July 3rd and 4th Activities
1. Happy 3rd of July at City Park
http://neworleanscitypark.com/events/3rd-of-july
The Marine Corp Band New Orleans will provide patriotic music starting at 7pm on the Golfberg/Woldenberg Great Lawn, followed by a firework display at 9pm from the top of the Peristyle. Food, snowballs, and drinks will be available for purchase or you can opt to bring your own food. Admission is free!
2. Go 4th on the River
http://www.go4thontheriver.com/
Dueling barges on the Mississippi River will put on a spectacular fireworks display, choreographed to patriotic music. Enjoy the show along the riverfront (Woldenberg Park) or consider getting tickets to view the show from either the Steamboat Natchez ($109/adult, $55/children 6-12, $25/kids under 6) or the Creole Queen ($129/adult, $69/children 6-12, $20/children 3-5). Each cruise will feature a buffet-style dinner and live entertainment. The Steamboat Natchez will provide an open beer, wine and soda bar. The Creole Queen will feature an open call brand bar. Visit their websites for details/tickets.
https://www.steamboatnatchez.com/special-event-cruises
https://www.creolequeen.com/4th-of-july-celebration-cruise
3. Sneauxball Fest
http://www.sneauxballfest.com/
This is a brand-new event taking place on the 4th of July from 9AM-9PM in the 5900 block of Bullard Ave (New Orleans East). It will feature live entertainment, ten different snowball vendors, food vendors, merchant vendors, fun family activities, as well as, networking opportunities. Tonya Boyd-Cannon, former Voice contestant, is one of the event collaborators.
Creole Food Festival
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-creole-kreyolkriolcrioulo-food-festival-tickets-54107944318
The 2nd annual Creole Food Festival showcases Creole cuisine, which incorporates a blend of French, Spanish, West and North African, Amerindian, Haitian and Portuguese cooking. It will be held from 2PM-7PM at the Mardi Gras Museum of Costume and Culture on Conti St. Come out and enjoy delicious food and beverages created by experts in their craft. Tickets range from $35-$90.
Essence Festival
July 5-8
https://www.essence.com/festival/
This year’s Essence Festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary in the Big Easy! Throughout the 4-day weekend, events will include roundtable discussions, podcasts, live performances by the likes of Mary J. Blige and Missy Elliott. Former First Lady, Michelle Obama, will be one of the featured speakers on Saturday evening, July 6, in the Mercedes Superdome. Check out their website for a full line-up of events, tickets, and additional information. The event will feature a Food and Wine Festival in the Ernest N Morial Convention Center from 10am-6pm Friday-Sunday.
Kolaj Fest New Orleans
July 10-14
http://www.kolajmagazine.com/kolaj-fest-new-orleans.html
Calling all artists! This festival features a symposium on contemporary collage and its role in art, culture, and society. Throughout the 5 days, speakers will be holding panel discussions, artists will provide demonstrations and exhibit their artwork and participants will hopefully come away with a deeper appreciation of the art of collage. This event takes place in various areas of the city. Check out the website for details.
Running of the Bulls at San Fermin in Nueva Orleans
July 12-14
Come enjoy New Orleans’ version of the world famous Encierro of Pamplona, Spain (Running of the Bulls) at The Sugar Mill. The three-day long event kicks off with El Txupinazo on Thursday, July 12, a fundraiser benefitting the non-profit organization, Beth’s Friends Forever, whose mission it is to assist women battling cancer in the New Orleans area. El Encierro will begin promptly at 8am at The Sugar Mill on Saturday, July 13. “Rollerbulls” (roller derby girls) from derby leagues around the world will take the place of live bulls. Along with thousands of runners, the Rollerbulls will take to the streets of the city to celebrate this historical event, followed by what’s promised to be “one helluva show!” The party continues into the night with La Fiesta De Pantalones, hosted by and held at The Rusty Nail. Dress in white pants, shirts, skirts, shorts with accents of red around your neck or waist, Pamplonese style. The event culminates with El Pobre de Mi: Poor Me at Lula Restaurant Distillery from 10am-2pm on Sunday, July 14th. Celebrate with Nola Bulls and Roxie Le Rouge’s Bog Deal Burlesque, food, and drinks!
Bastille Day Fete
https://www.neworleans.com/event/bastille-day-f%C3%AAte/3299/
During this weekend-long celebration, New Orleans celebrates its French heritage with various events held throughout the city. Many of the activities (some free, some require a small fee) take place in City Park and NOMA (New Orleans Museum of Art). They include mimes, French food trucks, dancing, music, a French village set up in traditional fireman’s ball theme, balloon artists, cooking demonstrations and a French film festival, to name a few.
In other parts of the city, a block party will be held in the Faubourg St. John area where revelers will make a toast to the French. French-decorated boats take part in a regatta held at the New Orleans Yacht Club, followed by a celebration with food, French wines and cheeses. The annual French Market Bastille Day Bartender and Waiters Race takes place in the French Quarter and involves bartenders and waiters speed walking down French Market Place, holding trays of champagne, croissants and water. Whomever ends the race having spilled the least amount, wins. It’s a family friendly event, so grab the kids and enjoy celebrating everything French!!