Linen Night

What's White Linen Night without Dirty Linen Night? One week after White Linen Night, head to Royal Street in the French Quarter for some more gallery strolling and champagne sipping.  Dirty Linen Night returns on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025.

Red Dress Run

A beloved New Orleans tradition, the Red Dress Run is typically held every second Saturday of August. Runners (or walkers) are invited to dress in their best red dresses and participate to support local charities throughout the Crescent City. The “run” itself begins at 9 a.m. in Crescent Park and ends in the French Quarter. This year, Red Dress Run will take place on August 9.

XFINITY U.S. GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
XFINITY U.S. GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

2025 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships 

For the first time in decades, the U.S. Gymnastics Championships is back in New Orleans! Watch as junior and senior men and women gymnasts compete for the top prize. This year’s event will feature top elite athletes from across the country, including returning Olympic medalists from the Paris 2024 Men’s Olympic Team Brody Malone and Frederick Richard and Gold Medalist Hezly Rivera, one of the breakout stars from Paris. Tickets for two-day packages start at $59 for the men and $168 for the women’s competition. 

Brigtsen’s - COOLinary Restaurant Month
Brigtsen’s - COOLinary menu

What is the weather in August in New Orleans?

The summer heat should not deter you from enjoying the festivities around the city. Dress comfortably in light clothes. Also, wear comfortable shoes for walking around events. Umbrellas are recommended for any surprising August showers. Don’t forget your white linen and red dresses if you’re planning on attending the events above. 

Poolside Fun
Poolside Fun

What foods should I try in August in New Orleans?

As the month of COOLinary, August is all about eating. Take the opportunity to try that restaurant on your list, or a James Beard Award Winner. Another way to help your wallet is to check out our cheap eats in New Orleans.

If you find yourself at a restaurant that serves brandy milk punch, order it! It's a great way to cool off, and a sweet addition to your meal. 

Additional August Resources

Make the most of the month by using some of our specially curated itineraries and resources this August. If you missed White Linen Night but are still interested in the experience let this guide to the Arts + Warehouse District help you. If you happen to get caught in one of those sudden summer showers, our rainy day itinerary has options for you to stay dry and have some fun all over New Orleans.

Happening in August

07/07/2025 - 12th Annual HBCU Art Showcase
07/07/2025 - Battle of the Bands
07/07/2025 - French Quarter Galleries
07/08/2025 - "Homecoming: La Porte du Retour"
07/08/2025 - “The Trail They Blazed”
07/10/2025 - "Vince Fraser: Ancestral Odyssey"
07/10/2025 - The Van Ella Bordella: A Storyville Burlesque
07/11/2025 - Rooftop Pool Party New Orleans Marriott
07/11/2025 - Tipitina's Free Fridays
07/28/2025 - Dolly Days in Dutch Alley
07/31/2025 - "Carousel"
07/31/2025 - Broussard's x Hampton Water Rosé & Cocktail Dinner
08/01/2025 - COOLinary New Orleans
08/01/2025 - Sip+Dip: Yacht Rock Night at Audubon Cool Zoo Waterpark
08/02/2025 - Fidelity Bank White Linen Night
08/02/2025 - Louisiana Contemporary 2025
08/02/2025 - Satchmo SummerFest
08/06/2025 - NOLA Pickle Fest
08/07/2025 - 2025 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships
08/08/2025 - Friday Night Fights
08/09/2025 - Dine and Dance: Swingin’ in the Tropics
08/09/2025 - Dirty Linen Night
08/09/2025 - Red Dress Run
08/15/2025 - Sip+Dip: Country Night at Audubon Cool Zoo Waterpark
08/16/2025 - New Orleans Snoball Fest: The Barbegazi Snoball Fight
08/17/2025 - Over 50 Speed Dating for New Orleans Singles Ages 50s/60s
08/17/2025 - Saints vs Jacksonville Jaguars Game
08/20/2025 - Dinner with a Curator: "Andrew Higgins: Building Victory in World War II"
08/22/2025 - Sip+Dip: Caliente (Latin) Night at Audubon Cool Zoo Waterpark
08/23/2025 - Saints vs Denver Broncos Game
08/29/2025 - Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson - Apt 2B
08/30/2025 - New Orleans Mermaid Parade
11/04/2025 - "New Orleans Musicians in Art"