10 Things to Do in New Orleans in August

Welcome not only to a historic city, but to one of the most culturally diverse cities in the United States. Magic, warmth, joy, festivity, history, shackles, freedom and music, all in one Cajun-scented pan. There is always something to see and do in New Orleans and August is one of those months that feels like years because of the amount of activities in the city.

The cultural capital of the state of Louisiana is one of those places that will stay in your heart for the rest of your life. I'm not lying if I tell you that New Orleans in August is one of the best investments for your happiness for the rest of your life. Here I recommend just a few activities for you to enjoy in August, because I would never finish suggesting places and activities.

Satchmo SummerFest is one of the most important festivals in the city and the music world as it commemorates the birth date of the founding father of jazz; the pop icon man, "Satchmo" (short for Satchelmouth).

I'm not talking to you about anyone other than Louis Armstrong. No matter what music you play, this festival is a rite celebrating one of the most creative minds in modern history. It's the best thing to do if you can only visit New Orleans in one day.

At this festival you will have the chance for two days to enjoy two stages with more than forty musicians on stage, while tasting the incredible food of Louisiana and delving into the wonderful history of the United States through one of its artistic expressions.

That is, jazz at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. History, music and jazz , what else do you need?

Louis Armstrong was born on August 4 and is one of the most universal New Orleanians, as he brought the multicultural essence of his land in a musical fusion that generated a whole movement based on musical improvisation.

New Orleans would not be what it is today without Louis Armstrong and this festival is a congregation to praise the frenetic and changing essence of the city, where you will witness the rhythms that envelop the city.

It's one of the best things to do all summer long in New Orleans, so don't miss it.

I suggest you go to the festival with shorts and a t-shirt to accompany you in this hot and humid time of the year. The cost of the ticket varies depending on when you are going to buy it: it is not the same to buy it before the festival than at the entrance of the festival on the same day.

The cost ranges from 8-11 €. The preferred transport system in the city are the RTA buses, which have a fixed cost of 2 € and lines 15, 32, 64, 65 pass by the museum.

Practical Info

• Location: New Orleans Jazz Museum. 400 Esplanade Avenue, 70116
• When: Coincides with Louis Armstrong's birthday, which falls on August 4. If the date falls on a weekday, the festival is moved to the weekend and is held over two days.
• Price: prices range between 8 and 11 €, depending on whether you buy it in advance or the same day of the event at the entrance.
• Hours: Saturday and Sunday: 10:30 am - 8:00 pm, although it varies depending on the year.

The New Orleans Coolinary is one of the most anticipated moments in the city to enjoy and showcase its incredible Creole or Cajun food history.

The traditional and the culinary innovation have a space to share recipes with you and you can enjoy the smells that only the Mississippi River and history have for you.

Throughout the month of August, from August 1 through August 31, all the gastronomic offerings will have their prices lowered so you can enjoy Creole and Cajun cuisine. This plan applies from the most exclusive restaurants to the most historic and popular.

You can enjoy incredible lunches for prices lower than the fixed 26 € per plate and even lower than 46 € for dinner and brunch.

The cost may vary depending on the dish and the restaurant you are in, but these prices are incredible to enjoy one of the richest and most indigenous culinary offerings in the United States.

You can take advantage of this moment to take the incredible gastronomic tours that the city offers andthat your budget does not suffer.

And if you were thinking about the name... yes, the prefix 'cool' is joined with the adjective 'culinary' to give free reign to Coolinary. I promise you that this name does not do justice to the original gastronomy of the city.

Traveller Tip

New Orleans cuisine is made up of two traditions: Creole cuisine, which originates from Louisiana and combines classic European and African cuisines, and Cajun cuisine, which is characterized by a combination of French and Southern cuisines, as well as being more robust and highly seasoned.

New Orleans in August is also synonymous with heat, accompanied by a lot of humidity and nothing better to enjoy the hot afternoons and humid nights than to enjoy an evening of music and art dressed entirely in white.

Loyalty Bank's White Linen Night is an annual celebration where the New Orleans art scene showcases its new creations and innovative exhibitions.

The activity is organized and stimulated by the Contemporary Arts Center and takes place throughout the Warehouse Arts District, which is the protagonist of the white tide that strolls in the late afternoon along these beautiful streets.

Without a doubt, it is one of the best activities you can do in New Orleans at night in its festive streets.

You have to walk through these streets being dazzled by the performances and performances of the most demanded artists of the art scene. You can also go to one of the exclusive art exhibitions and installations organized by the more than 20 contemporary and modern art galleries that the city has to offer.

Obviously, you will never miss your good New Orleanian white wine, the incredible food of the city and the parties that will make you dance to the rhythm of the south.

The event is free to the public and so are most of the exhibitions and art installations in the galleries. You may come across some events that you have to pay for, but usually the activity is held on the street.

Do not worry about attending a party that has the characteristic of wearing white, as it is a tradition that the southern populations have to accompany the summer light. You can take bus lines 11, 15, 16, 16, 91, W-2 and W-3 to get to Julia Street.

Practical Info

• Location: Julia Street
• When: first week of August
• Price: Free. Some activities have prices as well as admission to some venues.
• Schedule: 5:30 h -22:30 h

And the party doesn't stop in New Orleans. You haven't finished recovering from Loyalty Bank's White Linen Night when the city is already inviting you to Dirty Linen Night.

This party is just another event to enjoy the heat and the night of the city, but with the dirty clothes from the previous week that you wore to attend Loyalty Bank's White Linen Night.

They are similar events, dedicated to art, but with some differences in the treatment: while white linen clothes are used to reflect the summer light, in the Dirty Linen Night, casual clothes or dirty clothes from the previous week are used.

While you drink white wine in the first one, in the second one, Martini and beer will be your nightly company. Finally, the former takes place in the exclusive Julia Street and the latter takes you on oneof the best walks you will ever take in the historic and popular French Quarter.

The event as a whole is free, although there are activities that require a cost of money on your part. But don't worry, the city is supposed to be inexpensive and you are there to invest in your happiness.

The bus lines, no matter where your hotel is located, will not charge you more than 2 €. Lines 88 and 91 are your best option for the bus to drop you off in the French Quarter.

Practical Info

• Location: French Quarter, Block 200 - 1000 Royal Street.
• When: the second week of August
• Price: Free. Some activities are priced as is admission to some venues.
• Hours: 5:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

A weekend of magic and witchcraft is what awaits you at the Hex Fext in Old New Orleans. Your trip through the capital of Afro-French culture in North America won't be complete if you don't experience the voodoo magic, voodoo, witchcraft and extrasensory experiences its population has to offer.

Witches, root workers, voodoo priests, magic masters and those who wish to share their knowledge and occult wisdom in New Orleans are concentrated in one weekend to give you a magical and unforgettable experience in this incredible festival.

The city's most powerful and famous witches welcome you to the sound of drums on one of the best boat rides New Orleans has to offer and continue to delight you with their wisdom at the mystical and spooky Bourbon Orleans Hotel.

The event invites you to consume their wisdom in their various routines, seminars, events and sale of magical tools and powerful books.

You can go as curious and have fun while you learn one of the ways that a population has to manifest their knowledge, you can also take advantage that the event has special activities and tours in the incredible cemetery of New Orleans.

The price ranges between 150 and 350 €, depending on the package of activities you want to participate and the number of days you want to be present at the event. These prices may be due to the fact that the event is limited to 350 people and minors are not accepted.

Lines 88 and 91 are your best option for the bus to drop you off in the French Quarter and get you ready to go to the hotel.

Practical Info

• Location: Bourbon Orleans Hotel, 717 Orleans St, 70116.
• When: second week of August
• Price: 150-350 €.
• Hours: 10:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Nolapalooza is the little brother of the famous and epic Lollapalooza festival that takes place a month earlier in Chicago, but comes to New Orleans in the first week of August. It's a festival organized by the Metairie/New Orleans School of Rock.

The festival is known for hosting a repertoire of musicians and bands that are entering the American rock scene and with shows by established bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails, among others that will make your trip an unforgettable experience.

Food, people, drinks, pogos, rock. The experience that I recommend and you should take advantage of when you are in New Orleans if you love rock.

The festival opens its doors at 12 noon and runs until 8 pm. It is held at the historic restaurant, bar and bowling alley, the Rock 'N' Bowl. The cost of admission is no more than €15. Your best transportation option to get there is the bus and you should use line 202, 39.

Practical information

• Location: 3016 South Carrollton Avenue, 70118
• When: first week of August
• Price: 10-15 €.
• Hours: 12:00 h - 20:00 h

In New Orleans there is water everywhere: the city is located at the end of the Mississippi River, near its delta, and it is a coastal city with a huge estuary or saltwater lake. All these bodies of water make it a very attractive city to stroll along them during the month of August, one of the hottest months of the year.

Despite all these bodies of water, many of its canals and edges are not very walkable and are separated by walls. But there are many that you may love to enjoy on August afternoons, such as the Saint John bayou, a small channel of very calm waters that connects with the beautiful New Orleans City Park, another space that also has many floodable areas.

Further north is Lake Pontchartrain, whose waters were polluted for a long time and are now clean, but there are no lifeguards, so bathing is not recommended.

None of that stops you from taking a stroll along Lakeshore Dr and having a bite to eat, ending up at a pier where there are two lovely little parks: West End Park and Breakwater Park.

If you want to continue west, there is a path just for hikers and cyclists. Here you can find out about the possibility of cruises to tour both the lake and the Mississippi River.

But are you going to miss the Mississippi River? In this busy summer, it would be unforgivable. Much of the river's edge in the city is taken up by docks and boat yards, but there are some reclaimed areas you can enjoy, such as Woldenberg Park, where you can bask in the warmth just a few feet from the river.

These are among the best activities you can do with the kids in the city to enjoy the summer without dying of heat.

The annual New Orleans Salsa and Bachata Festival is one of the most alternative events of the city's music scene. For three days, the Latin dimension is concentrated at the New Orleans Marriott Hotel, to get you dancing to the sound of the great references of the city.

Not only Latin salsa and bachata await you at this festival. You will find kizomba, zouk, urban fusion, heels and ballroom. The only requirement is that you are willing to polish the floor with your steps and learn the incredible Hispanic culture that New Orleans has to offer.

Learn any genre of Latin music in the various workshops offered by the festival, while enjoying the special nightly performances of the best dancers in any of its modalities and finish your nights at the Latin parties until the wee hours of the morning.

Nothing can go wrong if a party has salsa in its repertoire. Did I mention that they also have a theme party on the hotel's rooftop pool?

The best option to get to the hotel by bus is to take lines 11, 16, 32, 64 and 65. The festival schedule starts at 4 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m., just to start the parties.

The price varies depending on the package of activities and workshops you sign up for, as well as the days you are willing to leave your heart and soul in the party room.

Practical Info

• Location: New Orleans Marriott, 555 Canal Street
• When: Second week of August
• Price: 20-170
• Hours: 4:00 h- 23:00 h

Every second Saturday in August, the color red takes over the streets of New Orleans. It's the Red Dresses Charity Run It's a non-profit event organized by the Hash House Harriers of New Orleans, a drinking club that came up with a fun and original way for you to spend a different Saturday morning on your trip.

Put on your best red dress and prepare your best sneakers, because three kilometers of route await you where you won't stop to be distracted and laugh at the original designs and outfits that others are wearing.

I invite you to participate and contribute to this race because if you participate, the money you paid for registration will go 100% to local charity.

The registration fee is between 60 and 70 €. The event includes a post-race lunch where you will share with the other competitors. You can also contribute if you wish and do not want to participate in the event.

The event only starts with the end of the race. The race extends throughout the French Quarter until nightfall... who doesn't want to wear a red dress for a day and have fun with others?

If you are going to be about four days in the city and coincide with this race, my advice is to spend a different morning and dare to wear red. I suggest you use the 5, 55, 88, 91 bus lines to get to Crescent Park.

Practical Info

• Location: Starts at Crescent Park. 2300 N Peters Street.
• When: Second Saturday in August
• Price: 60-70
• Hours: 9:00 a.m.

Museum Month in New Orleans is an event where all of the city's museums participate to encourage free museum visits.

From August 1 through August 31, all museums open their doors and offer tours so you can learn about the society, culture and history of one of the main cities in the United States for its historical heritage at no cost.

I guarantee that visiting any of the museums is among the best guided tours in the city.

There is something for everyone: you can learn about the American version of World War II at the National World War II Museum, as well as learn about the history of the voodoo religion at the New Orleans Voodoo Historical Museum.

My advice is to take advantage and ask for the best ghost tours in New Orleans when you are at this last museum.

I also recommend delving into the incredible history of slavery and freedom at the Free People of Color Museum. Learn about and marvel at the great references of Southern painting at the New Orleans Museum of Art.
Of course, don't forget to stop by the incredible New Orleans Jazz Museum.

Did I mention that all of these tours are free? All these museums are centrally located and the city's bus system allows you to get to them comfortably.

There are years where they allow you to participate with tours to the best ranches and plantations of New Orleans as part of the historical visits in the city, to learn about the past of plantations and slavery.

Very hot. The temperature in August in New Orleans is hot and humid. I recommend you to wear comfortable clothes: T-shirt, loose shirt, short socks, comfortable fabrics.

It is the perfect time of the year for the best swamp tours in the area, but be careful and bring pest control cream as it is mosquito month. New Orleans is also known for its immense biodiversity along the Mississippi River.

The evenings are cool and comfortable for strolling along the bay and there are always music events that you can go to as a couple or family.

Nola, as the city is known, is immensely rich in cultural diversity.
You can see how the different cultures from outside and inside the country have coexisted and in summer, cultural manifestations will be everywhere. Just pack your sunscreen and enjoy the best of the American South.